Great results at GB trials
Seven RUBC members travelled to Boston, Lincolnshire, for the first Great Britain (GB) trials of the 2019-20 season.
These trials are tough and included the everyone who is trying to get into the GB rowing team for the Tokyo Olympics in under 9 months time. They include olympic medalists, world champions and U23 world Champions.
The trials are comprised of a 2000m (2k) test on the rowing machine on the Saturday, followed by a 5000m (5k) race on the river on the Sunday. RUBC had some strong personal performances on day one with everyone making the required cut off to progress and Lucy, Lauren and Lara all setting personal bests on the rowing machine.
Sunday weather was fantastic for racing. First off for RUBC was Rory, who set the bar high finishing in 2nd place inthe U23 category behind a current U23 world champion. In the second division the RUBC women were also out to impress and they did it in great style. In her first year out of junior rowing, Liv put in a superb performance to finish in the top spot of the U23 category ahead, this time, of an U23 world Champion. Close behind Liv was Rachel, who finished in 4th U23 and just on her heels was Lucy, who although achieving a strong result, was hampered by the steering of the sculler infront of her, taking her out of the stream and dropping valuable seconds off her time.
In the lightweight women’s race, Chloe, who raced at the 2019 U23 world championships, showed her form and topped the U23 scullers at these trials. She was followed down the course by Lauren and Lara who raced really well and gained hugely valuable experience for an exciting season ahead.
From these trials BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport, the governing body for university sport in the UK) determine the results for the small boats head of the River, and RUBC picked up a trio of silver BUCS medals. Rory in the Men single, Liv in the women’s single and Chloe in the Women’s lightweight single. This is one of RUBC best ever performances at the BUCS small boats head.
RUBC alumni were also in action over the weekend and it was great to see them inspire the next generation. Adam Neill, Caragh McMurtry, Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne, Stewart Innes, Olly Dix and Luke Reiser were all there working towards getting to the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
Ill health and injury meant that four of our RUBC members hoping to trial couldn’t make it on this occasion, but they’ll return for the next set of trials in February. In the meantime it’s back to the gym and many more hours on the water for all our rowers to make sure everyone keep chasing their dreams.
Results -
Liv Morgan - 1st U23 women’s sculler (16th overall)
Chloe Knights - 1st U23 lightweight women’s sculler (5th overall)
Rory Harris - 2nd U23 men’s sculler (19th overall)
Rachel Heap - 4th U23 women’s sculler (20th overall)
Lucy Ryan - 6th U23 women’s sculler (25th overall)
Lauren Maddison - 8th U23 lightweight women’s sculler (12th overall)
Lara Brittain - 9th U23 lightweight women’s sculler (13th overall)