As trial returns for yet another cycle in Boston, there has been an interesting shake-up to the usual proceedings, with all female triallists being asked to compete at this set of trials in singles.
You may ask, then, why we are still doing a preview for sweep? This preview will cover some of the top athletes who are expected to make up the U23 women’s sweep team later this season, despite them competing in this trial as scullers. Although we have seen athletes ‘crossing codes’ in the past and we cannot say for sure at this stage who the scullers and sweepers will be, the big names should stand out and I would be surprised to see any of the athletes mentioned below to end up trialling as scullers later in the year.
Abigail Topp & Grace Dening-Smitherman (Leander Club)
Part of Leander’s incredibly strong women’s squad, Topp was part of the British crew to take a silver in the eight at the World Rowing U23 Championships earlier this year. Still eligible as an U23, she goes into this season as an experienced athlete looking to position herself as one of the top U23 women and as a Leander oarswoman will have everything at her disposal this year to do just that.
Another athlete from Leander but this time stepping up from last year’s U23 European’s squad where she picked up a bronze in the four, Grace Dening-Smitherman was a crew-mate of Topp at Henley Royal Regatta this year where both made the final of the Wargrave Challenge Cup. If I have my sides worked out correctly they will be possible pairing for subsequent trials and as such two athletes to keep our eyes on.
Jasmine Bowers, Jemima Furness & Grace Richards (Oxford Brookes University BC)
As always there is a strong contingent entered from Oxford Brookes. The standouts among them are Bowers, Furness and Richards who were all part of the Brookes ‘A’ crew competing in the Island Challenge Cup at Henley this year, going out on the Saturday against the eventual winners from Brown Unviersity, USA. For these athletes their programme will be dominated by training in big, sweep boats and this may mean they are less well prepared to compete as scullers at this set of trials.
Claudia Rossington, Hannah Supple & Catriona Taylor (Edinburgh University BC)
Another triplet of athletes, this time from Edinburgh University, to watch out for here. These athletes look to be the cream of the crop of athletes being sent south to rekindle the international success EUBC has had over recent years. With no women selected for Great Britain in 2022, the coaching staff will be eager to bring through the next generation.
Sarah Portsmouth & Darla Matthews (Thames RC)
Sitting quite obviously in the list of entries as a pair waiting to take to the water, these are the sole U23 entries from Thames. Portsmouth has just left Cambridge University where she was part of the victorious Blue Boat at this year’s Boat Race. Presumably looking to prioritise trials this year, she has the potential to be one of the top athletes among this roster. Matthew’s competed for Thames last year and was part of their crew in the Remenham Challenge Cup at Henley.
Others
There are a multitude of U23 entries from across the country and indeed beyond to consider. The top athletes from Newcastle and Durham should be amongst the top U23 entrants and there are others from the UK’s top clubs namely Leander. It must also be mentioned that there is a huge number of athletes registered who are studying in the U.S. and the majority of these will fall into the U23 sweep category. As such, we’ll expect the eventual team to look very different to those who place top at trials.
Prediction
It’s hard to say who the top athletes will be as scullers, but I suggest Abigail Topp will be up there as will Thames’s Sarah Portsmouth.
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