Image Credit: British Rowing
Last year’s U19 women’s eight edged out the competition in a thrilling race giving them the top spot, with four crews bow-ball to bow-ball down the entire course. This year, the crew aims to go out strong and dominate from the start, avoiding a mid-race battle. Comprised of athletes from eight different clubs, it will be fascinating to see how this diverse team performs in Canada.
Abigail Smith, Henley Rowing Club (J18)
After a double victory in the four seat of the Coupe de la Jeunesse eight last year, Abigail Smith has stepped up to the worlds crew. She has competed in the Henley R.C. first eight all season, where they narrowly missed a medal by less than a second at the National Schools’ Regatta. Following a second-round knockout at Henley Royal Regatta to the girls from Shiplake, a world championship title will surely be at the top of her bucket list.
Ansley Vicars, Tideway Sculling School (J18)
Having already had some experience racing for GB this season at the U19 European championships in the quad, Ansley Vicars has switched discipline to the eight. She was a part of the quad that grabbed a silver at the Head of the Charles in October before managing to secure another silver in the double sculls at the National Schools’ Regatta. GB representation in both sculling and sweeping positions her at the very top of U19 rowing in this country, an asset that will be vital to the boat.
Emily Downing, Shiplake College (J18)
Competing last year at the Coupe de la Jeunesse as the ‘spare,’ Emily Downing has now made the step up to the worlds team, just like several of her teammates. Earlier this season, she raced at the Munich Junior International Regatta, and her previous international experience gives her and her crew a competitive edge. As a quarter-finalist at Henley Royal Regatta and a fifth-placed finisher at the National Schools’ Regatta, she brings valuable experience from the top tiers of junior women’s rowing in the UK.
Emily Shaw, Surbiton High School (J17)
After securing two golds and two silvers in the eight and the coxed four, Emily Shaw is yet another athlete making the jump to the worlds team. She sat in the five-seat of the Surbiton eight at the National Schools’ Regatta, helping them place in the A-final. Her power and potential, demonstrated by her Coupe squad selection last year as a J16 athlete, indicate she has the capability to propel the eight to success on Canadian waters.
Sophie Sinclair , Aberdeen School’s Rowing Association (J17)
Rowing on the freezing lower stretches of the River Dee in Scotland has likely made Sophie Sinclair’s winter training months even more grueling than those of her teammates, forging a fierce desire to win—especially on the international stage. Recently, she picked up three golds and a silver at the Scottish Championships across both sweeping and sculling events, showcasing her exceptional power and skill.
Amelia Westbrook, Shiplake College (J17)
A Shiplake transfer from Doncaster Rowing Club, Amelia Westbrook has clearly impressed the coaches since she arrived. A walk-on to the newly formed Shiplake girls first eight, she placed second alongside her crew at the Schools’ Head of the River Race before a fifth-placed finish at the National Schools’ Regatta. Quarter-finalists at Henley Royal Regatta, she has been a driving force inside the Shiplake eight and is an obvious pick for the worlds eight.
Ava Thurnham, Kew House School (J17)
Having an athlete on the worlds team from a club established only in 2018 is a significant achievement. Despite a Henley Royal Regatta qualification that ended in her and her crew being ‘Tuesdayed’, Ava Thurnham’s spirits remained high. This resilience propelled her to the highest rankings of U19 women’s rowing in the country.
Sophie Haisman, Headington School (J17)
Sitting in the stroke seat of the Headington eight, Sophie Haisman led her crew to a remarkable victory in the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta, defeating the American national champions and awarding her school the Trophy for the second time. Retaining the stroke seat on the GB team underscores her exceptional ability to establish a powerful rhythm, which will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to the other crews. Her consistency in this seat will be a crucial asset as they aim for success on the international stage.
Cox – Victor Bocquet , St Paul’s School (J17)
Steering the St Paul’s eight to a ‘quadruple’ victory in schoolboy rowing makes Victor Bocquet one of the top coxes in the country right now. Competing at the highest level of schoolboy rowing in the UK has equipped him with the skills necessary for his international debut. Only time will tell if his switch from junior men to junior women will be a positive one, but his track record suggests he has the potential to excel.
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