The Start Line: Met Regatta takes centre stage as GB heads to Plovdiv
What to expect at the European Championships, Metropolitan Regatta and other events to keep an eye out for this weekend
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Join us at The Start Line and look ahead to a thrilling weekend of in Plovdiv and across the UK.
Thousands set to take on the Metropolitan Regatta
Rowing rolls back to the shores of Dorney Lake this weekend. With over 20 hours of racing across the two days of competition, there’s plenty to keep tabs on. After seeing results from Poplar Regatta, we can look forward to some lightning quick crews in action. All six crews in the final of open eights posted times sub six minutes – when the rest of the domestic melting pot is added in, we can expect some incredibly competitive rowing!
Keep an eye on Cambridge University in open eights. Their Blue Boat returns having conquered Oxford on the Championship Course and this time, they’re introducing Olympic Champion Tom Ford into their line up.
After winning gold at BUCS Regatta in Women’s championship eights, Newcastle University are back in action and will have fierce competition across the women’s eights event from the likes of Thames RC, Molesey BC and London RC who all recently returned from warm weather training camps.
Met Regatta will be live-streamed. Details of this can be found here.
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39 athletes representing Great Britain at the European Championships in Bulgaria
The international season kicks off this weekend as the GB Rowing Team flies to Plovdiv, Bulgaria to take on the very best that Europe has to offer across 13 Olympic and Paralympic boat classes. 12 athletes from the Paris Olympic and Paralympic games will make the trip to Plovdiv along with athletes who have formed the ‘Project LA’ programme. One of the big changes sees Olympic Champion Lauren Henry move from the quad to the single scull.
Speaking ahead of the Euros, Henry said: ” It’s a boat class that I’ve been very drawn to, so once Paris finished, I had my sights set on being selected in the single for this year. So I’ve been very focused on wanting to race the single and thankfully it’s worked out that way for me!”
The 2025 European Championships kick off today and you can keep up to date on all of the action across the GB Rowing Team’s Instagram.
What else is on this weekend?
- Welsh Home International Regatta Trials – more information
- Oxford University Summer Eights – more information
- Hereford Regatta – more information
- Wansbeck Regatta – more information
- Peterborough Spring Regatta – more information
Catching up with Louise Kingsley
With the GB Rowing team gearing up to race the European Championships, we caught up with Performance Director Louise Kingsley to get her thoughts ahead of racing.
Social Spotlight: Legends are made in Leeds!
Take a look into our Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy.
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That’s all from the start line this week!
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