The young team, which will be competing on the famous Penrith regatta course where Sir Steve Redgrave won his fifth Olympic gold in 2000, includes three of the men’s four that won gold at the 2007 World Junior Championships, Matt Rossiter, George Nash and Kieren Emery, as well as 2008 Coupe de la Jeunesse single scull gold medallist Katherine Copeland. 

Several rowers who took part in the 2008 World Junior Championships have also been selected to represent Great Britain. They include bronze medallists in the women’s four Jenny Arnold, Olivia Carnegie-Brown and Jo Fitzsimmons, silver medallists in the men’s coxed four Matt Tarrant and Max Gander, and women’s double scull finalists Olivia Oakes and Rachel Gamble-Flint.

Also amongst the British contingent are John Preston, who finished seventh in the men’s pair at the 2008 world U23 Championships, and 2006 world junior bronze medallist Lottie Howard-Merrill.

David Tanner, GB Performance Director, said:  “We successfully maximised this event two years ago to give our young rowers a taste of the multi-sport environment.  We are looking forward once more to two days of tough competition”.

The British team expect to meet strong competition from host nation Australia as well as China and New Zealand, all of whom have sent the maximum number of 20 rowers to compete in the rowing events.

The competition rules for the AYOF state that each rower must compete in three different boat classes, one of which should be the eight. The requirement to race multiple times across two-days of competition, combined with the seasonal temperatures in Sydney, means the British rowers will face a tough challenge.

2009 marks the fifth AYOF, which is held in alternate years and is part of the legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games. This year approximately 1600 athletes from 25 nations will take part. The British Olympic Association have selected 120 athletes and 63 officials in total to make up the British team. 

RACE SCHEDULE

Saturday 17 January

8.00-10.00

Heats

W1x, M1x, W2-, M2-, WLwt2x, MLwt2x

12.00-13.30

Finals

W1x, M1x, W2-, M2-, WLwt2x, MLwt2x

14.00-14.50

Heats

W4x, M4x, W4-, M4-

Sunday 18 January

8.00-8.50

Finals

W4x, M4x, W4-, M4-

10.30-11.00

Heats

W8+, M8+

13.00-13.30

Finals

W8+, M8+

Note: schedule subject to change.

CREW LIST

(listed from bow to stroke)

OPEN

MEN

Pair (two boats)

George Nash (CUBC/02.10.89)/

Matt Rossiter (Abingdon School/25.09.89)

Kieren Emery  (Tyne RC/01.06.90)/

Matt Tarrant (OBUBC/11.07.90)

Coach: Alex Henshilwood

Four

Matt Tarrant (OBUBC/11.07.90)/

Kieren Emery  (Tyne RC/01.06.90)/

George Nash (CUBC/02.10.89)/

Matt Rossiter (Abingdon School/25.09.89)

Coach: Alex Henshilwood

Eight

Jonny Walton (Leicester RC/06.10.90)/

Jon Clegg (Leander Club/14.07.89)/

Matt Tarrant (OBUBC/11.07.90)/

Will Satch (Leander Club/09.06.89)/

George Nash (CUBC/02.10.89)/

Matt Rossiter (Abingdon School/25.09.89)

Jon Preston (Reading Uni BC/16.04.89)

Kieren Emery  (Tyne RC/01.06.90)/

Max Gander (Abingdon School/26.01.90) – cox

Coach: Alex Henshilwood

Single scull (two boats)

Will Satch (Leander Club/09.06.89)

Jonny Walton (Leicester RC/06.10.90)

Coach: Wade Hall-Craggs

Quad scull

Jon Clegg (Leander Club/14.07.89)/

Jonny Walton (Leicester RC/06.10.90)/

Will Satch (Leander Club/09.06.89)/

Jon Preston (Reading Uni BC/16.04.89)

Coach: Wade Hall-Craggs

WOMEN

OPEN

Pair (two boats)

Jenny Arnold (Reading Uni BC/06.02.90)/

Olivia Carnegie-Brown (Reading RC/28.03.91)

Lottie Howard-Merill (Headington School BC/15.11.89)/

Jo Fitzsimons (St Neots RC/16.06.90)

Coach: Eira Parry

Four

Lottie Howard-Merill (Headington School BC/15.11.89)/

Jo Fitzsimons (St Neots RC/16.06.90)/

Jenny Arnold (Reading Uni BC/06.02.90)/

Olivia Carnegie-Brown (Reading RC/28.03.91)

Coach: Eira Parry

Eight

Lottie Burgess (Reading Uni BC/25.06.90)/

Katherine Copeland (Yarm School BC/01.12.90)/

Rachel Gamble-Flint (Yarm School BC/13.09.91)/

Olivia Oakes (Uni of London Women’s BC/21.04.90)/

Lottie Howard-Merill (Headington School BC/15.11.89)/

Jo Fitzsimons (St Neots RC/16.06.90)/

Jenny Arnold (Reading Uni BC/06.02.90)/

Olivia Carnegie-Brown (Reading RC/28.03.91)/

Lilly van den Broecke – cox (Headington School BC/08.01.92)

Coach: Eira Parry

Single scull (two boats)

Rachel Gamble-Flint (Yarm School BC/13.09.91)

Olivia Oakes (Uni of London Women’s BC/21.04.90)

Coach: Nick Strange

Quad scull

Lottie Burgess (Reading Uni BC/25.06.90)/

Olivia Oakes (Uni of London Women’s BC/21.04.90)/

Rachel Gamble-Flint (Yarm School BC/13.09.91)/

Katherine Copeland (Yarm School BC/01.12.90)

Coach: Nick Strange

LIGHTWEIGHT

MEN

Double scull

Jon Preston (Reading Uni BC/16.04.89)/

Jon Clegg (Leander Club/14.07.89)

Coach: Wade Hall-Craggs

WOMEN

Double scull

Lottie Burgess (Reading Uni BC/25.06.90)/

Katherine Copeland (Yarm School BC/01.12.90)

Coach: Nick Strange

Travelling reserves

Josh Butler (London Rowing Club/11.03.89)

Sophie Vellacott (Durham Uni BC/13.03.89)

STAFF

Richard Boulton – Team manager

Eira Parry, Wade Hall-Craggs, Nick Strange, Alex Henshilwood – coaches

Ryan Bathurst – Physio