GB U23, U19 trials, J16 GB camp & DiSE

GB trialling 2024/2025

U19 & U23 notes:

• This page covers U23, U19 and U16 trialling process.  Please pencil the events in your diaries,. As the year progresses competition increases and some events are by invitation, and most are dependent on erg scores.  The coaches have the erg scores documented and will be working with the boys on the distances/rate.

• Costs: there is a cost to join a camp at NWSC, Nottingham, an RGS coach attends as well. We ask that the family covers the cost of the camp for their son (the cost includes food and is between £300 and £400).  Assume that you may need to stay in Nottingham the night before as the events start at or before 9am.  Parents are expected to transport their son to and from the event; this is because having the coach provide transport turns this into a school trip which requires significantly more paperwork. The club pays the equivalent for the coach, his petrol and accommodation the night before, although a contribution is welcome. In the past RGS has transported boats or we have trailer shared with other clubs, this will be sorted nearer the time.

• Similarly, there are costs for assessments in Boston, we will cover the cost of the RGS coach's accommodation and transport.  We can help with finding accommodation in the Boston area, but parents are responsible for transporting their sons.  Costs for entering are of the order of £50.

• Please note that the age band for U19 is based on January – December years not UK school years.

  • Under World Rowing rule 19, no longer a World Rowing U19 after 31st December of the year he reaches age of 18, so someone born on or before 31 Dec 2007 ceased to be a World Rowing U19 after 31 Dec 2025. This leads to some Seniors being a one- or two-year U19.

• For U23 there is useful information here: https://www.britishrowing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2025-Selection-Trials-Notice.pdf

  • This includes athlete registration which closes  Monday 21st October.

J16 notes:

• The purpose of the U16 sessions (based on prior years) is to ensure the rowers are able to stand up to the rigours of the GB programme therefore working in the first half of the J16 year to iron out flaws is important alongside working on erg scores and gaining small boat experience.

• We know the 2025 date for the J16 Crew Sculling camp: Saturday 5th -  Monday 7th April – GBRT J16 Crew Sculling Camp at NWSC, Nottingham.

  • In 2024 the registration deadline was Friday, 1st March 2024

  • About the GBRT J16 Crew Sculling Camp, based on the information from prior years.

    • The J16 Crew Sculling Camp is the first opportunity for rowers to work with the GB Rowing Team in a camp environment and will be held at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham, from a Saturday to a Monday.

    • 40 rowers will be invited (20 male, 20 female) who will have demonstrated, through their application form, that they have an eagerness to learn and improve, and might be of the standard to be considered for the World Rowing U19 Championships or Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2024 or 2025.

    • We can assist with the application having supported a number of boys with similar applications.

    • The camp includes technical and work sessions on the water and ergo, as well as gym sessions led by an UK Sports Institute Strength and Conditioning coach, and athlete workshops led by specialists in their field. Topics covered at previous camps have included: athlete nutrition, anti-doping, mobility and flexibility, future standards, video analysis, and behaviours of high performing athletes.

    • One of the strengths of this camp is that rowers can row in crew boats with others outside of their own club/school environment. This coupled with the experience of being coached by coaches other than their own has been shown to be a catalyst for improvement.

  • If you don’t make the J16 sculling camp, you can still do the virtual camp and try again for U19.

  • There is also a J16 virtual camp is open to all J16s and is free. We do not have the schedule for 2025 for the J16 virtual camp, the 2024 camp was Sunday 17th March 2-6pm

Key Dates for U19 triallists (black and blue) and J16 Camp

U23 dates

October 2024

• Wed 2nd: U19 Aspiring Rowers Meeting  - Virtual

  • usually evening zoom meeting

• Mon 7th - Mon 21st:  1st Ergo Submission (2k @ r24) 

  • 2 week submission window 

• Mon 21st: latest Athlete Registration 

  • by coaches

November 2024

• Wed 6th: GBRT U19 Triallist Parent information meeting - Virtual

  • assume evening zoom meeting

• Sat 9th - Sun 10th: GBRT Open Trial (U23) - Boston Lincolnshire

  • 2k Ergo Test and 5k on-water Time Trial 

• Mon 11th - Thu, 30 January 2025: 5k Ergo Submission 

  • Completion window

• Sat 16th: U19 Early ID Assessment  - Boston, Lincolnshire

• Mon 18th - Mon 9th Dec:  2nd Ergo Submission (5k @ r26)  

  • 2 week submission window 

  • Rowers are invited to submit an unbroken 30’ r20 training ergo alongside the 2nd and 3rd ergo assessment.  This is optional. 

  • closure changed from 2nd - update sent out on Oct 25th

December 2024

• Sun 8th: U19 Training Day - Caversham, nr Reading

• Sun 14th - Wed 18th Dec (TBC): GBRT U19 Potential Camp  - Bisham Abbey / Dorney Lake 

  • Cancelled in email Oct 25th

• Sun 14th - Fri 20th Dec: GBRT Trial and Testing (by Invitation)  - Caversham, nr Reading

  • 4k on-water Time Trial (Sat), Further Testing in Crew Boats (Sun-Fri) 

January 2025

• Mon 20th - Mon 3rd Feb:  3rd Ergo Submission (5k @ r26) 

  • 2 week submission window 

  • Rowers are invited to submit an unbroken 30’ r20 training ergo alongside the 2nd and 3rd ergo assessment.  This is optional. 

February 2025

• Sun 2nd: U19 Training Day - Caversham, nr Reading

• Sat 8th: GBRT Open Trial - Boston, Lincolnshire

  • 5k on-water Time Trial 

•  Sun 9th - Fri, 11 April 2025: 2k Ergo Submission

  • Completion window

• Sat 15th - Sun 16th : U19 February Long Distance Trial  - Boston, Lincolnshire

• Mon 24th - Fri 21st Mar: 4th Ergo Submission (2k, free rate) 

  • 4 week submission window

March 2025

• Sat 29th - Tues 1st April:  U19 Spring Assessments (by invitation only) - NWSC, Nottingham

April 2025

• Sat 5th - Mon 7th:  GBRT J16 Crew Sculling Camp - NWSC, Nottingham 

• Fri 11th - Sun 13th: GBRT April Trials (by Invitation) - Caversham, Reading

  • 2k Racing 

• Sun 27th:  GB Rowing Team U19 Trial - NWSC, Nottingham 

May 2025

• • Sat 3th - Sun 4th: Munich Junior Regatta Munich, GER 

  • Sat 24th - Sun 25th: European Rowing U19 Championships Gravelines, FRA 

  • Wed 28th - Thurs 29th: Crew Formation part 1 - Cavesham, near Reading

  • Mon 26th  - Mon 9th June: 5th Ergo Assessment (2k, free rate)

    • 2 week submission window 

July 2025

• Wed 9th: Crew Formation Race Off (if required) - Caversham, near Reading

• Fri 11th - Tues 15th: U19 Final Crew Formation - NWSC, Nottingham 

August 2025

• TBC: Coupe de la Jeunesse -  TBC 

• Sat 9th - Sun 10th World Rowing U19 Championships - Trakai, LTU 

DiSE – Diploma in Sports Excellence

• Applications for DiSE are made at the end of J16 year.  Applications are judged on the quality of the application and ergs scores submitted.

• More can be found about them here: https://www.britishrowing.org/gb-rowing-team/olympic-pathway/athlete-development-pathway/diploma-in-sporting-excellence/

• Opening dates for 2024 programme was signposted as May 2024.

• There were only 20 places for boys in 2024.

• If you intend to participate, the school asks that you speak to your teachers to discuss your ability to cope with this extra workload.  We understand that this is a bit tricky as you’ll be finishing your GCSE and have not yet signed up for A-levels but please don’t sign up if you would struggle with extra workload.