In the second water trials of the season, the top junior women from across the country will take on Boston’s infamous 5k course, each striving to strengthen their chances of a GB vest. Battling Saturday’s crisp conditions and the loneliness of a long sculling race, they will need both mental and physical resilience to perform under intense pressure.
Catherine Gardner, Hartpury University and College Boat Club
Among the best in her field, Gardner has demonstrated her speed and strength consistently in the single scull. Carrying the momentum from her silver medal at the National Schools’ Regatta into an intense winter training program, she has asserted her dominance in the first set of trials, leaving her competitors behind. With a clear margin over the rest of the field, confidence will be Gardner’s greatest asset as she heads into the weekend determined to defend her top position.
Eleanor Lawrence-Preston, Wycliffe College Boat Club
Holding multiple erg records, Lawrence-Preston has proven that ergs do, in fact, float, securing a top-ten finish in the last set of trials. Thriving at her new club Wycliffe College – arguably home to the strongest junior women’s sculling programme in the country – Eleanor outpaced her new teammates to firmly establish herself as a contender for a GB vest. With past experience racing for Wales at the Home International Regatta, she brings a level of top-tier competition that provides its own advantages to her as a younger trialist.
Jess Kerbiriou, Tideway Scullers School
Formerly a Lea sculler, Kerbiriou has already secured numerous national achievements, including a win in the women’s Junior 18 doubles at the British Junior Championships last season and a fourth-place finish in the girl’s championship quads at National Schools’ Regatta during her Junior 16 season. Her raw potential has propelled her up the junior rowing ranks, putting her in direct competition with older and more experienced scullers. Her recent move to Tideway Scullers will undoubtedly challenge and benefit her in many ways, not least by giving her the advantage of training on the Tideway. As a young trialist, she may be overlooked by some, but to me, she is undoubtedly one of the best up-and-coming scullers.
Lily-Rose Anderson, Wycliffe College Boat Club
Winner of the Di Ellis Trophy for junior singles at Henley Women’s Regatta last year, Anderson is undoubtedly a strong favourite to lead the results this weekend. Securing one of the most prestigious junior single scull titles showcases her skill and technique in a way few other victories could, highlighting the threat she poses to her competitors. Her versatility is further proven by her semifinal run at Henley Royal Regatta, where she stroked Wycliffe’s second quad, demonstrating her adaptability across multiple sculling boat classes, which is a valuable asset in this selection process.
Seren Page, Nottingham Rowing Club
Coming from a smaller club than many others on this list, Page has not let that be a disadvantage, as she posted an extremely competitive time at November trials. Holding her own among the Tideway and private school scullers all too familiar in this sport, she has proven she belongs at the top level of competition. Winning the B-final of girl’s championship quads at the National Schools’ Regatta last year only adds to her list of achievements as she continues to climb the ranks of junior sculling. I look forward to seeing how she has progressed from the last set of trials to this one.
Briony Wood, Glasgow Academy Rowing Club
Twice a winner of the championship girl’s single at the National Schools’ Regatta, Wood has had to contend with her fair share of injuries while enjoying a meteoric rise in the sport. Still only a J17, she blew the field apart in winning a remarkable gold at Dorney Lake as a J15 back in 2023 and looked a sure bet for international honours last summer after repeating the feat, only to find her summer scuppered by injury. After recovering from a wrist issue, she’ll be hopeful of a strong showing to remind all of her competitors that she’s here to stay.
Conclusion
Given her previous margin over the field, I can’t see anyone replacing Gardner at the top, but the rest of the rankings are yet to be decided. Wood is certainly a sculler to watch, given she’s bested Gardner before, and I’d expect a switch-up among the Wycliffe scullers, with Anderson just edging out Lawrence-Preston. The real question remains: can anyone further down the ranks break into such a tightly contested field, or will the same names dominate again?
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