Henley medallists line up for European Uni Games

A strong team of University rowers from nine different universities across the UK will make the trip to Rotterdam later this month, to compete at the European University Games – the first time that rowing has been part of the competition.

The crews have been selected following their results at the BUCS Regatta in May this year. The nine Universities will form a composite team to represent Great Britain at the EUSA Championships. In 2013, the team returned with four gold, three silver and five bronze medals, finishing second in the overall table.

Newcastle University will send 18 students to the event, being represented in both the men’s and women’s 8s events. The men’s 8 includes Jasper Holst, Tom Ford, James Rudkin, Sam Arnot and (cox) Calum McRoberts who were winners of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup at the recent Henley Royal Regatta. Nicole Lamb will race in the women’s 8 who will be looking to hold on to their title from the 2013 Championships in Poznan, Poland. Looking forward to the event, Nicole said “The Newcastle crews are excited about being part of the squad for the event and defending our title from last year. We are all really looking forward to it and to showing other European Universities how strong the Blue Star is!”

A strong contingent will also represent Reading University. Their women’s quad will include Jess Lewis and Bethan Walters who were in a composite crew which qualified for the Princess Grace Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, Lewis having won a medal in the lightweight quad sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta a few weeks before. Stewart Innes will represent Reading in the men’s single scull, Innes has previously raced at two World Rowing Junior Championships and two U23 Championships, taking silver in the men’s quad in 2013.

The squad also includes three of the four defending EUSA Champions in the lightweight men’s coxless four. Wilf Kimberley, Paul Jones and Myles Holbrough will be joined by Harry Mayne to represent Imperial College. The crew won their final by almost 11 seconds in 2013 and will be looking to dominate again in Rotterdam.

Team Manager, James Lee said “It is really exciting to be working with the team in the run-up to the EUSA Games. As this is the first time rowing has been part of the Games, I am sure it will add a different element to the logistics, but I’m looking forward to the experience. We have managed to form a very strong and experienced team this year. Many of them have been to an International event before, but for others it will be their biggest test yet and a great development opportunity.”

The rowing tournament will be held from July 30th to August 1st, on the Willem-Alexander baan rowing course. For full details of the 2014 European University Games, visit http://eugames2014.eu.

Progress of the GB Universities Team can be followed via Twitter @GBUniversities.

GB Universities

Cardiff University
Robbie Massey, Sam Whittaker

Durham University
Amelia Carlton, Becky Dell, Katie Denham, Charlotte Drury

University of East London
Stuart Heap

Imperial College, London
Romain Barnoud, Lily Beadle, Fabien Evrard, Myles Holbrough, Paul Jones, Wilf Kimberley, Harry Mayne, Isabelle von Loga

University of London
Rory Bufacchi, Jamie Cook

Loughborough University
Katie Bartlett, Louise Hart

Newcastle University
Sam Arnot, Katherine Bulmer, Tom Ford, Emily Ford, Gemma Hall, Natalie Hardy, Grace Hockenhull, Jasper Holst, Nicole Lamb, Calum McRoberts, Ed Munno, Helen O’Riordan, Florian Reinecke, James Rudkin, Rosie Rust, Barnaby Stroud-Turp, Emma Ward, Samuel Wilson

Oxford University
Elena Backhouse, Rebecca Lane, Sophie Philbrick, Sarah Robinson

University of Reading
Lucy Cruxton, Courtney Edmonds, Stewart Innes, Andy Joel, Rob Johnston, Jess Lewis, Dominic Tope, Sam Twine, Bethan Walters

Management Team & Coaches
James Lee – Team Manager
Fiona Rennie – Admin Support
Ian Shore – Cardiff
Cameron Kennedy – Durham
Josh Butler – Imperial
Chris George – London
Jesse Burgoine – Newcastle
Chris O’Hara – Oxford
Sean Casey – Reading