A wide range of U19, U23 and senior talent will be fighting it out at Boston this weekend as the GB trials process gets underway. Making a strong first impression is always important for those looking for selection particularly as with this shortened Olympiad, Paris will be increasingly looming around the corner.
Graeme Thomas (Agecroft RC)
A bronze medal at the World Championships this year was a fitting end to Graeme Thomas’s season this year. While at times Ollie Ziedler from Germany and Melvin Twellar from the Netherlands have appeared somewhat in their own league, this has not fazed Graeme one bit. On his day he definitely can be a contender for the win. We have already now seen more than once the when put under pressure Ollie Ziedler is very much beatable and with Graeme getting faster and more confident, I for one, have hopes that bronze is only the start.
Tom Barras (Leander Club)
Many current GB athletes will be keen to set the bar high as they seek to establish themselves in the squad for the next two years. One of the names on this entries list that instantly stands out is Tom Barras. Already an Olympic silver medallist and a world medallist in the single, it will be interesting to see just where he stacks up particularly against some of the young talent in the field who will be keen to measure themselves against such an accomplished and experienced athlete.
John Collins (Leander Club)
It’s never quite happened for Collins at the top level, the now veteran of two Olympic Games missed out on selection for this year’s World Championships, instead travelling as the sculling spare. But his determination is well known, and this disappointment will be fuel to his fire and only motivate him to push for a place in the squad this season.
Cameron Buchan (Edinburgh University BC)
Now yes everyone does have an opinion on Cam Buchan and whatever you may think of his YouTube channel, one thing that can’t be ignored is how well he has managed to transfer over from sweep to sculling. While even he will admit that he still isn’t as polished as many of the others in the field he has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years and will be wanting to show some real progress here. Time is not on his side for getting back into the GB squad with so much young talent now coming through and so this year will likely be critical for him if he is ever to find his way back into the GB squad.
Jack Burns (Edinburgh University BC / Clydesdale RC)
Jack Burns has been one of the stars of Scottish rowing in recent years. Last year he took the title at this first set of trials and so no doubt he will be wanting to replicate this performance. He has had a foray into the senior team being invited to train at Caversham after the Tokyo Olympics but thus far has not managed to really break into the core of the team.
Callum Dixon
Callum Dixon recently made his senior debut at World Cup II in Belgrade. Coming fourth in the B final was an impressive performance and it will be no surprise if he is to become one of the cornerstones of the GB sculling squad through this next Olympiad. A strong performance here though will be needed to cement his position.
Prediction
Despite having had a more recent break than many of the athletes competing after the World Championships, those from the national team will be favourites to place well at this trial, by definition being the top athletes in the country. Therefore, I’d expect Graeme Thomas to be the top sculler with the likes of Barras, Leask and Haywood up there too. An upset could come from someone like Seb Devereux who recently won the Wingfield Sculls and is looking to break into the squad.
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