British Athletes bring home thirteen medals from the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships
Catch up on the nail-biting racing in Barbados alongside the announcement of new CRA President Kate O鈥橲ullivan and the election of James Andrews as an executive member
The home nations of England, Scotland, and Wales, along with the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey and Jersey, travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to compete at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships, referred to as CRABS, which were held in Bridgetown, Barbados, last weekend.
The competition hosted by the Rowing Association of Barbados and the saw singles and mixed doubles competing in U19, U21, and Senior categories, as well as having a team relay. The event saw thirteen nations take part, including larger Commonwealth nations Australia and Canada, African nations Uganda and South Africa, and smaller island nations such as Vanuatu, Cyprus and Turks & Caicos, as well as hosts Barbados.
Credit: Swift Racing Boats, Commonwealth Rowing and CJ Taylor Photos
The first medals for home nations came in the U21 Women鈥檚 Solo races, with England’s Izzy Lancaster (Reading University BC / Bradford ARC) claiming Bronze by six seconds against Australia鈥檚 Calli McRae. In the A Final, Guernsey鈥檚 Tash Phillips (University College London BC / Fishgard and Goodwick Jemima RC) beat Canada by just over six seconds.
Tash, who recently also rowed in the GB Mixed Quad at the World Rowing Championships, said about her victory: 鈥淚 was so pleased to be permitted to row for Guernsey at the Commonwealth Championships. I started the racing with some nerves, as I have been training in the quad all summer and spent very little time in a single. I was really pleased with the time trial, progressing straight into the semi-final and couldn鈥檛 believe it when I went on to win gold. It was fantastic to be Guernsey鈥檚 first representative at the Commonwealth Championships and bring a medal home for Guernsey and for the home nations. I was privileged to be supported by outstanding boat handlers and to be part of an event rowing alongside fellow teammates from the UK.
“I was so pleased to be permitted to row for Guernsey at the Commonwealth Championships. I started the racing with some nerves as I haven鈥檛 been training in a single since April, but I was pleased when I came first in the time trial and then went on to win gold. It was fantastic to be Guernsey鈥檚 first representative at the Commonwealth Championships and bring a medal home for Guernsey and the home nations. I was privileged to be supported by outstanding boat handlers and to be part of an event rowing alongside fellow teammates from the UK.鈥
In the U21 Men鈥檚 solo, England鈥檚 Zack Hills (Tynemouth RC / Chester-le-Street ARC / Whitby Coastal RC) claimed Bronze, beating out Bajan rower James Lamboll in the B Final. In the A final, Scotland鈥檚 Harris Bisset (University of St Andrews BC) claimed silver behind Australia鈥檚 Samuel Forbes.
Credit: Swift Racing Boats, Commonwealth Rowing and CJ Taylor Photos
The B Final of the Women鈥檚 Solo saw one of the closest finishes of the day, with England鈥檚 Bass Andre (Shanklin Sandown RC) missing out on the bronze medal by less than one second to Scotland鈥檚 Heather Gordon (Inverness RC) in a nail-biting race all the way to the finish.
Jersey鈥檚 highest medal came in the Women鈥檚 Solo event, with Natacha Searson (Newcastle University BC / Jersey RC) losing out to standing Commonwealth Champion Elizabeth Newell from Australia by five seconds. Natacha, who had recently raced in the Mixed double for GB at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, said, 鈥淩acing at the Commonwealth was a really special race. My first international race was representing Jersey in Namibia, so it was great to race at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprints again. It felt extra special this time getting a silver medal at a Commonwealth event for Jersey. It was a great experience, and I felt very proud to put Jersey on the international stage.鈥
Jerseys Chris Thompson raced off against Vanuatu in the B Final of the Men鈥檚 Solo, beating them comfortably, whilst the A Final saw Wales claim their first medal with three-time CRABS rower Jerry Owen (Fishguard and Goodwick Jemima RC / Nottingham RC) claiming Silver.
England鈥檚 highest medal, a silver, came in the U21 Mixed Doubles with Tom Walker (Christchurch RC / University of Exeter BC) and Cailtin Lockey (Christchurch RC / City of Oxford RC) putting in a strong effort and finishing just a little over three seconds behind the Australian double.
鈥淐RABS has been a massive project for us both; months of dedicated training have brought us to this point. Barbados didn鈥檛 disappoint, with close racing and an amazing location. We couldn鈥檛 have got here without the support from various clubs and coaches.鈥 Said Tom and Caitlin. 鈥淲inning silver here means the world to us, and we hope this is just the beginning of our beach sprints journey. Thanks to the Commonwealth Rowing Association for putting together an amazing event.鈥
The final category on the Saturday was the Senior Mixed Double. The B Final saw the Scottish Double of Tom Mitchell and Hansine Marshall (Both University of St Andrews BC) beat the Canadian Double convincingly. Whilst in the A Final, the Welsh Double of Bo Hughes (Marlow RC) and Thea Adamson (Tideway Scullers School) finished in second place, claiming one more silver for Welsh Rowing.
On Sunday, 14 teams were put in to race the team relay event. A category unique so far to CRABS sees each team racing a solo, followed by a double, and finishing off with another solo. Teams can choose to put the female or male sculler first or last. In the spirit of the event, smaller nations can combine with others to form composite teams. With no B final for this event, Wales claimed Bronze as the fastest team knocked out in the semi-finals, as Scotland鈥檚 team claimed silver in the final.
Ailsa Martin, Scotland鈥檚 Team Manager, said the following about the team’s success: 鈥淭he Scotland Team saw great success at the CRA Beach Sprint Championships. With one athlete at the first Beach Sprint Competition, while others have many years of experience in the discipline, the team gained from the experience.
鈥淲e are proud to return with four medals, two silver and two bronze, showing the strength of the team with a second place finish in the relay. We enjoyed the hospitality of Barbados and the ethos of support across the Commonwealth Nations,鈥 she continued.
The whole event was finished off with a Commonwealth Dance led by Uganda鈥檚 Elijah Namunyu.
Kate O’Sullivan elected as new Commonwealth Rowing Association President
During the event, the Commonwealth Rowing Association鈥檚 AGM was held with representatives from across the Commonwealth attending both virtually and in person. At the event, Peter Cookson (Canada) stepped down after eight years as President. Peter has served the Commonwealth nations well, bringing CRABS to both Namibia and now Barbados. Taking his place as President is Kate O’Sullivan, previously 91桃色鈥檚 Deputy Chair and now a current board member of Welsh Rowing. Kate was elected along with James Andrews (91桃色鈥檚 England Pathway Manager), who was elected by fellow nations as an executive member of the association.
Credit: Swift Racing Boats, Commonwealth Rowing and CJ Taylor Photos
鈥淚鈥檓 honoured to have been elected President of the Commonwealth Rowing Association, and I鈥檓 grateful to Scottish Rowing and Welsh Rowing for their nomination,鈥 said Kate.
鈥淗aving just returned from the Commonwealth Rowing Regatta in Barbados, I鈥檝e seen first-hand what a special community Commonwealth coastal and beach sprint rowing is, and the unique spirit that exists across our nations. Over the next six to nine months, I鈥檓 looking forward to listening to and learning from each member country, and working with the CRA Executive to shape our strategy and shared priorities.
鈥淏uilding on the incredible work of outgoing President Peter Cookson, a key focus for me will be securing beach sprint rowing鈥檚 inclusion in the 2030 Commonwealth Games, while developing new programmes and strengthening existing ones across the Commonwealth rowing family.鈥
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