GB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham

20 - 22 July 2007

Report by

Leander Press Officer Robert Treharne Jones

23 July: Leander athletes, sponsored by Invesco Perpetual, brought home a record six gold medals and a silver from this year's National Championships in Nottingham. The men's eight, with just two changes from the crew which won the Thames Cup at Henley two weeks ago, beat the same Agecroft crew they met in the Henley final by more than five seconds. In the men's coxed fours the Leander Britannia crew took the silver medal, beaten only by their club mates in the Leander A crew! In the women's double sculls Rachel Loveridge and Louise Rowbotham continued their winning ways by romping home more than 11 seconds clear of Tideway Scullers, while Dave Jones won the Under-23 singles by 4.82 secs clear of Haines of Cardiff City. In the men's pairs Henry Palmer and Tommy Burton took gold by a margin of more than nine seconds ahead of the Newcastle University crew, while Andy Dax and Andy Berridge had an even more convincing win in the lightweight division, where they pushed London RC back into silver by more than 11 seconds. The only Leander athlete not to make the final was Colin Williamson, who missed qualifying for the open singles final by just fractions of a second - not bad for an athlete with just 8 days experience of sculling!

The Leander squad have now been called up to represent England at the Home Countries international regatta this weekend at the Inniscarra regatta site in Cork, Ireland. The England eight will comprise the coxed four, together with the lightweight and heavyweight pairs, but since two Leander athletes doubled up in the pair this means pulling in Ray Poulter and Kevin Harry from the second Leander four in Nottingham! Rachel Loveridge and Louise Rowbotham will also represent England in the women's double sculls.

Further details of all the Nottingham results can be found on the championships website

LEANDER CREWS and RESULTS in NOTTINGHAM

Grid numbers represent position in each round, >>>> indicates progression to next round

ENDS