Quickly becoming a staple in the run-up to Christmas, the British Rowing Indoor Championships return to the National Exhibition Centre once more. Featuring Olympic champions, competitive masters categories, and plenty of up-and-coming talent, BRIC brings together hundreds of rowers, CrossFitters, and gym enthusiasts alike, looking to test their mettle against the ergometer over a range of times and distances. There’s plenty of talent throughout the junior boys’ events, and it’ll be all to play for on Saturday.
Sixth Form Boys 2000m
Given that this event covers two age groups (those in J17 and J18 categories), there’ll be a range of experience on display here. A handful of returners from the same event last year will be looking to improve their rankings, and now a year older, build on their times from 12 months prior. Charlie Kilvert was the highest-ranked of these returners, last year placing sixteenth, while Freddie Fielding and Cade Sivil placed 23rd and 26th respectively, a little off the pace of those a year their senior. Now returning with the experience under their belts, I’d hope to see each of them aim to edge into the top ten this time around.
Those entering as J17s include Daniel Corbett and Cooper Collins, each experienced on the water but yet to test themselves against the machine at BRIC. Similarly, Harry Mistry and Mati Stendall each raced in the Year 11 6 minutes in 2024, now stepping up to the two-kilometre distance as they advance through the age categories. Mistry finished 11th and Stendall 16th, so they may need to have found some speed over recent months in order to challenge those a year above them, but the distance format may be preferred nonetheless.
An entry to keep a close eye on from overseas is Danish athlete Pauli Joensen, who raced at the Nordic Indoor Rowing Championships in March, placing second in the U18 Men’s 2km in a time of 6:19.7 – a score that would have comfortably won him this event last year. Thomas Pakulis also brings international experience to this stage, having won gold for GB in the quadruple scull at Coupe de la Jeunesse, and most recently placing second in the Open School/Junior Single at Scullers Head of the River. Pakulis can certainly move a boat fast on the water, and this weekend will allow him to show off what he can do on the erg too. I imagine it’ll be neck and neck between these two for at least the first part of the race, but if Joensen can pull out a repeat performance, or go even better, it’s hard to see anyone else taking the win.
Year 11 Boys 6 Minutes
With the playing field relatively level in terms of athlete age, this event provides a stellar opportunity for athletes to show the distance that they can achieve in a given time. The standout names here include Mikey Graham and Freddy Maitre, who picked up gold and silver in the Year 10 5 minutes last year, as well as Nikodem Belcik and Henry Hutchins, who placed fifth and sixth respectively. Depending on the gains made by each of these athletes over the past 12 months, it could be all to play for with the extra minute of opportunity available to them.
Year 10 Boys 5 Minutes
Another category with returning athletes is the Year 10 Boys 5 minute race. Max Roper took home gold in the Year 9 Boys 4 minutes last year, and will be looking to do the repeat this time around. Joining him is former silver-medal athlete Jamie Ford, and fifth-place Ethan Taylor. Adding to the excitement is the fact that all athletes who placed sixth through tenth in 2024 return this weekend for another crack at a BRIC title, and racing over just five minutes should certainly provide some thrilling racing and tight margins.
