Across The Line: Matt Long and Finnola Straton lead GB Rowing Team Open Trials while Leander top the Pairs rankings
Your weekly roundup of all the racing action across the UK
Credit: AllMarkOne
We’re Across The Line! Join us to look back on a tantalising weekend of rowing from Boston to Doncaster and everything else!
Reading run riot in Boston at GB Rowing Team Open Trial
At the first Great Britain Rowing Team assessment of the season, the top two scullers were racing in the colours of Reading University BC. U23 World Champion Finnola Straton topped the Women’s Single Scull by more than 14 seconds on the infamous course in Boston. Having recently won Scullers Head and raced to second place at last weekend’s Wingfield Sculls, Matt Long’s impeccable form was on display yet again as he won the Open Single Scull by more than 21 seconds. What’s even more impressive is that Long is still U23 eligible for next summer.
The 5000m water assessment followed a day of 2000m at testing at the Princess Royal Sports Arena, where all those with ambitions of representing Great Britain at U23 and Senior level this season started their trialling process. Leander Club’s Oliver Costley, a four-time Henley Royal Regatta champion, took second place behind Long on the second day of action in Boston. Costley put together a blinding performance to finish 1.4s ahead of Adam Long of Tideway Scullers School. Leander Club’s James Cartwright and Alex King were fourth and fifth, respectively. While Toby Lassen is used to having one blade in his hand, the two-time U23 World Champion proved he’s a dab hand with two blades as well. A sixth-place finish for the Brookes boy is a brilliant way to kick off his trialling year, less than two seconds off the top five.
On the women’s side, there were plenty of stars from this summer’s U23 World Championships in action. Nottingham RC’s Poppy Baker, who’s come through the East Midlands Performance Development Academy, was teammates with Stratton and on this occasion finished in fourth place as they duked it out in single sculls. Completing the women’s podium were Katherine George and Holly Youd, respectively. Both are athletes who have spent a huge amount of time in sweep boats but have transferred magnificently into scullers in recent weeks and months. Having just returned from Princeton University, George graduated as a two-time First-Team All-American rower who is already flourishing at Leander Club. Speaking of the States, Youd travelled to Boston for the Head of The Charles with Molesey BC and finished second behind the US National team in Women’s Championship Eights. Alongside Youd in Boston were Angharad Broughton and Heloise Wormleighton who were fifth and sixth respectively at yesterday’s water assessment.
Credit: AllMarkOne
The Men’s Pairs delivered some fascinating outcomes, and top of the bunch was Leander Club’s Robbie Prosser and Calum Jenkins. One of the performances of the weekend came from Newcastle University BC’s Ed Ridley and Gwilym Johnson. Both are still U23 eligible; the pair were less than half a second off the top spot, beating all other university crews; Cambridge University BC’s Luke Beever and Felix Rawlinson, who were third. The Light Blues had a big day at the races as Joe Travis teamed up with Fresher Pat Wild to finish fourth, six seconds ahead of the Bath University BC/Molesey composite of Luka Bayley Halozan and Joe Stobbs.
U19s battle it out in Doncaster
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Doncaster RC hosted three divisions for the annual Head of the Don. All events were raced upstream on the River Don. The club changed the format this year and offered a shorter course of 2000m in each division for Beginner Coxed Quads and Coxed Fours, all J13-14 events, and J15 Single Sculls. All other events were raced over their 4000m course.
This year’s racing also doubled up as one of the GB U19 water assessments. Division 2 saw Open and Women’s U19 Single Sculls taking to the water. Warrington RC’s Maisie Brittles won the women’s event, picking up from where she left off after racing for Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse. In the Open event, Yarm School BC’s Patrick Tulloch motored to victory by more than 20 seconds.
Yarm School continued their success as Lucy Oliver took second place ahead of Newark RC’s Emily Taylor. St Peter’s School BC had a pair of scullers in the open event, and both of them were electric, placing second and third, respectively.
Rounding out the success for the school, their Open and Women’s J18 Quadruple Sculls were the fastest crews of the day. Their girls beat the host club by nearly a minute while the boys beat the likes of St Peter’s School BC and Lambton RC.
GB J16 Beach Sprint Team impress at the Coupe de le Jeunesse
Juniors build racing experience at the 2025 Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprint in Provincia de Cádiz, Spain
Check out last week’s results
Dr Adi Fawcett on transferable skills: Why coaching is universal, regardless of the game
As British Rowing’s Coaching Week coming to it’s end, Fergus Mainland spoke with Dr Adi Fawcett about some of her top bits of coaching advice including how best to coach individuals
Social Spotlight: Great coaching changes lives
This British Rowing Coaching Week we wanted to say thank you to the coaches and support staff who this season’s international athletes recognise as having played a part in their success
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That’s all from Across The Line this week!
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