Boston is a necessary February evil for those who dream of being part of the GB Rowing setup. Having already visited in November, this round of testing features a slight change from what we would ordinarily see. With the male scullers instructed to take to the water in a double, with a partner of their choice, it’s an interesting change in direction from the selection team. The field features several returning athletes, individuals who competed at the most recent games in Paris, and some development athletes who are looking to progress into the senior squad over the coming year.
Callum Dixon / Cedol Dafydd
A graduate of the Twickenham Start Programme, Callum Dixon featured as a part of the quad that came fourth at the Paris Olympic Games. As a returning team member, he didn’t have to attend the trials held here in November. He instead chose to race and win at the prestigious Wingfield Sculls, a side-by-side race on the River Thames. Lining up in Boston, he’ll be joined by Cedol Dafydd, one of the leading prospects in GB sculling. Having achieved a second-placed finish on his last visit, losing to George Bourne, who raced for GB in the single throughout the previous year, being paired with Dixon is an opportunity to show that he is a cut above the rest of the field. Having learnt to row to row at the illustrious Bath GB Performance Academy, Dafydd won the The Double Sculls Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, and the Holland Beker Regatta with Jamie Gare.
Tobias Schroder / Jamie Gare
Former Oxford University BC strokeman and Boat Race winner Tobias Schroder will be looking to build on his 4th place finish from November trials. Having won The Queen Mother Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, Schroder’s Leander Club crew demonstrated their ability to compete against the best international senior competition. Despite the majority of his rowing experience being in sweep, he has made an admirable transition to sculling, reflected by his continued rise through the ranks at trials. Linking up with Jamie Gare, whose achievements are as extensive as those listed for Cedol Dafydd, this combination will be looking to challenge the boats that feature the more experienced athletes. Schroder and Gare’s priority will be continuing to progress through the ranks and demonstrating that they have what it takes to upset the odds.
Matthew Heywood / Aidan Thompson
Established members of the squad, Matthew Heywood and Aidan Thompson, are part of the only double that consists entirely of senior members. With this comes pressure and expectation, not only to beat those athletes that they’ll have trained amongst previously but also those athletes that want to be in their seats. With Heywood racing as part of the quad at the Paris Olympic Games, and Thompson being part of the double that raced at the World Rowing Championships with John Collins, the expectation should be that they come out on top of the pile.
Graeme Thomas / Joshua Knight
Graeme Thomas takes to the water in Boston with one of the hottest prospects in GB sculling. Having pulled the second fastest 2k time at trials in November with a time of 5:48.5, as well as winning at BRIC, Josh Knight has been afforded an opportunity to apply this potential to the water and better the 14th place that he achieved previously. Thomas raced internationally for GB in the single for most of the previous cycle, winning numerous international medals and the Wingfield Sculls in this period, before taking the final place available in the quad. It’s hard not to feel as though there is an intention behind this pairing, an opportunity to share the experience of one of the country’s best-ever scullers and see what effect this might have on the water. This crew is something of a dark horse for that reason; if things click, there’s no reason why they can’t come out on top.
Thomas Barras / Oliver Costley
Entering his third Olympic cycle, Thomas Barras has previously competed at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic games. Winning the first-ever British medal in the men’s quad with a silver in Japan, he remained a staple of this crew through the four years that followed. His partner, Oliver Costley, returned to Boston in November, placing sixth overall. Having represented GB at the U23 level, Costley has won The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta three times for Leander Club. Consistently placed amongst the top of the trialling scullers, this combination is exciting. It sees an experienced international figure race alongside someone who has repeatedly shown their aptitude at the elite club level.
Rory Harris / James Cartwright
Coming third and tenth, respectively, at the November trials, Rory Harris and James Cartwright shouldn’t be underestimated despite this strong field. Like Costley, Harris has performed consistently amongst the top trialists for many years. He also claimed several victories in The Queen Mother and Prince of Wales Challenge Cups at Henley Royal Regatta. Having represented GB once at the senior level in 2021 when he won a bronze medal at the third World Rowing Cup, he’s struggled to make his place permanent. Whilst his partner Cartwright doesn’t have a similarly illustrious CV, he’s been rowing in the US with the Northeastern Huskies, where he was team captain. Joining Leander Club on his return to the UK, he’s well-placed to continue his development and compete at the highest level.
Prediction
Given the entries, it’s difficult to predict the winner of this round of trials. Whilst there tends to be a range of experience and potential, there are a few crews that stand above in my opinion. Heywood and Thompson, being an entirely senior crew, should have too much for the others. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if Callum Dixon and Cedol Dafyyd were the eventual victors.
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