Seven rowers from Newcastle University Boat Club took part in trials for the Great Britain FISU University World Championships under-23 squad, held in Boston, Lincolnshire, last weekend.
A strong performance from Fred Gill and Mason Durant (Geography, Politics and Sociology) saw them finish as the third placed U23 pair, while Alice Leake in a single came fifth overall.
Following the trial, Fred and Mason, together with Dan Cupit, Nathan O’Reilly and Andy Corrigan, were among a group of triallists invited to take part in a training day at the GB National Centre in Caversham, rowing in fours and eights.
Boat Club head coach, Angelo Savarino, said: ‘We have a young team this year, so inexperience and nervousness still have a big impact on these young athletes. Although this was a very satisfactory performance overall, an even more positive note is that we have more than doubled the number of Newcastle University rowers who took part in GB trials last year’.
NUBC have already started their preparation for the forthcoming BUSA head on 24th February, when coxed fours, quads and eights will be in action, and for the women’s and men’s Head of the River events on 1 March and 15 March respectively.