Alison Knowles

For the 2010 World Cup Series Alison raced in the women's eight at all three events and in Bled doubled up into the GB second women's pair with Jess Eddie, taking 6th place.  In the eight Alison won gold in Bled, silver in Munich and bronze in Lucerne.  This has been a promising season for the women's eight who have shown consistency throughout the World Cup series.

Alison raced in the women's eight at the 2009 World Championships in Poznan, finishing 5th.

She was selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the women's eight and helped them to qualify for the final but unfortunately, due to illness, was unable to race in the final.

Alison took up rowing in 2000 at Exeter University and on moving to London in 2003 joined Thames Rowing Club and their successful Senior Programme, run by Gary Stubbs.

She became World U23 Champion in 2004 in the women's four by producing an excellent row in the final; they demolished the field, leading by clear water after 500 metres to win an impressive and emphatic gold medal.

Alison, with Beth Rodford, won the pairs' event at the GB Rowing Team Senior Trials in 2005 and raced in the pair and eight at the Eton World Cup Regatta, winning a bronze in the eight.  She then switched to the four at the Lucerne World Cup Finals, taking bronze again.  She went on to be part of the women's eight which performed so well at the 2005 World Championships in Japan, finishing 5th.

In the 2006 World Cup Series, the women's eight took another bronze in Poznan and finished 4th in the World Cup in Lucerne.  At the World Championships at Eton the GB women's eight finished 8th.

Alison won the women's pair with Natasha Howard at the 2007 GB Rowing Team Senior Trials in Belgium and followed this with a bronze medal in the eight at the 2007 World Championships. 

Alison is Lottery Funded through UK Sport.