November’s trials took place in the single for all the women, but now the sweep specialists will get the chance to compete at trials in the pair once more. With many of the favourites expected to be currently GB squad members, it will be interesting to see who is poised well, and for which crews, going into the next block of selection.
Rowan McKellar & Heidi Long (Leander Club)
Last season Rowan McKellar was part of the top pair in British Rowing with Rebecca Shorten and was also part of the Women’s Four who took gold at the World Championships. One of her crew-mates from the Worlds was Heidi Long who she teams up for this set of trials. Following the success of their crew last summer, this pairing looks to be positioned as one of the top pairs in the women’s squad and as such they will be gunning for the win.
Rebecca Shorten & Helen Glover (Imperial College BC & Marlow RC)
Following her impressive display to take the win in the single at the November Trials, double Olympic champion Helen Glover returns to the pair with Rebecca Shorten. Shorten has featured in all the top boats that British Rowing have fielded since 2016, indicating that Glover has come straight in at the top of the squad, again.
Despite their pedigree and strong performances in November, this pair will need another strong performance together to maintain their position at the top of the national team.
Karen Bennett & Lauren Irwin (Leander Club)
Perhaps another unlikely combination, Olympic Silver Medallist Karen Bennet teams up with up-and-comer Lauren Irwin who spent last season on the fringe of the senior team. Despite not having a lot of experience rowing together, these two are both very experienced and both hungry to climb the ranks towards the top end of the squad.
Sam Redgrave & Esme Booth (Leander Club)
As two of the most successful newcomers to the squad post-Tokyo, these two athletes will be seeking to solidify themselves in the top boats ahead of the summer. Sam Redgrave makes up the Women’s Four that dominated the international scene in the summer, while Esme Booth competed in the Women’s Pair with Emily Ford.
Prediction
Women’s sweep rowing looks to be in a great place coming out of 2022, and as such one would expect the same names and combinations to be in contention for the top spots. The depth of the Leander squad outside of Caversham and pairings coming from there could throw up surprises, as could the University of London, which has a strong cohort of pair partners.
However, one would expect the top pair to be from last year’s GB squad, with Long and McKellar a strong bet. With regards to the returning athletes Glover and Bennet, questions remain as to whether the rest of the squad has pushed on ahead or whether they still have the strength to win at these trials. The partners they are competing with would suggest so but we’ll have to see the results to confirm.
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