Image Credit: World Rowing
Following the heavy rain and flooding for much of the latter half of 2023, GBRT’s November trials lacked any form of opportunity for the women’s sweep squad to battle it out on the water. With only 2k times to go off, a select few switched over to sculling for the trials; but now we see Development and U23 athletes out in force to take on the 5km stretch in pairs at Boston.
Amelia Standing & Juliette Perry (Leander Club)
Former Oxford University Women’s Boat Club teammates, Standing and Perry are both strong athletes in their own right, but appear to come together seamlessly in the pair. Both PB’ed on their November trials 2k tests, placing 44th and 13th respectively, and will be looking to continue their upward trajectory after a successful previous season. As semi-finalists in the Hambleden Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, I’m excited to see how these two can perform and expect that they’ll be near the top of the rankings.
Lucy Edmunds & Annie Sharp (Oxford University BC / York City RC / Oxford University BC)
Now to a pair of current Oxford rowers – both likely to feature in OUBC’s 2024 Women’s Blue Boat – Edmunds and Sharp are also vying for additional GB vests to add to their collections. Both had successful U23 careers, with Sharp winning bronze in the coxless four at U23 Euros, as well as back-to-back Wargrave Challenge Cup wins at Henley Royal Regatta with Thames Rowing Club; while Edmunds represented GB at U23 worlds in 2019 to come away with a silver medal in the eight. Both are incredibly experienced athletes in their own right, and a strong performance on the water could put them both near the top of the development rankings.
Lizzie Witt & Jessica Martin (University of London BC / Imperial College BC)
Another athlete with success in the pair last season, Lizzie Witt will be taking on the Boston course with her University of London counterpart, Jessie Martin. Winner of the Redgrave Challenge Vase at HWR in 2023, and with a silver medal for GB in the eight at U23 World in 2022, this name is one that I’d be hoping to see towards the top of the standings this weekend. Witt placed ninth in February last year, up in the rankings with some of GB’s top female athletes, so I’d hope to see her and Martin aim to dominate this Development field.
Phoebe Snowden & Charlotte Fennell (Leander Club / University of London BC / Leander Club)
Another athlete with a November 2k PB, Phoebe Snowden also took on the 4km Caversham time trial in the single as part of her senior debut. Snowden has a strong track record with her junior trials performances too – placing third in February and second in July, to be selected for the Junior GB team that went to Tokyo in the coxless four. Partnering up with fellow Leander athlete Charlotte Fennell, I hope to see Snowden build on her previous trials success this weekend and make a challenge for the top spots.
Predictions
With the slightly altered format of trials this Olympic year, this is a time for Development athletes to shine while not overshadowed by their Senior counterparts. I think it’ll be a close battle for the top spots, but expect Standing & Perry of Leander Club to come out on top. I’d like to see the likes of Snowden and Witt make the step up to challenge some of the more experienced senior athletes, but other hopefuls such as Abigail Topp and Megan Slabbert certainly can’t be overlooked either.
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