GBRT U19 February Long Distance Trial 2025
GBRT U19 February Long Distance Trial 2025
Following up on the Senior and U23 Trials, Boston once again hosted hundreds of athletes for the junior rendition of the GBRT trialling process. Racing was split over two days, with athletes starting in singles and club-focused pairs before moving into doubles and alternative pairs for Sunday. WinTech came away with several outstanding results, resoundingly reinforcing our reputation as one of the UK’s premier junior boatbuilders.
Our fastest male finisher was Thomas Pakulis of Lea Rowing Club (WinTech International), who placed second in the single on Saturday. Lea has long since had a reputable junior squad, with boats advancing deep into competitions, including the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. Thomas’ performance on Saturday will set him up well for a tilt at international representation in the summer.
Boat: WinTech International | Photography: AllMarkOne
Behind him was Joe Wellington of the Windsor Boys School (WinTech Cobra SE), who placed third. Already a winner of The Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta and a GB international, having raced at the 2024 U19 World Rowing Championships, Joe is yet another talent to roll off the production line at Mark Wilkinson’s extraordinary programme.
Isaac Thornton, also of the Windsor Boys School, finished fifth, whilst Louis Sheasby of Hartpury College was sixth (both WinTech Internationals). Teammate Daniel Page finished ninth (WinTech International), meaning WinTech placed five athletes in the top ten of the men’s singles. Elsewhere, Bailey Taylor finished 12th in Windsor Boys School colours (WinTech Cobra SE) and George Coates of Hartpury College was 14th (WinTech International).
We also had the highest number of athletes competing in our boats in the men’s single, with 14 athletes turning out in WinTech colours.
On the women’s side, Catherine Gardner – who is already a junior international and domestic powerhouse – followed up on her November trials victory by finishing second in the single on Saturday (WinTech International). Gardner will be eyeing up victories at various UK events, including the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta, alongside her campaign for a second successive U19 World Rowing Championship vest.
Boat: WinTech International | Photography: AllMarkOne
In sixth was Amy Clarke of Sir William Borlase Grammar School (WinTech Cobra SE FLX), whose teammates Emily Nicholas finished one place ahead of her. Borlase is a programme regaining strength under new leadership, and their pursuit of individual and collective honours will surely be one of the stories of the season.
Finishing tenth was Hannah Al-Karmi of Wycliffe College (WinTech Cobra). Wycliffe were one of the country’s most impressive junior crews in 2024, winning the Triple of schoolgirl sculling accolades, and 2025 looks like it will be another vintage year for the girls from Gloucestershire.
On the Sunday, athletes switched into doubles and matrix-based pairs. Highlights from that day included first and third place finishes for WinTech athletes in the men’s double as Joe Wellington of the Windsor Boys School teamed up with Ezra Ferguson of George Watson’s College to win the division, narrowly clear of Isaac Thornton of Windsor Boys School and Louis Sheasby of Hartpury.
The next trial for all those budding for selection is likely to be the U19 Trial Regatta in April before athletes are selected to race at the Munich Junior International Regatta and/or the European Rowing U19 Championships. We look forward to supporting rowers in their international pursuits throughout the course of the next few months.
