This race was cancelled after JRN had created the preview.
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Once again, the premier athletes in the country make the journey to Boston for the final open trial of the 2026 season. Having already submitted their 5k ergo time, we will see the top GB aspirants battling it out in Boston along the 5k course. This open trial also includes national team athletes who have been training at Caversham, who the top U23 competitors will be looking to challenge.
Reading University Boat Club
Considered by many to be the leading sculling squad in the country, Reading University have two U23 athletes entered this weekend, Megan Knight and Zara Povey. These two have spent a significant amount of time recently competing together in the quad and have consequently shared many accolades, including a win in the Bourne Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta and a second-place finish in the championship quad event at Fours Head (only fractions of a second behind the national team crew). Where their accomplishments diverge, see Knight edging out Povey in international success, with Knight having won a bronze medal in the quad at the U23 World Rowing Championships in 2024 and racing in the double last season. Povey has also competed internationally, placing fifth in the women’s single at the FISU World University Games. At the first assessment, Povey was the fastest U23 ahead of Knight in second, a flip from their positions earlier at Scullers Head. I would expect these two to carry on their success and take the top two spots again. Who will take the win, however, remains an open question.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
Edinburgh also have two U23 scullers entered, who likewise have spent much time competing together. Unlike the Reading athletes, Grace Dawson and Penny Irvine have spent significant time competing in sweep. They were both in the Edinburgh eight that competed at High Point Rowing Festival in North Carolina. The two athletes have also raced together for Scotland at the Home International Regatta, winning a gold medal in the coxless four and two bronze medals in the eight. Individually, Dawson performed exceptionally well at the first assessment, placing third, less than a second behind Knight in second. Irvine has international racing experience, having competed in the U21 Solo at the Commonwealth Beach Sprints, but we’ll have to see how this coastal experience translates to sculling in Boston.
Molesey Boat Club
Over the past year, Molesey have made phenomenal strides as a club. A win in The Wargrave Challenge Cup was a highlight of last season, and they have begun this season with an impressive second-place finish at Head of the Charles and five top-three finishes at Fours Head. This included a win in the club quads with a crew featuring Lara Grant, who will be making an appearance this weekend and is looking to build on her fourth-place finish in November.
Methodist College Belfast BC
This weekend will be Sophia Young’s debut at the GBRT Trials; however, she has previous experience on the Irish Rowing Team. Last summer, she raced in the women’s double at the U19 World Rowing Championships and placed fifth. A month later, she raced in the women’s eight at the U23 European Rowing Championships, where her crew placed fourth. Young has had success in Ireland with a Concept 2 record in the 6k and winning three gold medals in sculling events at the Irish Championships. Considering this success in Ireland, it will be interesting to see if Young can surprise and shake up the results.
Prediction
Performing well this weekend will be critical for athletes with dreams of competing for the GB rowing team in the Summer. I would look to the two Reading athletes, Povey and Knight, to take the top two spots, but it’s difficult to call who will take the win. I’d expect Dawson to maintain her third place from November, but would keep an eye on Young to potentially surprise.
