England Team announced for 2025 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships

Six boats will compete for England at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships on Brownes Beach, Bridgetown, Barbados, from 21-23 November

England Rowing will be travelling to Barbados to race at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships (CRABS), with the team looking for their first elusive gold medal in the beach sprint form at Commonwealth level and their first gold medal at a Commonwealth event since 2014.

A team of eight rowers has been selected to row for England. They will race across six events (split across Senior and Development teams) as well as in a team relay, with the competition taking place on Brownes Beach in Bridgetown from Friday, 21 to Sunday, 23 November.

Many of the team will be returning to race for England after recently travelling to Ireland for the Home International Rowing Beach Sprints.

Bass Andre of Shanklin Sandown RC / Molesey BC will be returning to race for England in the Women’s Solo after recently winning the Women’s Coastal Solo at the European Rowing Coastal Championships. Bass said, “I’m thrilled at having the opportunity to represent England at the Commonwealth Beach Sprint Championships. Having secured a gold medal for GB at the European Enduro Champs last month, I’m swapping a 6km race for a 500m one, and I’m excited for the more fast-paced challenge of beach sprints! I’ll do my best to achieve similar results for England!”

Hal Flowerdew from Tynemouth RC will be the only returning athlete from the England Commonwealth team that raced in Namibia in 2022. Racing in the Men’s Coastal Solo Hal said: “Rowing for England at the coming Commonwealth Championships in Barbados is an amazing honour. From racing at the last Commonwealths in Namibia, I hope to continue my success and add to my Commonwealth silver in the team relay, but I am also looking forward to racing against many nations, which typically I don’t often race on the international circuit.”

The final senior boat will be made of Jonathan Martini (University of Birmingham BC) and Eva Barrellon-Kendall (Globe RC). Both will be racing for England for the first time in the Senior Mixed Coastal Double. Jonathan, who was a reserve and boat handler for England at this year’s Home International rowing Beach Sprints, has also previously rowed for Great Britain in 2023, where he claimed Gold in the U19 Mixed Double at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. Eva will be competing for England for the first time and has also raced for Great Britain, last representing GB at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in 2023.

The Development Team will be made up  of U21 rowers who will all be donning their England all-in-ones after their journey to Ireland.

Tom Walker (Christchurch RC / University of Exeter BC) and Caitlin Lockey (Christchurch RC /City of Oxford RC) will be returning to their double, which finished in 2nd place in the U23 Mixed Double in Ireland. Both rowed as Juniors for the GB Team in 2024 at the World Rowing Beach Sprint finals.

Izzy Lancaster (Reading University BC / Bradford ARC), 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Final Gold Medalist in the Junior Mixed Double, will be racing in the U21 Women’s Coastal Solo, having previously raced in the Senior Mixed Double in Ireland. With Zack Hills (Whitby Coastal RC / Chester-le-Street ARC / Tynemouth RC) stepping up from the Junior Men’s Coastal Solo in Ireland into the U21 Men’s Coastal Solo for Barbados.

England will be joined by other Commonwealth Nations in this historic event in Barbados, which will mark the first time a Commonwealth Rowing event has been hosted in the Caribbean.

The coaching team will be made up of Poppy Kearney (British Rowing) and Heather McDermott(Tynemouth RC), both coaches who have coached England and Great Britain in the past. Heather said, “It’s a real privilege to have been selected to represent England Rowing at the Commonwealths this year.   Making it even more special is making the trip with 2 Tynemouth athletes.  It’s a proud moment for me, the guys and our local club, and a testament to the hard work, dedication and talent coming out of the region, and we are grateful to the support in Tynemouth, Northern Rowing, England Rowing, Sport England and Commonwealth Rowing Association for making this all a reality.”

James Andrews, England Pathway Manager at British Rowing, who will be travelling as the Team Manager, said, “We have selected a strong team of experienced athletes from across England, with a mix from both coastal and river community clubs. It will be a privilege to take an England Rowing team to race in the Caribbean and Barbados for the first time.”

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The England Rowing Team for the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprints are:

Men’s Coastal Solo (CM1x):

Hal Flowerdew (Tynemouth RC)

Women’s Coastal Solo (CW1x):

Bass Andre (Shanklin Sandown RC / Molesey BC)

Mixed Coastal Double (CMix 2x):

Jonathan Martini (University of Birmingham BC)

Eva Barrellon-Kendall (Globe RC)

U21 Men’s Coastal Solo (CU21M1x):

Zack Hills (Whitby Coastal RC / Chester-le-Street ARC / Tynemouth RC)

U21 Women’s Coastal Solo (CU21W1x):

Izzy Lancaster (Reading University BC / Bradford ARC)

U21 Mixed Coastal Double (CU21Mix 2x):

Tom Walker (Christchurch RC / University of Exeter BC)

Caitlin Lockey (Christchurch RC /City of Oxford RC)

Reserves:

Oli Snoxall (Reading University BC)

Leah Saunders (Evesham RC)

Coach:

Heather McDermott (Tynemouth RC)

Poppy Kearney (British Rowing)

Team Manager:

James Andrews (British Rowing)