GB Performance Development Academy athletes medal at Final GB Rowing Team Trials
The South West, Yorkshire and East Midlands GB Performance Development Academies were represented by new rowers and returning Olympians alike at last weekend’s competition
Cedol Daffyd and Tobias Schröder win Final Trials 2026. Credit: Benedict Tufnell / British Rowing
GB Performance Development Academies have one purpose: to recruit and develop individuals into athletes with Olympic potential. This past weekend showed the strength and depth of their programme, which has been producing rowing legends for decades – including four time Olympian Helen Glover.
Women’s Double Sculls Winners at Final Trials 2026. Credit: Benedict Tufnell / British Rowing
Senior Performance Development Coach Dan Harris said: “Having athletes who took up rowing for the first time at university competing in a final national Trials a little over a year later is incredible. Last weekend’s Trials saw Academy alumni who have gone on to win Olympic medals racing against current Academy athletes who are just starting their international journeys, both ending up on the podium. We’re always on the look out for young people to join our programme – and weekends like this prove that the system works.”
As well as significant success across the Men’s and Women’s Double Sculls, Academy alumni George Bourne and Archie Drummond won gold and bronze in the Men’s Pairs respectively.
South West GB Performance Development Academy (Bath and Bristol)
South West GB Performance Development Academy alumni Cedol Daffyd topped the table for the second year in a row, alongside partner Tobias Schröder. Cedol is a reigning European Rowing Champion and a World Rowing silver medallist after a glittering 2025 season where he medalled at every international competition he raced. Cedol started rowing at the University of Bath in 2021, when he passed a stand at the Freshers Fair advertising the sport.
Men’s Double Sculls winners at Final Trials 2026. Credit: Benedict Tufnell / British Rowing
Cedol said: “I’m so happy to get back to back wins at April trials and to do it today with Tobias was epic. This is the most intense testing we do in the year. You are racing your teammates, you’re at your home base, there’s other members coming in to try and beat you. And we also have to prove why we’re in the team. But it’s a great weekend and now we can enjoy racing as a team, not against the team!”
Cedol was racing against fellow GB Performance Development Academy alumni Jamie Gare, who placed third overall with partner James Cartwright in the Men’s Double Sculls category. Jamie joined the senior GB Rowing Team last year.
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Becky Wilde is one of the University of Bath’s most decorated sporting alumni, winning bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Along with Cedol, she spent the 2025 rowing season gathering medals, becoming European Rowing Champion and a World Rowing silver medallist in the Women’s Double Sculls. This weekend she placed second overall at GB Rowing Team Final Trials.
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The South West’s success didn’t just come from alumni. Rebekah Court, currently a student at the University of Bath and a member of the GB Performance Development Academy placed just behind Becky Wilde, finishing third overall. Rebekah represented GB three times last summer, once at the Schleswig-Holstein Netz Cup where she finished in third place, once at the World University Games where she placed fourth and once at the European University Rowing Championships, where she won gold. She represented Bath University BC at last year’s November Trials and finished 9th on the water in a single scull. This time she raced alongside partner Ellie Dash, a member of Hartpury University’s GB Performance Development Academy.
Rebekah said: “It feels really good to start the season like this. It’s a credit to the double and to Ellie, and the work we’ve put in. It shows what consistency and grit can deliver, and big thanks to the South West GB Performance Development Academy and our coaches for their support.”
Tom Selby is the Performance Development Coach at the South West Academy and coached the crew to their third place finish.
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Tom said: “Being able to coach Rebekah and Ellie during our Belgium training camp, where we brought together athletes across Performance Development Academy centres, was a great opportunity to connect and build as a crew. Over the last three weeks, they built strong confidence and genuine belief heading into the Trials, with clear intent to push for the A Final. Coaching them through that period and seeing the energy, professionalism, and positivity they brought to each session was a key factor in delivering the bronze medal outcome.”
University of Bath student Toluwani Adelaja was also invited to race Final Trials, an incredibly impressive feat 17 months after being talent spotted by the Academy. Tolu was the only under 21 female athlete in attendance at Trials, racing alongside partner Louise Brookes from the Yorkshire Performance Development Academy and placing 10th overall.
Tolu said: ““Trials was sick, but it was a lot. I’m glad I’ve got my first trials season out the way; I learnt a lot at once, especially in tricky conditions.”
East Midlands GB Performance Development Academy (Nottingham)
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The East Midlands GB Performance Development Academy is home to Poppy Baker, who raced to gold last summer at the World Rowing U23 Championships. The U23 World Rowing Champion finished fourth in the Women’s Double Sculls at Trials, just behind Rebekah Court and Ellie Dash.
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Fellow East Midlands Academy athlete Ursi Flemming finished 7th overall after winning her B final in the same event, and Adrian Biddle of Nottingham RC placed 3rd in his C Final, putting him at 13th overall in the Men’s Double Sculls.
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Performance Development Coach for the East Midlands Ben Wellburn said: “All the East Midlands athletes did brilliantly. Big performances across the board, it’s great to see more Nottingham athletes on the scene.”
Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy (Leeds and York)
Louise Brookes of the Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy placed 10th overall for the Women’s Double Sculls alongside Toluwani. Louise is currently a British Championship record holder and broke the all time record for the Women’s Rate 24 1000m and 250m Max Power erg tests on GB Performance Development Academy camp last month.
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Issac Morris, racing for Leeds RC and York City RC, also finished 10th overall in the Men’s Double Sculls after coming 4th in his B final.
Performance Development Coach for Yorkshire Matt Mole said: “Louise and Issac both racing in their first U23 April Trials is great for the Yorkshire Academy. They did incredibly well and demonstrated both their commitment and their physicality in challenging conditions. I’m looking forward to seeing how they progress through the Olympic talent pathway, and how they tackle the upcoming racing season, taking learnings from this weekend.”
GB Performance Development Academies recruit individuals with no rowing experience and develop them into athletes with Olympic potential. Anyone who meets age and height requirements can test to join the Academy. Testing is open to individuals between the ages of 14-22 above 5ft 8in (176cm) for females and 6ft 2in (188cm) for males.
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