This year’s February trials is full of the top talent in the UK, and I have no doubt the competition is going to be truly fierce. There is an amazing mix of experienced Olympians and up coming stars which will make the results of this set of trials very interesting viewing.
It looks like quite a few of the British squad mainstays are not competing which is a shame, however it does open the door to others to take the limelight.
Callum Dixon (Twickenham RC)
The winner of the 5km time trial back in November the pressure will be on for Callum Dixon to keep that spot at the top. Certainly, a top sculling talent in the country and with plans certainly to be at the Paris games he will be wanting another strong performance here, especially with the British squad guys coming back in for this round.
Matt Brigham (University of Leeds BC / Twickenham RC)
The King-slayer himself, Matt Brigham is another sculling talent who will be aiming to make it onto the team for his first Olympics. With a top-class field around him another magical performance here would certainly help his efforts to cement a position on the team.
Sam Bannister (Oxford Brookes University BC)
While the Oxford Brookes programme is not known for its sculling it is known for producing athletes that can be relied upon to always produce their best when it counts. Sam Bannister has been on the outside of the GB squad for a couple of years, not quite breaking in where some of his Brookes teammates have. With Leander out in force at this set of trials in singles, Bannister has the challenge of getting one over on some rivals.
John Collins (Leander Club)
A double Olympian who has been a cornerstone of the British rowing team for many years, John Collins has somehow continued to remain right at the top of British sculling year on year and continuing to push himself. While I think even he has admitted that he prefers being in the bigger quad I’m sure he will feel right at home once again driving his single down the Boston course. A born competitor who never gives up, Collins has it all to do to climb back up the ladder within the GB team where he served as the spare last summer.
Matt Haywood (Nottingham RC / Burton Leander RC)
Another sculler with ambitions to be at the Paris Olympic Games, Matt Heywood has already seriously impressed with a silver medal at his first senior World Championships. A back injury at the end of last year may have set him back at little but there is no doubt that he will be ready to really stake his claim to a spot in the GB sculling squad.
Prediction
While they were not mentioned here, the top spots at the weekend will likely go to the established scullers in the British team. Harry Leask and Tom Barras have both spent time in singles at international level and are Olympic medalists in the quad. The versatile Harry Glenister will also be competing and although he is not a national team member, I expect him to put in a strong performance.
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