After a disrupted winter and only one trip to Boston, nineteen of the best non-Olympic British scullers head to Caversham. Of these, 13 are eligible to race at the Under 23 World Championships this August and will be aiming to stake a claim to a spot on the plane before those based overseas return for crew selection.
Stephen Hughes, Leander Club/Maidenhead RC
The only member of last year’s Under 23 sculling team that will be racing this weekend, Stephen Hughes will be wanting to return to the setup again this year. Last summer, he made his world-level debut in the quad as they would finish less than two seconds off the podium in Bulgaria.
So far this season, there has been great success for the Leander sculler as he was the fastest Under 23 by some margin at the February trials over the 5km time trial. This weekend will be side-by-side over 2000m, but he will likely be confident in his ability to maintain his position as the top age group sculler in his final year of eligibility.
Joshua Matthews, Edinburgh University BC
The only other athlete racing with Under 23 experience is Josh Matthews of Edinburgh University. He raced in the quadruple sculls, later in the Summer at the European Rowing Under 23 Championships in Germany, where they placed fifth overall in an eight-boat field. This followed his selection the previous year in the same boat class at the World Rowing Under 19 Championships.
Missing from the February trials, his international experience and phenomenal erg scores have earned him an invite to Caversham this weekend. But after sitting in five seat of an impressive Edinburgh eight at the Head of the River, he will be aiming to carry that speed with him at Caversham.
Harry Ruinet, Marlow RC/Claires Court School
Also exempt from February trials was Harry Ruinet. The Marlow sculler already has a glittering international career with two trips to the Junior World Championships as he was also in Matthews’ crew in 2022 but followed that up by being reselected to the quadruple sculls in 2023, winning a silver medal against global opposition.
This season has been interrupted by injury and weather, so there has been very little racing for the Claires Court alum since his last World Championships, so how he fares this weekend will be somewhat of a mystery.
Nathaniel Gauden, Leander Club
Another one of the 2023 silver medal winning quad is Nat Gauden. Originally a member of Wallingford Rowing Club, Gauden has a member of Leander for both of his last two years as a junior, being selected for Coupe de la Jeunesse in the quad in 2022 before making the trip to Paris for the Under 19 World Championships in the same boat class in 2023, winning silver alongside Ruinet.
This season he finished in 16th overall in the February trials, a solid result for his first with the seniors, and was the fastest from last year’s Junior Worlds Team. He will be wanting to achieve a similar or better result this weekend to put himself in for selection to either the World or European Under 23 Championships in his first season at this level.
Elliot Donovan-Davies, Hartpury University & College BC
However, the best performing Under 21 athlete in the single at February trials was not someone who had been to a Junior World Championship in the last two years, instead – shocking much of the rowing establishment – that honour belonged to Elliot Donovan-Davies of Hartpury College. Still a schoolboy, the Welshman has thrived in the Hartpury environment, rising up the ranks to win two silver medals in the quadruple sculls at the Coupe de la Jeunesse last summer.
This improvement kept showing as at the February trials in Boston, he would place as the second fastest Under 23 and eight overall in the whole trial: a serious display of speed before he even steps foot into the boathouse. If he can keep carrying that speed into the trials this weekend, he may put himself in a position to earn an Under 23 vest before he heads off to Stanford after the summer.
Charles Warren, Durham University BC/Windsorian RC
Only a few seconds back from Donovan-Davies in February was Charlie Warren, a key member of the 2022 triple winning quad at Windsor Boys’ School, he now represents Durham University Boat Club and rowed in two seat of their BUCS Head winning Championship Eight a week after trials in February.
Warren made up for missing the traditional November trip to Boston, Lincolnshire by making the trip to the Head of the Charles where he would place third overall in the championship double, representing the colours of his alma matter. This global quality experience may serve him well through this weekend and the selection process to follow as he aspires to earn his first GB vest.
Angus Pollock, Bath University BC/UK Armed Forces RC
Angus Pollock is back in the trials process this year after a year out in the 2023 process. The Bath University athlete has been chasing a GB vest for a number years and was selected for the Under 23 European Championships in 2022 in just his Under 21 season. However, a week before racing he was forced to pull out due to a stress fracture in his rib.
After sitting out of the entire 2023 trials process – despite a successful season which included a BUCS gold medal – he is back this year to take on the challenge of GB selection once more. He has displayed the speed to achieve that two years ago and two more years under Dan Harris’ tutelage won’t have hurt either.
Predictions
With such a commanding victory in February, it would be foolish to bet against Stephen Hughes to win the Under 23 crown again, as he may be eyeing up an easter egg for finishing in the overall top three in the trials. Rounding out the top three for age-group scullers, my guesses would be for Josh Matthews to be back from injury with a vengeance, pushing Elliot Donovan-Davies down into third.
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