Image Credit: AllMarkOne
The sun is shining across the UK, meaning summer is around the corner. With it comes two things: the international calendar and regatta racing. Raising the curtain for them both is the April Trials. The very best of British Rowing will descend on Caversham to showdown in time trials, semis and finals in pairs and singles for a chance to impress the selectors. For the men, more than 150 athletes began their process in Boston in November, many more racing in singles than ever before. Now, just 14 senior scullers remain as they fight for a seat at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai.
Cedol Dafydd and Callum Dixon (Leander Club/Twickenham RC)
Leading the way are Cedol Dafydd and Callum Dixon. This combination claimed top honours in the February 5km trial, with top-class performances in the singles in November and December. This crew is a perfect example of success for the British Rowing development programme with Dafydd the new face of their ‘sporting giants’ programme, after excelling in the Dan Harris’ Bath GB start group. Dixon, too, made his Olympic debut last summer in Paris, going from a sailing talent to an Olympic finalist in just one cycle. This weekend, they will be the ones to beat after their 12-second win in February; expect to see the now familiar duo at the business end of the A-final this weekend.
Ed Fuller and Matt Long (Reading University BC)
The only other double returning intact from the Reading University crew of Ed Fuller and Matt Long. In just his second year of university, Long is already one of the big names in British sculling after he won this event in the single last year and raced in the double at the U23 World Rowing Championships last summer. Domestically, he has a perfect record in championship BUCS sculling after winning the quad, double and single at BUCS Regatta, along with two wins at the Head. Joining him in this crew is clubmate Fuller, who raced in Paris last summer at the Paralympic Games, taking gold in the PR3 coxed four. Acting as a facilitator this weekend, it will be curious to see how this unusual combination stacks up across the 2000 metre distance, following their fourth place over 5km in February.
Graeme Thomas and Tom Barras (Agecroft RC and Leander Club)
The most experienced crew on the entry list is undoubtedly Graeme Thomas and Tom Barras. Barras begins his third Olympiad, having raced in the quad at both Tokyo and Paris, winning a silver at his debut games. Thomas, on the other hand, begins his fourth cycle in search of the elusive Olympic medal. He was selected for Rio but withdrew through injury before racing at both Tokyo and Paris, finishing fourth on both occasions. Bringing experience to the squad, neither have had brilliant beginnings to their selection campaign, finishing sixth and seventh with less experienced partners. Now, back together, this duo will want to show the benefits of wisdom, experience, and a combined seven global championship medals.
Matt Haywood and Tobias Schröder (Nottingham RC/Leander Club)
The final member of the Paris sculling squad returning to trials this year is Matt Haywood, who sat in the three-seat in Vaires-sur-Marne. Joining him is Tobias Schröder, a three-time Oxford blue who has been highly thought of for some time within British circles. As a senior, he debuted at the 2023 Lucerne World Rowing Cup, racing in the single as GBR2, a designation he would re-don in Poznan last summer in the double. Separately, this double finished second and third in the February trials, but their Caversham-based combination has united this weekend and will have eyes for the top spot on the podium this weekend.
Jamie Gare and James Cartwright (Leander Club)
In his first year back from Northeastern University, James Cartwright has lit up the timesheets in the UK. He has a strong pedigree, with an U19 World Rowing Championship silver and three vests as an U23. The three-time all-American will be eyeing a senior GB vest in the UK. Joining him is Jamie Gare, an athlete who rose to prominence in the blue and yellow of Bath University, with wins in the elite double at Henley Royal Regatta and Holland Beker, but is yet to don the world-championship hoops at any level. This weekend, they will set a course to correct that and by combining two athletes who have been among the top ten all season, they stand a strong chance of building a case in front of the selectors this weekend.
Rory Harris and Aidan Thompson (Leander Club/Twickenham RC)
Though not of the Olympic calibre, Rory Harris and Aidan Thompson have much senior international experience compared to other athletes looking to break into the more established group. Harris has been a member of both the ‘Project Paris’ and ‘Project LA’ groups, racing in the double at the third World Rowing Cup in 2021 and 2024. His partner Thompson burst onto the scene, racing in the senior double throughout the 2023 season. Ultimately it ended in disappointment, finishing 25th at the World Rowing Championships, falling well short of Olympic qualification. For both, this provides a strong opportunity to break back into the setup, and a strong performance on the Redgrave-Pinset Rowing Lake will likely do just that.
Bryn Ellery and Oliver Costley (Leander Club)
From Leander Club, this is a crew with a phenomenal domestic pedigree. Brynn Ellery and Oliver Costley share eight Henley Royal Regatta medals, won at seven of the last eight regattas, including Costley’s incredible four-in-a-row in the intermediate quads. However, neither has been able to take the ultimate step up for senior representation beyond their age group careers. This year, they aim to change that following strong performances across the trialling season. Costley finished well in his single across the trials in late 2024 but missed the first round in the double. Conversely, Ellery missed both the singles trials and began his campaign in February, finishing seventh with Tom Barras. With a history of performing well together – including a silver medal at the U19 World Rowing Championships – they will hope this weekend can help finally propel them into the senior team.
Will Stradling and Joshua Knight (Bath University BC/Minerva Bath RC)
Another crew of outstanding athletes emerging from the Bath development group is Will Stradling and Joshua Knight. While Stradling, the university fresher, is listed as a facilitator, Knight has made himself clear as the standout prospect from this year’s trials. At last year’s BUCS Regatta, he claimed two beginner gold medals, including a dominant win in the single and within 14 months of first picking up an oar, he was posting strong times at trials and winning against a strong field at British indoors. In February, he was paired up with Graeme Thomas, a double Olympian and fellow Agecroft start product, where they finished sixth overall. This weekend, he has a less prestigious partner but will be looking to continue his rapid ascent through the sport of rowing.
Sam Bodkin and Alex King (Molesey BC)
Rounding out the senior entries in the field, Molesey Boat Club enters their crew of Alex King and Sam Bodkin. Bodkin is listed as a facilitator, having not raced this year at trials but holds excellent pedigree, having won The Fawley Challenge Cup whilst at the Windsor Boys’ School. Alex King, on the other hand, came through the Twickenham tart programme while enrolled at St Mary’s University and has performed well at trials, finishing in the top 15 in November and improving at the closed trial in December. In February, he was without a doubles partner and was the sole competitor in the single. Compared to the gold medal standard, he finished eighth compared to the men’s doubles, and it will be exciting to see what he can do this weekend when racing in the boat class.
Prediction
While many crews draw the eye based on either prestige or growth throughout the season, my pick for the win will have to be Dafydd and Dixon. The combination of one of the top prospects in world rowing alongside such power and Olympic pedigree makes it hard to look past this duo.
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