The 2021/22 season is a strange one for lightweight rowing. Having been granted a stay of execution on its removal from the Olympic programme until after the Paris games, it leaves athletes in a quandary. On the one hand it is only a three-year campaign to be racing on the biggest stage of all, but it is an event without a future, so athletes may take a longer term view and could possibly look to try and mix it with the open-weights with more events and therefore seats available.
The first trial of the new Olympiad attracted a reasonable lightweight field, at both senior and U23 level. All were racing in the single scull, over 5km on the Boston track, having completed a 2km erg test on the Saturday.
In terms of looking at the senior entries, the standout name in the field was Jamie Copus. As the incumbent of one seat in the lightweight men’s double for the last few years, only narrowly missing out on qualification for the Tokyo games with Sam Mottram, he will be looking to make sure the only question for the selectors will be who will partner him in the boat on the international stage. With a dominant performance at trials, as well as an overall headship at Scullers’ Head, and a close second at Head of the Charles, he has made a strong start to the season.
In terms of looking at the other names, Dale Flockhart is one who stands out. Having dabbled with heavyweight rowing last year, narrowly missing out on selection in the double for the U23 World Championships, he will be looking to put himself on the radar with a solid return. Hugo Oglina is another athlete based in Edinburgh, who was a part of Edinburgh University’s first eight last year, a summer that saw him stroke Edinburgh to victory in Championship Lightweight Men’s Quad at BUCS Regatta and pick up a bronze in the double on the final day of the regatta. A 2k personal best, coupled with a fifth place overall is a good starting point as he steps up to senior level. Dan Jones was the other entry in senior, placing first of the lightweights on the erg, and sixth overall on the water.
Looking at the U23 aspect of the results, it was an Oxford and Cambridge battle for top honours on the Sunday, with Nick Ryan of Oxford, and Matt Dell of Cambridge emerging as the clear top two on the water assessment. Both were in the respective Blue Boats last year, and both won medals in various events at BUCS, with Nick taking a bronze in the Championship Lightweight Men’s Single, Matthew won the Lightweight Men’s Pair, and both took silver and bronze respectively in the four. Both also rowed at Henley, in the Prince of Wales, and the Prince Albert to cap off a solid season.
In terms of the other U23s, the remaining entries came from Durham, with all three scullers having a good intra squad battle, albeit a fair margin behind the aforementioned duo. The difficulty is seeing what the progression will be for the U23s, as it becomes less and less of a focus for British Rowing. This will be an issue that only is answered as the trials process continues for these guys.
The next step in the process for these guys is an invite only trial at Caversham in December, and the next trip to Boston will be in February based off the results of a club based 5km erg test. Hopefully by then, there will be clearer idea as to the end result of the trials process for the lightweights especially for those at U23 level.
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