As we head towards the 2024 Paris Olympics, this February trials seeks to display the best of Britain’s development athletes. The entries for the women’s singles are dominated by under-23 eligible athletes, who will be looking to build upon last season’s results at the World and European championships.
The Universities
Nearly half of all entries are listed as belonging to various UK universities. Leading the pack is Edinburgh University Boat Club with four entrants. This includes Hannah Supple and Charley Faint, who placed 25th and 38th at last year’s February trials. Supple was then invited to April trials, where she placed as the second fastest under-23. Also entered are two standouts from the Edinburgh University Boat Club development programme, Josephine Briggs and Grace Dawson. It will be exciting to see how Briggs and Dawson perform, having only started rowing in September 2022!
The next bulk of university entries are from Durham University Boat Club and Reading University Boat Club, each with three entries. Durham’s Isobel Sellers, winner of The Haslam Trophy for lightweight double sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta 2023, will be one to watch. Sellers knows how to perform on the gruelling five-kilometre Boston course, as her February 2023 time trial placed her fourth amongst the under-23s. Leading the Reading pack is Ellie Cooke, who last season earned a seat in the British under-23 quad at both the World and European championships.
Other members of the under-23 women’s quad returning to trial this year are Rachel Bradley, Newcastle University Boat Club, and Molly Curry, Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club. Bradley is another athlete who shines over the five-kilometre course, with her 2023 February time trial placing her third amongst the under-23s. With each of these athletes likely vying for a return to the under-23 worlds, they will be looking to make a strong impression this weekend.
The Clubs
The club with the highest number of entries is, unsurprisingly, Leander. Amongst the nine pink hippos hitting the water this weekend are ex-Brookes’ rowers and under-23 medallists Daisy Bellamy, Isy Hawes and Jemima Furness, as well as Coupe de la Jeunesse medallists Anna Cowell and Kathryn Burton, both competing as under-21s.
Molesey Boat Club is another notable contingent, following a resurgence in their women’s squad in the last few years. Heloise Wormleighton, an HWR 2023 finalist who placed 41st at November trials 2022; Bass Andre, a graduate of Tulsa University who placed 29th at last year’s February trials; Lily Abbott, a Duke recruit who was selected for the under-23 squad last season- all show great promise.
Thames Rowing Club has one entry; Freya Keto, a Brown University graduate and a Boat Race winner for Cambridge, is certainly one to watch.
The Individuals
When looking down the list of entrants for this unique set of trials a few key and familiar names likely stick out to anyone who follows British women’s sculling. The former GB start athlete Kathryn Mole has contested the Wingfield Sculls, raced Henley Women’s finals and placed second in the B final at last year’s April trials. We also have three members of the GB High-Performance Sculling Academy: Vwaire Obukohwo, Jade Lindo and Perri McCluskey. With Under 23 medals and impressive performances at Henley Women’s Henley Royal and Scullers head, this group of athletes will be looking to make a major splash this weekend.
Conclusion
Trying to predict the results of any GB trials is a herculean task. However, amongst the senior women, Obukohwo and Mole will likely be fighting it out for the overall fastest time. The under-23s that seem to perform best on the five-kilometre course are Sellers and Bradley, so I would predict one of these athletes to bag the fastest under-23.
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