U23 GB Rowing Trials

Written by Kit Gordon-Brown On the 1st and 2nd of November Henry and I competed at GB trials in Boston. As the first round of selection we had to make the 6:14 ergo cutoff on Saturday, which would enable us to compete in the Sunday 5km water trial in our pair. As my first time at trials it was a bit of a daunting experience, I felt we had trained and prepared well but I still always get a bit nervous before a 2k test. You rock up to this big sports hall, they take your measurements and you see all the guys who are also competing. I was in the fifth wave, so you got to see the first athletes do their tests. The waiting was definitely the worst part but it passed pretty easily, I was a little annoyed with myself for forgetting my erg shoes but my Sambas proved a decent substitute. It was great to chat to friends and coaches before; the best bit of advice I’d say I got was “don’t be heroic”. You’ve done all this training, you’ve got the money in the bank, you just need to relax and trust yourself.

I paced the erg pretty conservatively I feel, I had a lot of room to crank it down at the end and I was really pleased with my 6:10.8 score; a good PB for me. Henry pulled a huge erg, getting a 6:12.4. We all got sat down afterwards to talk through the water trials details and then it was off to the river to paddle. We’d driven up to Boston the day before and had a chill paddle after rigging. The Boston stretch is a world apart from the Tideway; straight, narrow and stream-less it was definitely a welcome change from London’s occasionally coastal conditions. Sunday ran like a normal race day, up early then drive to the course for pre-paddle and briefing. The row up was busy as anything, although it was great fun seeing all the other crews out on the water for the first time. Fortunately, our marshalling was smoother than some others, with a Brookes pair going swimming while de-kitting.

As a first race together I’d say our start was decent, it took us a little to find that nice race rhythm and the Bristol pair starting behind us went off like a stung cat. However, we really found our pace about a km in. The Bristol pair definitely gave us something to work off of, and the corner seemed to come fast. I didn’t really believe Henry when he said we were closing on the UL pair ahead of us. As we came round we had to hug the bank more than we’d planned with the UL boat on the outside but we got a good line. As we moved through them it felt like we were flying; we pushed down the straight, closing on the Brookes pair starting two places ahead of us. Henry might have been a bit optimistic with his 500 to go call but we made a big push on the rate, slightly edging into uncharted territory but we held it together. After changing and de-rigging we waited for the results. I was the first to see the times, I don’t think Henry or André quite believed me when I said we came 8th overall and 3rd U23. It was an awesome result which had us absolutely buzzing. Now looking to the next stage with Christmas camp running the week after term ends, with the next trial in February. Sub 16:30 here we come.

Henry Barham (bow) and Kit Gordon-Brown (stroke) in the pair during the 5km water trial. 📸 AllMarkOne

Bow number 18 on the start line at GB Senior & U23 Trials. 📸 AllMarkOne

📸 AllMarkOne

Left to right: Kit Gordon-Brown, Coach Adam Berry, and Henry Barham — ready to take on GB Trials in Boston 🏁