Back in Paris: GB Para Squad to race this weekend
The British Rowing Paralympic Programme has returned to Paris for the first time since bringing home four Paralympic medals from Paris in 2024
The Para squad will make its 2026 international debut at this year’s Para Rowing Regatta, taking place on Saturday.
This year’s event will be hosted at Vaires-sur-Marne, where the GB Rowing Team won three golds and a silver medal across a memorable three days of racing at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
The Para Rowing Regatta provides valuable racing experience ahead of the 2026 World Rowing Cups and the European and World Rowing Championships. This weekend’s racing will also allow newly recruited athletes to be classified as part of the journey to LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
Amongst the travelling squad are a number of Paralympic Champions, taking the first strokes on Paris waters since writing their names into the history books. European, World, and Paralympic Champion and record holder Benjamin Pritchard will race the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls, alongside Jake Woods, who made his international debut at the 2024 World Rowing Cup in Poznan, Poland.
Pritchard will meet familiar opposition as he races race Italy’s Giacomo Perini and France’s Alexis Sanchez, who raced alongside him in the A Final of the 2024 Paralympic Games.
The last time Frankie Allen and Josh O’Brien were in Paris, they won gold in the Mixed PR3 Coxed Four. GB have been undefeated in this boat class since 2010, and have brought home every Paralympic gold medal in this category since 2012. This time, Frankie and Josh will race in the PR3 Pairs. O’Brien teams up with Jonty Ridley, who raced for England at last year’s Home International Regatta, and Allen races alongside Cambridge University student Micah Mugge. The fifth-year medic at Lucy Cavendish College was recruited after attending a “Discover Your Paralympic Potential” Day in Sheffield.
Racing in the PR3 Men’s Single Sculls are Sam Lake and Jacob Gunn. Lake, a former RAF Engineer, learned to row at Agecroft Rowing Club after testing for the Paralympic Pathway. Whilst racing at BUCS Regatta for Liverpool John Moores University Boat Club, Gunn was picked up through the talented student recruitment stand and spent time developing in a Single Scull last summer.
Charlotte Taylor travels as the sole U18 athlete, set to compete in the PR3 Women’s Single Sculls. Last year, Taylor made history as part of the first ever para boat to take part in a Fours Head.
Leeds Rowing Club’s James King travels with the squad for classification. King won gold in the Open AR3 Single Sculls at last year’s British Rowing Club Championships, and joined the Paralympic Pathway having previously played rugby.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Paralympic Head Coach Nicola Benavente said, “This is the first chance for some to practice race plans ahead of the third World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, European Rowing Championships, and World Rowing Championships.
“Having the opportunity to race strong competition helps us develop race plans and race fitness. It also provides a great opportunity to assess where we are now and what needs to be done to achieve our goals later in the season.
‘Returning to Paris will be a little surreal. The last time we were there, history was made with an incredible group of athletes. This time, we return with a largely new group but with the same ambitions and energy.
“It may feel like a passing on of the baton for some, picking up where those before them created an incredible legacy. For those who raced at Paris 2024, I’m sure it will bring back incredible memories and a motivation to experience that again in LA 2028.”
Paralympic Pathway Coach Will Stockton said, “Paris allows us to classify newly recruited athletes in the Team. This is extremely important ahead of Paralympic qualification in 2027. It also allows us to try new combinations within the squad and allows the athletes to try new race plans ahead of racing later in the season.
“A number of the PR3 athletes who are classifying and racing this weekend were already rowing in clubs and universities and didn’t realise they could qualify for para sport. This is a wonderful example for clubs and universities to keep an eye out for athletes who might be eligible.
“If you have any athletes with reduced strength or range of movement across a joint, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!”
Want to know more about classification and the Paralympic Pathway? Contact Performance Talent Coach Rob Cree, or visit this page to sign up for testing.
[email protected] 07886 820 705
The GB Rowing Team to travel to the Para Rowing Regatta
PR1 Men’s Single Sculls
Benjamin Pritchard (City of Swansea RC)
Jake Woods (Strathclyde Park RC)
PR3 Men’s Single Sculls
Jacob Gunn (Liverpool John Moores University BC)
Sam Lake (Agecroft RC)
PR3 Women’s Single Sculls
Charlotte Taylor (Oundle School BC)
PR3 Men’s Pair
Jonty Ridley (Durham University BC/Hexham RC)
Josh O’Brien (Molesey BC)
PR3 Women’s Pair
Frankie Allen (Oxford Brookes University BC)
Micah Mugge (Cantabrigian RC)
