The English Junior Beach Sprint Championships took place on Monday 11 August in the beautiful surroundings of the National Trust’s Knoll Beach, Studland. 53 competitors took part, representing 26 clubs from across the UK. The weather was glorious, and the winds were light, making for perfect conditions for competitive racing and a day on the beach for the spectators.
Open J18
The Open J18 event saw the closest race of the day, between Jasper Weaver, Hartpury Rowing Club, and Louie Walker, Christchurch Rowing Club. The boys were level on the water and exited their boats simultaneously, recording the exact same time; it was left to the umpires to adjudicate that Louie had hit the buzzer marginally ahead of Jasper.
The event also saw a superb performance from Valen Giacchetto, Christchurch Rowing Club and 2025 World Beach Sprint Finals Silver Medallist. After incurring a 10 second penalty for not running through the finish line and finishing 5th in the time trial, Valen dominated the knockouts, quarters and semis, taking Gold in the Final and beating Tom Biddle, who took Silver, by a clear 6 seconds. Hexham Rowing Club’s Jacob Lloyd and Lymington Amateur Rowing Club’s Brage Wallis raced for the Bronze, with Brage Wallis coming out on top.
Women’s J18
The Women’s J18 event was dominated by two athletes: Emma Nicholson, Hexham Rowing Club, and Lexi Gill, Poole Amateur Rowing Club, who finished first and second in the time trial, putting them on opposite sides of the draw. Lymington Amateur Rowing Club’s Zara Gray and Hexham Rowing Club’s Emily Lunt, the losing semi-finalists, were drawn together for the Bronze medal match, with Emily Lunt crossing the line first to take the medal.
The Final was the much-anticipated race between Emma and Lexi. It lived up to expectations, staying neck and neck all the way to the line, with Emma pipping Lexi to the buzzer to claim Gold. Lexi took Silver.
Open J16
The J16 events included athletes selected from the Nottingham Early Identification Event, who had their first taste of beach sprints at the North or South camps in the weeks leading up to the Championships. Athletes from British Rowing’s Club of the Year, Lymington Amateur Rowing Club, who have been early adopters of a Beach Sprint focus in their junior programme, showed their strength in the event, taking 5 of the 6 available J16 medals.
Best friends from Lymington, Harry Morgan and Jay Main, faced each other in the semi-finals, with Jay going on to meet fellow Lymington teammate Alex Breese, who proved his dominance in the Open J16 event and took Gold. Harry faced Coalporters Rowing Club’s Ethan Foley in the B Final, with Harry coming out on top, giving Lymington Amateur Rowing Club Gold, Silver and Bronze.
“We’re extremely proud of all our athletes competing at the English Junior Beach Sprint Championships this weekend. The continued success across the board is a great reflection of the environment we’re working to create at Lymington, supporting athletes from juniors through to masters” said Sue Morant, Club Captain of Lymington Amateur Rowing Club.
Women’s J16
The Women’s J16 event produced the closest women’s race of the day, between Sienna Mordaunt, Lymington Rowing Club, and Isla Mitchell, Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Club. It came down to the touch of the finish buzzer, with Sienna beating Isla by a mere 0.02 seconds. Sienna went on to meet beach sprint newcomer Lara Til-Awny, Falcon Rowing Club, in the Final. Having only just completed the three-day South J16 camp and finishing 4th in the time trial, Lara showed her aptitude for the sport, progressing confidently through the rounds to beat Sienna to Gold in the Final. The Bronze medal match was between Isla Mitchell and Ella Gray ofLymington Amateur Rowing Club, with Ella Gray claiming the Bronze.
The organisers would like to thank the people who made the event possible: umpires Sarah Gregory and Paul Jackson, and all the volunteers who were generous with their time, energy and helpfulness, providing support with timing, marshalling, safety and catering.
The post Lymington Amateur Rowing Club dominate at the English Junior Beach Sprint Championships appeared first on British Rowing.
