GBR J16 Beach Sprint Team impress at the Coupe de le Jeunesse

November 3, 2025

Juniors build racing experience at the 2025 Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprint in Provincia de Cádiz, Spain

In an event dominated by U19 Beach Sprinters with Spain, Czech, Switzerland and Ireland fielding crews using the event as preparation for the World Beach Sprint Finals, GBR J16 Beach Sprint Team exceeded expectations with all 10 crews making it through the time trial to the last 16 and 3 of those crews reaching the 1/4 finals.

The most thrilling race of the entire event came from Phoebe Asquith & Louie Walker in the CJMix2x in the last 16 where they faced Portugal. Going into the buoy turn they were a length behind their Portuguese opponents, an aggressive turn by the British duo brought them out of the turn level, they raced neck and neck on the return leg, with the 2 crews hitting the beach simultaneously and the bows jumping out in unison and sprinting to the finish line. A review of the photo finish revealed Louie had snatched the victory by a mere 0.01 seconds. They eventually lost in the 1/4 finals to the Spanish crew who went on to take the Bronze.

As the competition progressed so did the J16 team, demonstrating that they could step up to, and, hold their own in amongst their older, more experienced opponents.

Lucy Hart, Lead Coach said: “Building on their experiences, I’m excited to see what the future holds for this talented group of athletes”.

Results:

Coastal Junior Women’s Solo (CJW1x)

Rosie Reynolds, Last 16

Elyssa Stoker, Last 16

Coastal Junior Men’s Solo (CJM1x)

Gethin Balkwell, Last 16

Dylan Balkwell, Last 16

Coastal Junior Men’s double sculls (CJM2x)

Louie Walker, Lucas Brook, Last 16

Dylan & Gethin Balkwell, 8th

Coastal Junior Women’s double sculls (CJW2x)