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

GB trials are back. Hosted by Boston RC and occupying the well-known 5km stretch of the River Whitam, this first 2021-2022 trials instalment saw a healthy mix of familiar faces and new additions rising to the challenge. With an impressive 25 senior women distributed across this category, the competition was fierce. Standout performances were displayed by the top eight women, who occupied the top four women’s pairs of the day.

Comprising half of the fastest women’s pair on the water and with the second-fastest individual women’s ergo score, Sam Redgrave‘s performances this weekend will undoubtedly lead to a successful season at trials and beyond. Alongside her stellar international track record at junior and senior levels – with World Cup Women’s Pair selection and HRR wins already under her belt in 2021 – Sam has proven herself to be an adaptable sweep athlete, which will be critical for seat racing as selection becomes all the more strenuous.

Powering down the course with Sam Redgrave in the fastest women’s pair or the day was Esme Booth. Now racing under Leander, Esme had a very successful 2021 representing Oxford Brookes University, picking up a victory in Championship Eights at 2021 Henley Women’s Regatta among a plethora of other national accolades. After this weekend, Esme has solidified her status as one of the country’s top oarswomen, and is well-placed to earn an international seat this season.

Another athlete that needs no introduction when it comes to the international scene is fellow Leander club-mate and Durham University alumna, Lauren Irwin. Lauren has seen exceptional success throughout her junior, university, and now senior rowing careers. With a 2019 U23 World Championship gold, 2021 Women’s Four World Cup III selection, and two 2021 Henley Royal sweep wins to her name, Lauren’s second-place finish in the women’s pair and ninth individual women’s ergo score stand her in good stead for selection this year.

Also no stranger to a Team GB call-up, Alice Davies continued the dominant streak of Leander women at this trials weekend. Having already raced in the senior women’s pair at World Cup III this year alongside club-mate Heidi Long, it is unsurprising to see Alice on top form at trials once again. Taking second place in the pair to Sam Redgrave and Esme Booth was a solid result, and puts Alice in a good place for the rest of the trialling process.

Now competing for a spot in senior boats, Hope Cessford proved herself to be a key member of the U23 GB women’s sweep cohort in the last few years. Hope also claimed gold alongside fellow northern powerhouse Lauren Irwin in the Women’s Four at the 2019 U23 World Championships, and has picked up many other national and international accolades in a rowing career spanning across the world – from her home club of Durham ARC as a junior, to her university career at Harvard University and now joining the best of the best in senior women’s rowing at Leander. Hope is a strong contender for a seat in GB’s top senior women’s boat this summer.

Paired with Hope Cessford in the third-place boat was Meg Saunders of Scullers. As with Hope, Meg had an extremely successful USA-based uni rowing stint in the women’s first eight at Stanford University, picking up second place at the 2021 NCAA championships. She also joins the fold of senior trialists with a GB U23 performance already on her CV, picking up a silver medal in the women’s eight at the U23 World Championships. Margaret’s track record, technical prowess, and fourth-place women’s individual ergo score this weekend makes her another front-runner in seat selection.

Fresh from the Women’s Pair at 2021 World Cup III with her previously mentioned teammate Alice Davies, Heidi Long joined forces this time with Alexandra Watson of Molesey BC and produced a great row at this first set of trials, finishing 4th in the women’s pairs overall. With a couple of Henley wins and U23 championship medals already achieved, Heidi is definitely another one to watch this year.

Last but certainly not least, the top eight female trialists lineup would not be complete without Alexandra Watson of Molesey BC. Another Brit who took her university rowing career across the pond, Alexandra returns to GB trials after a star-spangled run at NCAA 2021 champion club University of Texas to battle it out for a senior sweep seat. Indeed, her place in the silver-medal-winning GB Women’s Eight at the 2019 U23 World Championships (alongside formerly mentioned Meg Saunders) will be remembered, and her existing senior success is likely to continue on an upward trajectory this season.

This first round of trials has certainly provided some food for thought into who may be pooled for senior women’s sweep seats in upcoming 2022 World and European Championships. I am intrigued to see how the rest of the selection process pans out for all involved.

About The Author

Alex McMullen

Alex is our Head of The Catch, comprising the opinions and columnists teams. She started rowing in 2010 at Durham Amateur Rowing Club and had a successful six-year junior career on the national and regional scene. Having joined the JRN writing team in 2021, Alex assumed control of all Catch-related content in 2023. She works full-time in UK private equity, and is a Master’s graduate of King’s College London.

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