Anderson named in all-Leander Great Britain quad

LEANDER athletes dominate the 39-strong Great Britain squad that has been named for the first international event of the season — the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, that runs from May 29 to June 1.

After winning a gold medal in the women’s quad at the Paris Olympics, Lola Anderson returns to an all-Leander boat, joined by Olympic bronze medallist Becky Wilde with Sarah McKay and Cam Nyland making their senior international debuts.

Leander’s Olympic bronze medal winners in the women’s eight, Heidi Long, Lauren Irwin and Eve Stewart, are joined by Reading University’s Daisy Bellamy and will all be doubling up to race in the women’s four and women’s eight. Completing the eight will be the women’s pair of Leander’s Eleanor Brinkhoff and Molesey Boat Club’s Megan Slabbert plus Leander’s Amelia Standing and cox Jack Tottem along with Oxford Brookes’ Martha Birtles.

The men’s eight will feature a mix of returning and Project LA athletes with Paris 2024 bronze medallist Matt Aldridge joined by Leander’s Will Stewart, Archie Drummond, Miles Beeso and Matt Rowe along with Fergus Woolnough, David Bewicke-Copley, Sam Nunn, Matt Rowe and cox, Will Denegri. The men’s four sees Leander’s Joshua Bowesman-Jones making his senior debut, alongside clubmates Dan Graham and James Vogel along with Oxford Brookes’ Jake Wincomb, who all raced at World Cup 3 last year.

The men’s quadruple sculls comprises Leander’s Cedol Dafydd and Rory Harris along with Paris Olympians Callum Dixon and Matt Haywood. Leander’s Tobias Schröder is joined by clubmate Jamie Gare in the men’s double.

The reserves for both men’s and women’s squads are made up of Leander’s James Cartwright and Tom Barras and Lizzie Witt and Juliette Perry. Speaking on the squad selection, Louise Kingsley, British Rowing director of performance, said: “The start of the new cycle is an exciting time, with a mix of familiar faces and new crews taking to the start line in Plovdiv.

“We have returning Olympic and Paralympic champions, as well as World, Olympic and Paralympic medallists in the squad. Plus, we welcome the new group of ‘Project LA’ athletes, many of whom have had medal success at U23 level and made their senior debuts at World Rowing Cup 3 in 2024.

“After a long winter of training, I know everyone is keen to get their season underway and see how we perform against the rest of Europe.”