“The day we got our kit we were running around the hotel, screaming with excitement”

GB senior squad athletes Lizzie Witt and Miles Beeson share their memories of racing at GB v France

As fifty-four J16 athletes prepare to race the 43rd GB v France match at the London Regatta Centre this weekend, we spoke to two of the current GB senior squad on their memories of their first step on British Rowing’s Olympic Performance Pathway. For Lizzie and Miles, it was their first opportunity to represent Great Britain and their first experience of international competition.

“I loved my GB France experience,” said 2025 European Champion in the Men’s eight, Miles Beeson, who travelled from his hometown of Aberdeen to France in 2016. One of four boys from Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association, Miles had been selected to race in the eight with four boys from Eton College. “Being in the eight with the Eton boys was a great experience for all of us. We got to train at Dorney for a few days, we became good friends and I am still in touch with them to this day. We have a great friendship based on that joint experience.”

The scale of the event wasn’t lost on Miles, who wanted to enjoy every moment of his first ever GB selection. “It was my first taste of rowing for GB and for all I knew it could have been my last, so I was savouring every moment of it. I remember the day they handed out the kit was like Christmas on steroids for 15-year-old me! The first time that you pull on a piece of GB kit, there is a very special feeling about that. Racing in my first senior European Championships this year, the feeling was reminiscent of 2016 when I had that first race in France for GB. I’ve still got that All In One, and still wear it. It is one of my favourite bits of kit, I love it.”

Racing in France also proved to be the start of a promising rowing career for Miles, “I remember being so nervous the night before the race. At that time it was the biggest thing that had happened in my rowing life. I had no idea what was to come, but I think GB France gave me the taste for it and made me believe that I could go to the next level and compete at the Coupe and then the Junior Worlds after that.”

“We showed that kids from small clubs can compete with people from other schools at the highest level”

Learning to keep a cool head came into play for Miles during the race when the stroke man caught a crab in the first few strokes. “The race itself was very exciting. After we caught the crab we had to row down the French and it was only a 1500 metre race. We went for it and ended up winning by quite a distance in the end. We stayed loose and stayed calm. What I’m proudest of is that we showed that kids from small clubs can compete with people from other schools at the highest level. We came away thinking we can be as good as anyone. It was the lesson that being part of GB France taught us.”

Miles (third from right) with his medal winning crew

As for Miles’ advice to the group taking on the task for 2025, “Enjoying it is the key thing. I think everyone says that, but it’s true. We were really happy to be there and it felt like such a special event to be part of. You can enjoy it because there’s only one other crew to focus on, which is a great way to be introduced to international racing as you’re not worrying about where the different threats are. Just focus on your own race and make sure that you finish with your bowball ahead of that one other boat. Also, trust in the process of the GB system because we’ve won that race a lot more than we’ve lost it.”

Lizzie Witt, who made her senior international debut at the 2025 Varese World Rowing Cup, saw the event from two sides – racing the eight in France in 2016 and as the reserve single in London in 2017. “In France, my school made up half of the eight with another four from Marlow. It was the first GB thing I had ever done and I remember it being so much fun, because we were able to mix with the rest of the team, and meet lots of new people. Obviously, the racing was really cool but there’s so much to it that I remember. The day we all got our kit we were running around the hotel, screaming and very excited about it! I still have that All In One and am always proud to wear it for training!”

“The following year I was selected in the reserve single, and again, it was amazing to meet lots of people from different clubs which you don’t always get the opportunity to do. Daisy Bellamy was in that squad too and then you start to see some of the same faces at trials the following year, and it helps make the situation more relaxing because you become more familiar with everyone and say hello to your friends again, which is really nice!”

“I was more nervous for the single than I was for the eight, but that’s pretty normal. Then hearing the starter say ‘GB’ was quite thrilling”

Sitting on the start line created some nervous moments. As the system begins, the starter announces the name of each crew… “Great Britain”. Lizzie recalls hearing that for the first time, rather than her school or club. “I was more nervous for the single than I was for the eight, but that’s pretty normal. Then hearing ‘GB’ was quite thrilling, actually. I remember also we were all having a great time, supporting everyone, yelling, ‘Go GB’, and I started to get quite a kick out of it because it felt real and serious more than anything else.”

Lizzie after winning her GB France reserve single race

As for advice for the juniors about to take on the regatta course this weekend. Lizzie says, “Try to remember that it is still rowing, yes, it’s your first time competing internationally, but nothing changes, other than the fact that they say Great Britain on the start line rather than your club. Remember that you know how to row and that you’ve earned the right to be there. Make sure you soak it all in and enjoy it.”

Throughout the entire conversation, Lizzie hasn’t actually mentioned the result. So, how did she get on? “We won the eights race in the first year, but France won overall. Then I also won in the reserve single which was nice because even though I was a reserve, I still got a medal. The result definitely adds to the experience, but I don’t think it would have made a difference to how much fun we all had!”