Team WinTech began 2025 with excellent results at the GBRT February Senior and U23 trials, representing the second staging post on the road to international honours in the summer. A host of the UK’s top male and female athletes descended on Boston to test themselves against their peers over the 5km stretch, with both returning Olympians and future stars present and accounted for. 

For the men, doubles and pairs were the order of the day, whilst the women split into pairs and singles. With several returners from the men’s and women’s Olympic quads – the latter of which won a historic gold – it will be interesting to see how GB Rowing choose to integrate decorated Olympians with the next generation of talent. 

Our best result came in the women’s single, where we secured third and fourth places. Olivia Cheesmur – whose accolades at junior level included a silver medal at the U19 World Rowing Championships – was the fastest U23 female sculler in placing third despite only being in her first year of the age group. Racing for her home club, Molesey Boat Club, she finished narrowly ahead of Finnola Stratton of Reading University in fourth. Finnola won bronze in the women’s quad at the U23 World Rowing Championships last summer. Both were in WinTech Cobra SE boats. 

Women’s 1x 4th Place, Finnola Stratton - University of Reading BC
Boat: WinTech Cobra SE | Photography: AllMarkOne

Angharad Broughton was eighth, again representing Molesey Boat Club, and Meg Knight placed 16^th for Reading University. Finally, Sophia Issberner was 23^rd in the University of St Andrews Boat Club colours.

Women’s 1x 8th Place, Angharad Broughton  - Molesey Boat Club
Boat: WinTech International | Photography: AllMarkOne

Our other notable result came in the men’s double, where Alex Knighton and Tom Brown (representing Loughborough Students' RC / Nottinghamshire County RA) finished 15^th overall.

With GBRT U19 trials to take place next week in Boston, we’re excited to see another slew of WinTech results at the business end of UK rowing. Some of our fastest athletes will be taking to the water in pursuit of domestic and international glory and we can’t wait to support all of our ambassadors throughout their campaigns.