New Look Crews to Take on 2022 International Para-Rowing Regatta, Gavirate
Nick Baker, Paralympic Head Coach for the GB Rowing Team (GBRT), will be taking a mix of new faces and returning Tokyo 2020 Paralympians to race on the Lake of Varese at the Gavirate International Para-Rowing Regatta, 13-15 May
Edward Fuller is one of the new faces, joining the current Paralympic, World and European Championship winning PR3 Mix 4+ boat. Here, Ed tells us how he got involved in rowing and how he deals with the pressure of joining this Guinness World Record-holding crew. He also looks ahead to the regatta:
I got involved in rowing at a before-school club where we would get on the rowing machines in the gym. This was because due to having Haemophilia, a genetic blood clotting disorder, I was prevented from doing all the typical school sports such as rugby, hockey and football as they were high-impact on my joints which put me at risk of internal bleeding. Since then, rowing has become a huge part of my life where I’ve met some amazing people and found a sport where I’m not limited by my condition.
Upon first arriving at Caversham to train full time with the para team, the prospect of joining the infamous mixed coxed four was incredibly exciting. It’s a boat that has been undefeated for over ten years, and now getting to train alongside athletes that are Paralympic and World Champions is an amazing feeling that motivates me daily. There is an incredible atmosphere within this team and, now being part of it, I can see why it’s been such a successful crew for such a long period of time.
Looking ahead to the International Para Rowing-Regatta in Gavirate, I’m incredibly excited to earn what will be my first vest representing Great Britain. I’ll be racing in the PR3 Mix4+ and can’t wait to put our first marker of the Paris cycle down. We will be on a training camp for the nine days prior to racing which will be a great opportunity to do some training on the lake before we are sat on the start line. Overall, it will be a useful event to get our first race of this Paralympic cycle under our belts as we work towards the Paris Paralympics in just over two years’ time.
Nick Baker said: “Ed and the other new additions to the squad have already gelled so well with our returning Paralympians and I’m looking forward to seeing how the new look team fares in our first races of the new Paris cycle.”
The crews racing at Gavirate are:
PR3 Mix 4+
Francesca Allen
Giedre Rakauskaite
Edward Fuller
Oliver Stanhope
Erin Kennedy (cox) Regatta 1
Alexandra Wenyon (cox) Regatta 2
Coach: Nick Baker
PR3 Mix 2x
Coach: James Loveday
PR2 W1x
Coach: Nick Baker
PR1 M1x
Benjamin Pritchard (GBR1)
Coach: Nick Baker
Callum Russell (GBR2)
Coach: James Loveday
