Four Nations Series: The battle on the waves continues in Studland
Old names and new racing formats – lines have been drawn in the sand at the English Beach Sprint Championships
The third event of the Four Nations Series (and the second round of the Beach Sprint competition) kicked off in Studland, Dorset from 17-18 May at the English Beach Sprint Championships.
The Champs provided the ideal chance to test a brand-new beach sprint racing format – four lane racing. With double the action and twice the jeopardy, our athletes took to the waves, racing at least three times each.
Athletes from all four home nations turned up in force to compete for the Championship titles, as well as to add to their Four Nations leaderboard tallys. The Champs doubled up as the qualification regatta for Great Britain Trials, attracting athletes hoping to represent their country for the first time on the Olympic stage at LA 2028.
Thank you to Swift Racing UK for sponsoring the Four Nations Series.
Racing highlights
With a home Championship title already under his belt after racing in Wales last month, GB Beach Sprint rower Jerry Owen (Fishguard and Goodwick Jemima RC) went into the competition as a favourite. However, it was fellow GB athlete James Cox (Agecroft Rowing Club) who took the English title in a time of 02:14.5, picking up ten points in his first event of the Series.
Representing the Scots, last year’s Series winner Gregor Hall (Stirling Rowing Club) barrelled across the line to a close silver in 02:16.7. Hall was less than a second ahead of Owen and Cameron Buchan (St Andrews University Boat Club), who were in turn separated by .4 of a second. A photo finish gave Owen the advantage, retaining his position at the top of the Series leaderboard with 14 points.
Olympic Champion Helen Glover was a surprise entry to the Championships, taking bronze in the A Final representing Marlow Rowing Club. Nothing could stop Laura Mckenzie (Glasgow University Boat Club) from repeating her win in Wales, securing yet another gold medal and national title to add to an impressive collection of wins. Heather Gordon of Inverness Rowing Club took the silver, whilst U21 athlete Natasha Philips of Fishguard and Goodwick Jemima RC put on a truly impressive show, finishing fourth in the A Final in her first senior competition.
Other young standouts included World Champion in the Coastal Junior Mixed Doubles Sol Chamberlain-Hyde (Lymington ARC), who raced in both the senior and junior events. He took second in the B Final of the seniors, but won the junior title, with Zack Hills of Tynemouth Rowing Club in silver. Valen Giacchetto of Christchurch Rowing Club won bronze.
Familiar names graced the Coastal Junior Women’s Solos. Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprint gold medallists and Royal Grammar School Worcester Boat Club rowers Olivia Hodgson and Lucy Whiteley left with gold and bronze respectively. British Champion Zara Gray was the silver medallist.
Where are we in the Series?
With two Sprint events down and one Endurance event completed, lines are starting to be drawn in the sand.
Esme Pugh and Emma Nicholson of Hexham Rowing Club and Seren Williams of Tees RC are all tied at the top of the Women’s Endurance leaderboard with 13 points/ whilst Zack Hills is proving his strength across multiple disciplines by leading out for the men’s competition with 11 points.
On the Sprints side Laura Mckenzie’s two wins takes her tally toput her at 25 points, ahead of Heather Gordon onat 12 for the Senior Women. Jerry Owen leads the Senior Men with 14 points, but it’s a short step back to James Cox with 11 and Gregor Hall with 10.
Sol Chamberlain-Hyde and Olivia Hodgson hold the first place spots on the Junior Sprints leaderboard with 10 points a-piece, followed by Zack Hill and Zara Gray respectively, both with 6.
