GB Trials 2021/22 – Senior Women’s Sculling (1st instalment)

Back in Boston for the first GB assessment of the 2021/22 season. 94 heavyweight women took on the erg. Ten of these were USA based athletes so therefore don’t race on the Sunday, but uploaded a 2km erg time instead. 29 of these women competed in their singles, with 64 pairing up to race in pairs for sweep trials. 7:05 is the erg cut off time for seniors, however a large number find themselves slipping under the 7 minute mark. Exemption for Olympians along with medical exemptions and American athletes means water and ergs orders and placements can vary.

Coming in first in the water assessment was Lola Anderson from Leander. Although she placed 29th on the erg, she dominated the 5k on the water. This 2021 summer saw her win the Princess Royal Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. More recently she joined the elite group of athletes to have won the Wingfield Sculls, held on the Thames.

Second past the post was Georgina Brayshaw also from Leander. She was the quickest woman on the erg on Saturday and so has a strong position for assessments throughout the 2021/22 season. She put in a strong performance at the Wingfield sculls and will be keen to progress throughout this season.

Kathryn Mole from the World Class Start squad based in Leeds, put in a strong row to come in third. She came 32nd on the erg but didn’t let that hold her back. Earlier this year saw her race at Marlow Regatta in a quad alongside Vwaire Obukohwo, and later in the season racing against Lola and Georgina in the Wingfield Sculls.

Kyra Edwards has missed the majority of racing in the 2021 season due to a back injury. Luckily she has recovered and managed to put in some strong times, making sure the team knew she was back and raring to go. Kyra pulled a strong 2km erg and was in seventh place, able to build on this and come in fourth on the water.

Other notable results include Imogen Magner from Leander was 25th on the erg and seventh on the water. Imogen won the B final at the 2021 final trials over 2k and will be wanting to build on this over this season. She is fresh from a Wargrave Challenge Cup win at Henley Royal Regatta and has an exciting season ahead of her.

Amelia Hempleman-Adams from Minerva Bath RC and another WCS athlete came in 20th on the erg and eighth on the water, after a good summer’s worth of racing in a women’s double at Henley Royal Regatta and winning at Henley Women’s with teammate Rebecca Wilde who missed this trial with injury.

Natasha Harris-White also from Leander was eighth on the water. Natasha having done and won a large majority of her races in sweep boats such as winning Henley Women’s Regatta in the Championship Pair along with previous GB representation at World Cup III, this year she turned to her trusty single to find her way down the course. 

Overall, the GBRT First Assessment for the 2021/22 selection process has been fast paced and exciting. A strong group of women all determined for GB selection through from European Championships through to World Championships and the World Cups. Unfortunately, not all of these spectacular women could be mentioned but they should all be proud of their results and I am sure they are all eager to progress and see what this year will bring. Well done to all, the hard work and determination is shining through!

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