13 March 10: Leander led the way home ahead of 299 other crews over the Championship Course in this year's Women's Eights Head, but it was the GB composite crew who once again recorded the fastest time of the day.
Leander set off at a good steady rhythm and quickly extended their lead ahead of Nottingham and Tideway Scullers. Stroked by GB international Lou Reeve the crew also featured double Olympic silver medallist Debbie Flood in the 5 seat as well as four members of last year's gold medal crew from the Under-23 World Championships. Olympic bronze medallist Elise Laverick, who took her place at bow, was competing for the first time in a Leander crew despite having help membership for 10 years!
With this year's GB composite eight starting well down the field among the new entries, Leander rowed in a comparative vaccum over the second half of the course, and it was only later in the day that the result became clear, with the GB crew taking the Head pennant some 20 seconds ahead of Leander, who in turn were 24 seconds ahead of third-placed Reading University.
