In an Olympic Year April Trials differs from the rest of the Olympiad. With the Olympic team all but confirmed and racing in World Cup one this weekend, this year’s “Final Trials” sees only the Development and U23 athletes taking part.
Whilst no Olympic Seats await, to be invited to race this weekend is an achievement no less and an important opportunity for development athletes to put themselves in prime position to race in crews at World Cup three and Henley Royal, whilst also putting themselves at the front of the queue to be invited into the senior squad next Olympiad.
In a year of cancelled, flooded or rearranged trials it is a relief to see the water levels receding and the first side by side of the year taking place. The Women’s Development Single looks to be one of the most exciting events of the weekend.
Katie Mole, University of Birmingham/Leander Club
The form development single sculler of recent years, Katie Mole has performed consistently well at trials over the last few seasons. In 2022 she placed fifth in the A-final, following this with a second place in the B-final last year. She continues to be one of the fiercest competitors, despite being a full-time medical student at the University of Birmingham. Balancing her studies with a predominantly land-based programme (due to the absence of rowing facilities in Birmingham), she still regularly turns up at the sharp end of competition. Supported by Leander Club, she will have benefited from their water time in recent weeks as well as their coaching, and will surely be in great shape heading into this weekend.
Jenny Bates, Oxford Brookes
Jenny Bates is back on the start list after a winter disrupted by a rib injury. Bates had a phenomenal start to the season, placing seventh at November’s Olympic trials. A former Start athlete, she spent a number of years at Oxford Brookes, before moving to British Rowing’s new “Performance Sculling Academy” (PSA) this season, a decision which has clearly paid off. Last year, Bates placed fourth in the B-final at April Trials, so does have some experience of side-by-side racing. The PSA have recently returned from a training camp in Hazewinkel so will be well primed for racing in singles.
Vwaire Obukohwo, Twickenham Rowing Club
In her first year out of U23’s, Obukohwo is ready to make the step up to senior standard. Another PSA athlete, if she applies her erg strength to water racing, she is a force to be reckoned with. Placing 24th at November trials, she followed this with third in February, so will hope to build on this. Obukohwo thrives in side-by-side racing and will step up this weekend, so expect an improvement on her longer distance results.
Jade Lindo, Twickenham Rowing Club
The final PSA athlete to look out for is Jade Lindo. Unpredictable and more than capable of causing an upset, Lindo often starts strong and can challenge for the top spots if she holds on. At November trials she placed 17th, beating everyone in this field but Bates, whilst at April trials last year she placed fifth in the B-final. Racing internationally in the single as a development athlete at Duisburg last summer, this will have built her experience of side-by-side racing. Lindo missed February trials but looks to be back and in good shape heading into April’s edition.
Cameron Nyland, Leander Club
An underdog but a name to look out for is Leander sculler Cam Nyland. Having been an impressive sculler at U23 level, notably placing seventh in the double sculls at U23 Europeans in 2021, she moved to Leander and raced for two seasons as a sweeper. Now back sculling, she has built throughout the season, placing 28th at November trials, followed by fifth in February. She looks to be improving each outing and April is an exciting chance for her to see what she can do. More than capable of springing a surprise, look out for Nyland.
Sarah McKay, Grosvenor Rowing Club
Sarah McKay is another athlete to look out for. Labelling her as an underdog would be unjust, given her impressive performances this season. At November’s Olympic Trials she placed 22nd, only beaten by Lindo and Bates, and followed this with a superb February performance, placing second behind Mole. This was a remarkable improvement from last season where she raced in the D-final in April. How McKay fares in side-by-side racing will be interesting; expect her to make the A-final and from there it will be interesting to see what she can do.
Predictions
It is hard to see past Mole for the top spot. Whilst the rest of the field may be tasked with hunting her down, she is the standout single sculler in this field and is a true match racer. Her experience is invaluable, and she will relinquish the top spot easily. Behind Mole, it is hard to predict. Bates has significant talent and speed whilst it is also very hard to write off Obukohwo. In the development category, I can see these two pushing hardest to challenge Mole.
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