A record number of over 300 U19 boys and girls attended trials in Boston last weekend. To qualify, boys had to get an ergo score of sub 6:50 at rating 24, while the girls had to get sub 7:47 2 weeks prior to the 5k Boston water trials. Eleanor comfortably achieved the ergo standard getting a 7:39.6.
111 girls lined up in quite cool conditions, not helped by a sudden squall blowing up and heavy rain just as the girls were boating, creating quite tricky conditions for competitors .
Eleanor, boating number 48 had a really strong scull. Being in year 11, she was giving away a year to some of the older girls, but still manage a very strong 50th place overall. A really strong start to her trialling days.
Lauren Henry continues her winning ways with a fantastic performance at the Great Britain Senior and U23 Trials, held over 2 days in Boston Lincs. The first day, Saturday is a 2k ergo test and if you get the qualification mark, you progress to Sunday’s 5k water test.
Leicester was also represented by Lizzie Webster, a 3rd year Paramedic student from DMU at her first ever rowing trials.
Lauren showcased her strength and consistency on the ergo, looking incredibly strong. She just missed out on top slot by just 0.3 seconds, with a very solid personal best of 6:38.8. Whilst Lauren was fighting for bragging rights on the ergo, Lizzie had her own battle, to get inside the U23 cut off of 7min 7 seconds. Lizzie managed it with some room to spare, producing a perfectly executed race and a pb of 7:02.4
On to Sunday, and the 5k water.
Lauren was aiming for a very big win, and she didn’t disappoint. Going off first, in ideal conditions, cool with just a very light head wind and no flow on the river, she absolutely destroyed the field. A trials win is a huge accomplishment, winning by 40 seconds is completely dominant. After the race, Lauren said, “I’m really pleased with my performance and to kick the cycle off in such a positive way! I feel my performance reflects all the hard work in training I’ve been putting in since the Games!”
Lizzie, after placing 42nd overall, and 11th in the U23s on the ergo, set her sights on climbing higher in the water test. A strong performance saw her climb 7 places overall and get into the top 10 U23’s. This bodes very well for the future, showing her potential to compete at higher levels.
I should also mention a former LRC rower Teddy Sherman, now rowing for Oxford Brookes. The U23 target for men is 6:14, Teddy got so very close on Saturday, producing a personal best 6:15.7. Oh so close! The disappointment will surely drive Teddy on to get it next time. It will be great to see him perform on the water and show everyone what he’s capable of.
Op 4- Band 1 – Alex Pole, Kayne Wright, Lucas Bredariol, Ben Barker W 2x Band 1 – Lizzie Webster and Molly Varley (Fastest Women’s Crew) W 4x- Band 1 – Hazel Ward, Natalia Wadowska, Victoria Barker, Lucy Cleaver W 1x Band 1 – Lizzie Webster (Fastest Women’s Single Sculler) W MasF 4x- – Liz Pulford, Angela Holohan, Janet Vickers, Sally Horrocks (Composite with City of Sheffield) W J17 1x Band 1 – Eleanor Gough (Fastest Women’s Junior Single Sculler) W J18 1x Band 1 – Eleanor Gough W 2x Band 2 – Victoria Barker and Fran Gonnella W J15 2x Band 2 – Oliwia Karas and Scarlett Hardy
