A cold and windy weekend set the scene for the GB U19 February assessments. With some demanding conditions that rowers had few moments to acclimate to during the weekend including a strong tail wind that ran down the course creating a contrastingly different environment to row Early IDs back in November. Results and times were strong from both the scullers and the sweepers, who both battled the single on the Saturday and a double or pair on the Sunday respectively.
Women’s Sculling
Cheesmur – Molesey Boat Club
Cheesmur took the win in the 1x on the Saturday with style and second in the double with partner Rabjohns from Hartpury by 0.2s, a returner from the Couple De La Jeunesse in the JW4x, taking 2 bronzes over the course of the regatta. Having had strong performances domestically as well this season over the Thames-based head races, but not having a result at Early IDs – Cheesmur certainly put down a marker and has cemented herself as one of the top scullers in the UK.
Fullman – Wycliffe School Boat Club
Ella took 2nd at Early IDs and 2nd again at February assessments in the single, and is yet another returner from Coupe where she raced the single. Ella gave a strong performance in the single and took the win on the Sunday in the double with partner Weir from Shiplake BC, who also gave a strong performance in the single the day prior coming 4th.
Rabjohns – Hartpury College Boat Club
A new name to the GB circuit, Rabjohns also didn’t have a result at Early IDs yet stormed her way through the field starting 50th to come 3rd, a GB Start athlete with lots of promise, it will be exciting to see what she does in the next coming months.
Women’s Sweep
The U19 Womens Sweep athletes first had to brave a single on the Saturday moving into the pair on Sunday. With strong performances across the board with the likes of Greenstock and Harkin breaking into the top 10 scullers, it showed the class and depth that the sweepers have across the disciplines.
Comerford (Tideway Scullers)/ Greenstock (Surbiton)
Put out a stellar performance on the Sunday, Greenstock, the returning 7 seat of the U19 World Championships Eight that won silver in the Summer, combined with Comerford they were looking to take the win, which they did. Expertly managing the conditions and ensuring that every stroke counted the combination took an unsurprising win.
Newton (George Heriots)/ Harkin (Henley RC)
Close on their heels were another composite pair, Newton returning from injury and Harkin switching to the sweep discipline, they were an unknown pairing but looked set to shake things up. Both represented GB in the summer, Newton in the 4- at Varese and Harkin in the 2- at Coupe. I am looking forward to see where this combination goes in the coming months, as I’m sure they have much more speed come the summer and final trials.
Behind them there was a tight race for 3rd, taken by the Teddies pair of Batchelor/Welford, but between them and 6th there was only around 5 seconds – the chasing pack behind the no.1&2 placed pairs were close and it will be exciting to see who falls where, when it comes to 2000m lane racing.
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