GB Performance Development Academy success at Henley Women’s Regatta
The South West, Yorkshire and East Midlands GB Performance Development Academies were well represented at Henley Women’s Regatta, including a triumph in the Championship Quads
Over 2,200 athletes from 206 clubs and 6 countries took to the water at Henley Women’s Regatta on 19-21 June, amongst them were 14 current and former GB Performance Development Academy and GB Para Pathway athletes.
The GB Performance Development Academies have one purpose: to recruit and develop individuals with no prior rowing experience, with the long-term aim of producing Olympic Champions. Henley Women’s Regatta is one of the largest regattas in women’s rowing and has grown into a bastion of women’s sport since its creation in 1988. To have such strong performances from the GB Performance Development Academy athletes at Henley Women’s Regatta, shows the depth and success of the programmes. Here’s how they got on.
East Midlands GB Performance Development Academy (Nottingham)
The standout result from the weekend came from recent East Midlands GB Performance Development Academy athlete Poppy Baker, who won the Championships Quadruple Sculls in a composite crew with Reading University Boat Club and Nottingham Rowing Club. The crew of Daisy Bellamy, Meg Knight, Poppy Baker and Ellie Cooke beat Leander Club ‘A’ in the final by two lengths in a time of 4:48.0. Poppy reflected on the weekend: “I’ve had an amazing weekend with some really fierce racing. All the crews were really strong, so I’m very grateful to come away with the trophy,” said Baker.
After some time with the GB Rowing Team, Poppy has been training with the Reading University Boat Club since April, with the view to targeting the inaugural Princess of Wales Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta later this month. Poppy said, “My teammates are such an inspiration, and it’s a privilege to be surrounded by all the Reading crews. We’re back to work now as we look forward to Henley Royal Regatta in a few weeks”.
Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy (Leeds and York)
The Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy were represented in three crews in the Aspirational Double Sculls. Jess Symonds and Meg Luddington represented Yorkshire and the North West Performance Development Academy, respectively. Abby Agate and Ruby Morley represented the Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy, Katie Crowther and Jess Milburn represented Yorkshire and the North West Performance Development Academy, respectively.
After time trials on Friday, the double of Meg Luddington and Jess Symons qualified and drew against Cantabrigian to race the following day. The University of Leeds and Manchester composite had a strong heat against Cantabridgian Rowing Club, beating them easily, progressing to the quarter-finals, where they lined up against the eventual winners from the University of St Andrews on Sunday morning.
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The Yorkshire Performance Development Academy also fielded a Junior Double Sculls crew of Olivia Marks and Alice Ashcroft, representing the Yorkshire Performance Development Academy and Leeds Rowing Club. The double performed incredibly well throughout their heats, quarter-finals and semi-finals, where they lined up against a strong crew from Marlow Rowing Club, just missing out on the win. Marlow Rowing Club beat the Leeds composite by one and a half lengths. Performance Development Coach for Yorkshire Matt Mole said: “We saw some awesome results for Leeds and Yorkshire Performance Development Academy over the weekend, with the Leeds Rowing Club Junior Double achieving the best ever result for the club.”
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Milda Ambra, from the GB Para Pathway programme represented the University of York in the PR3 Single Sculls. Coached by Emily Kempin, Ambra’s progression through the weekend of racing was strong. She raced the Guildford Rowing Club sculler in the quarter-finals and progressed to the semi-finals, where she raced Claire Parker from Falcon Boat Club. Ambra won the semi-final by three lengths over Parker. In the final, Ambra met Samantha Gough, who won the PR3 Single Sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta in 2024. Gough had a strong race and ended up victorious over Ambra.
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South West Performance Development Academy (Bath and Bristol)
The South West Performance Development Academy fielded one crew in the Championship Quadruple Sculls, with the crew of Ella Fullman, Rebekah Court, Tolu Adelaja and Freya Ridge. This crew, coached by Dan Harris and Tom Selby, qualified after the time trial on Friday, drawing against Thames ‘B’ in the heat. A close race down the course saw the Bath University Quad beat Thames by one and a third lengths. The crew met Leander ‘A’ in the quarter-finals, who unfortunately beat the Bath Quad. Performance Development Coach for the South West Tom Selby said: “We have athletes with a huge variety of experiences in rowing. Tolu is in her second year of rowing, Freya her third and also the more experienced athletes Rebecca and Ella who have been in the sport for multiple years now.”
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The crew has its sights set on the inaugural Queen Victoria Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in a few days’ time. Tom said: ”It’s been a great project to work on and we’re really excited to race again at Henley Royal Regatta. The crews progression and performances really show how the programme can work with athletes regardless of experience levels to unlock their full potential.”
Ellie Dash from the South West Performance Development Academy, representing Hartpury University & College, raced in a composite crew with former GB Performance Development Academy and Olympic Champion Georgie Brayshaw in the Championship Double Sculls. The crew qualified through the time trial and lined up against Upper Thames Rowing Club ‘A’ in the quarter-final. The double put on a strong performance, beating the Upper Thames crew by 3 lengths in a time of 5:31.0. The double progressed to race the University of Iowa in the semi final who were unfortunately beaten.
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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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