Two GB crews in fifth place finishes at 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships

The Mixed double sculls and Men’s coxed quadruple sculls both produced strong performances amid lively conditions in Genoa

The GBR01 Mixed double sculls (CMix2x) crew of Clare Jamison and Charles Cousins, won the bronze medal in the event last year, qualified comfortably for the A Final by finishing third in their heat from which six boats progressed. Their excellent fifth place finish in the final – from a total field of 43 starters – demonstrates both the popularity and the high standard of coastal endurance sculling as the format continues to develop.

Just an hour earlier, Cousins had finished seventh in the Men’s coastal solos. A schedule change bringing the A Finals forward to the second day meant that he raced the 4k course four times in one day – a test of his fitness from which he emerged with flying colours.

Charles Cousins said, “Genoa is such a stunning place to row. We’ve experienced everything from thunderstorms to 30-degree sunshine, and the sea conditions have been quite challenging, as this part of the Med can get pretty wild. Due to the unpredictable weather, all the racing was packed into one day, which made it tough. Rowing with Clare is always a joy, and even though we only managed a couple of kilometers together before the Championships this year, we were still able to sync up well. We finished a few places down from last year, but still had a solid race. The last 1km was chaos with turn buoys, clashes, crashes, and boats everywhere, making it impossible to get a clean run. After all that, fifth place wasn’t too bad considering other crews had broken blades and time penalties from collisions!”

Both Jamison and Cousins will be representing Great Britain again next weekend at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, also in Genoa.

In the Men’s coxed quads (CM4x+), the GBR01 boat of Hal Flowerdew, Ryne Robertson, Wilder Fulford, Hilton Harvey, and cox Naimh Murphy, also finished fifth in their A Final, after coming fourth in their heat.

Other British crews who reached the A Finals included Rachel Palmer and Amanda Benson-Skailes, who were 14th in the Women’s double sculls (CW2x), just ahead of Sara Parfett and Fran Rawlins, who finished 16th. In the Women’s coxed quadruple sculls, Jo Price, Rowena Atkins, Sophie Bostock, Elizabeth Beswick and cox Mike Gilbert were 16th, with Abigail Syvret, Sarah Earles, Emma Syvret, Taye le Monnier and cox Susan Huelin in 17th place.