Time Trials kick off the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals 2025
The first World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals of the LA cycle got underway in Antalya, Turkiye with all but one GB crew taking to the water and setting their intentions for the rest of the competition.
Laura McKenzie, who won European silver in the Coastal Women’s Solo (CW1x) put in a classy race, finishing fifth in a time of 02:53.49 and progressing to the last 16. “I’m really happy how it went”, she said, adding, “I had a very solid race with a clean start, clean turn, steering and a good exit, which is all you can hope for for the first race. It’s great to be back here in Antalya because we know where everything is and the profile of the beach, however it certainly feels bigger being at a World finals compared to the Europeans. There’s more spectators, there’s more support staff helping us. It’s a much fancier event.”
It’s a repechage for the Coastal Mixed coxed quadruple sculls (CMix4x+). The crew of Heather Gordon, Chris Thompson, Natasha Phillips, Gregor Hall and cox Ryan Glymond flew off the start and put in a strong performance to finish in a time of 02:15.45. They narrowly missed out on the first two automatic qualification spots with a third place finish behind Spain and the USA, meaning they go head to head in the repechage on Saturday.
It will be a second time trial for James Cox in the Coastal Men’s Solo (CM1x), who finished in 12th, with a time of 02:38.73. Amongst a very competitive field, he races again to attempt to make the last 16 on Friday morning. Also into a second time trial are Cameron Buchan and Natacha Searson. They finished their Coastal Mixed double sculls (CMix2x) race in 11th place with a time of 02:27.45.
Earlier in the day, the U19 races saw all crews progress with some strong performances in changeable conditions. First out was Sol Chamberlain-Hyde, who is full of confidence after his recent European championship title. He attacked the U19 Coastal Men’s Solo (CJM1x) time trial, finishing in a time of 2:35.33 and third fastest overall. With 32 entrants, he needed to finish in the top eight to avoid a second time trial and progress directly to the last 16. ”I’m pleased with that,” he said after the race, “not having to race another time trial was the aim and it’s great to be the first out and see what the conditions are like. I just want to row the best I can and learn as much as I can.”
A time of 02:51.28 was enough for Lucy Whiteley and Emma Nicholson to comfortably progress to the U19 Coastal Women’s double sculls (CJW2x). They placed third overall in the time trial.
Finishing seventh fastest in a time of 03:03.51 was Isabel Soyinka in the U19 Coastal Women’s Solo (CJW1x). Placing in the top eight, she is straight through to the last 16. The U19 Coastal Men’s double sculls (CJM2x) of Edwin Van Lopik and Valen Giachetto were seventh in a time of 02:39.10 and progress to the knockout stages.
The final U19 race saw Thomas Biddle and Olivia Hodgson finish eighth overall taking the final direct last 16 spot in the U19 Coastal Mixed double sculls (CJMix2x) in a time of 02:38.51.
2024 World Champion Colin Wallace, and new partner Megan Hewison will compete in the Inclusion Mixed double sculls (INMix2x) on Friday.
