PR3 Mixed Coxed Four wins silver at World Rowing Championships

The PR3 Mixed Coxed Four won silver on the first day of finals at the World Rowing Championships 2026.

Frankie Allen, Charlotte Coburn, Jonty Ridley, Josh O’Brien, and cox Omar Al Miqdadi took silver after a thrilling finish against the United States of America. The British matched the Italians out of the blocks and led at 500, 1000, and 1500 before the Americans launched an almighty attack in the final 500m. With 300m left, the crews were level before the Americans pulled away in the closing stages of the race.

“I think it was a really good race, and the best we could have done,” explained Allen.

“We’re a very new crew that has been together for a couple of months. We’ve had a solid block of training, but it’s a massive credit to the rest of the field; it was a really good race. We raced as well as we could, and it just wasn’t meant to be today, but we go back and train to go faster, and we should be really proud of this performance.”

Five other crews were in action on the fourth day of racing, including the Men’s and Women’s Fours and the Men’s and Women’s Quadruple Sculls that all progressed through to A Finals. Benjamin Pritchard kicked off his world title defence with a win in his heat of the PR1 Men’s Single Scull.

Earlier in the day, the reigning European, World, and Paralympic Champion Benjamin Pritchard won his opening Heat of the PR1 Men’s Single Scull. The BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year led from start to finish, posting the fastest time across the three heats in the process. The great Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine was second, joining Pritchard as one of the two automatic qualifiers for tomorrow’s semi-finals.

“It was good to get out there. It’s been a long wait to get started on Thursday, but it’s nice to go out and execute the race plan well.

“We knew it was going to be a long one because it was a headwind; I just decided that we would attack it early and try to hold on and dominate from the start. It’s always going to be harder in a headwind in the first 1k, but I need to try and make it hard for everyone else too.”

Credit: Benedict Tufnell

The Women’s Four was the first British semi-final of the day. Through the opening 500m, positions were chopping and changing, but Sarah Marshall, Eleanor Brinkhoff, Angharad Broughton, and Holly Youd found themselves jostling with Romania. The United States of America led the field. The British quartet and the Romanians continued to pull away from the chasing pack of New Zealand, the Individual Athletes, and Italy. Come the finish, America crossed first ahead of Romania, Great Britain third and had gears to go as they came past the grandstands.

“It was nice that it wasn’t the raging headwind that we had on Tuesday, so that was a treat,” said Brinkhoff.

“I think we went out and executed a better job than Tuesday, and there are still a few more tweaks to come for the final. We’ll see what we can build on for Saturday.

In the first semi-final of the Men’s Four, there was a three-way tussle at the front of the race. Dan Graham, James Robson, Douwe De Graaf, and George Bourne were neck and neck with Romania and the United States through the 1000m marker, but momentum was with the Americans. The United States stretched out in the second half of the race, and would eventually run out winners as both boats distanced themselves from Romania.

Credit: Benedict Tufnell

From Fours, racing switched to Quadruple Sculls. Lola Anderson, Hannah Scott, Finn Stratton, and Imogen Grant won their heat, setting up a thrilling semi-final against the Netherlands, reigning World Champions. By halfway, the Dutch had clear water over the British and the Australians, and through the third quarter, the British quartet started to walk away from Australia, finishing with an overlap on the Dutch. They will meet again in Saturday’s A Final.

“We were grateful to have some better conditions today than we did in the heats just to see what we could put down,” said Stratton.

“I think we feel like there’s more to come in the final, which is exciting. We’ve done a great job to make the A Final. I think we’ve had some learning experiences from this race but generally, we’re happy with how it went and we’re feeling good.”

Credit: Benedict Tufnell

The Men’s Quadruple Sculls were the final British boat in action across the semi-finals. Following a fast start from China, Cedol Dafydd, Callum Dixon, Tobias Schröder, and Rory Harris hit the front of the race after the opening 350m. Germany and the United States never let them get clear through the middle half of the race, as the attacking bow balls lingered at about half length back. The Germans charged in the closing stages, taking the Americans with them, but the British quartet held on to place first across the line.

“That was a really good semi-final,” said Dafydd.

“We knew it would be tough after we raced Germany in Lucerne, and we knew the Americans would be quick after placing fourth at the World Champs last year. As a four, we trusted ourselves and worked together as a unit. We trusted what we knew, and trusted the training we’ve been doing. In that middle part, we were ruthless. We have a calling in the boat that we are ruthless with every stroke. We don’t wait for anyone; we make things happen for ourselves, and we’re very excited for the final. Bring it on.”

Credit: Benedict Tufnell

Tomorrow’s racing will see Lauren Henry race in the quarterfinals of the women’s Single Scull, the Men’s Pair and Women’s Double will race in their B Finals, and the Men’s Double will have a crack at silverware in the penultimate race of the day.

“Both of the Fours and Quads delivered under pressure today to confirm their A-Final placings,” said Interim Performance Director Tom Dyson.

“They can now turn their attention to their final preparations and the weekend’s medal races.

“For our Para crews, Ben started his campaign strongly today and he’ll be looking to step on from there in tomorrow’s semi-final. The PR3 Four’s final had the strongest depth of competition we’ve seen to date. It was ultimately the meeting of two different race plans, from two quality crews. Congratulations must go to the US Four, and to our own crew who have stepped up to the pressure and expectation this season. They should be extremely proud with what they have achieved and this silver medal that caps their season.”

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Thursday’s Results (27 August 2026)

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