BMSBC -‐ Great Britain Trials Mark Bavington – Director of Rowing Great

BMSBC - Great Britain Trials Great Britain Rowing Trials Explained. The Great Britain Rowing trials are a long process that runs throughout the year. The Lead GB Coach holds a number of water trials, ergo tests, training camps (weekends and abroad) as well as long selection weeks in the summer to determine his team for all of the events. The trials process is completely based around elite sport and is not designed for gaining experience for young athletes or for those rowers that their coach does not feel reach the required standard of rowing internationally. The Director of Rowing will have the final say on whether a student has reached the required standard to attend Great Britain Trials. The Trials/Assessments: 1. The 1st Assessment is the 2000m ergo rate capped at 24 strokes per minute. This trial is designed to immediately cut the number of athletes entering the trials. The cut off is the top 150 boys’ scores, and the top 75-80 girls’ scores. Traditionally this is in the region of 6:50 for boys and 7:50 for girls. What is important to understand at this point is that if you effectively just dip under that cut off, you are unlikely to make the team as the fastest scores submitted will be in the region of 45 seconds quicker. 2. The 1st ergo assessment is the qualifier for the 1st water trial which is held in mid-November, this is known as the Early I.D Trial. All female athletes must single scull, boys can row in pairs or single scull. There is no cut after this trial, however, as coaches we are asked to seriously consider the competitiveness of our athletes and to withdraw any athlete that is considered off the pace. 3. The 3rd Assessment is a 5000m ergo test held in late November, Team GB do provide a cut off time. This can change each year dependant on previous performances. 4. The 4th Assessment is a 5000m ergo test held in January. The cut off time must be achieved to attend the next water trial. 5. The 5th Assessment is a weekend in Boston consisting of two 5000m water trials, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. As mentioned above, you can only attend these trials if you have made the required cut off on the ergo and if your coach feels you are competitive enough. After these trials there is another cut, this is completely at the discretion of the Lead GB Coach. J16 athletes are also welcome at this event to get a taste of the GB Trials process, however there is an ergo cut off time that must be achieved before an entry will be accepted. 6. In April it is back onto the ergo for the first 2000m Free Rate ergo test. A cut off time will be published prior to the test; this must be achieved to continue in the process. 7. Spring Assessments is a week-long assessment held in Nottingham. This is an extremely hard week as the athletes will be continuously raced against each other to establish if there are any real standout athletes at the top, and bottom. Crews will be selected for the Munich Regatta held in May. 8. Towards the end of April GB Rowing hold a Junior Regatta for all the remaining trialling athletes. This event will be in singles and/or pairs for both boys and girls. The aim of this event is to race off against each other to earn a place at the Final Trials held in July, where the crews will be selected. Mark Bavington – Director of Rowing BMSBC - Great Britain Trials 9. Mid-June, another 2000m Free Rate ergo time is required. This is more data collection and ensures that those athletes that have been selected to attend the Final Trials are still progressing. 10. Final Trials – A week-long trial where athletes once again race against each other to earn places in the team and boats. This is an extremely fatiguing and stressful week as athletes are kept in the dark regarding their rank right up until the final selection is made. Not all athletes at Final Trials will gain a seat in a boat; some will still leave the process at this point with nothing. In addition to all of the ergo and water assessments the girls will also have to undergo a series of land based assessments that test their strength on and off the ergo. These tests significantly influence the selection process, which means they could be cut even though both their ergo and water times were of a qualifying standard. This decision is down to the Lead GB Coach of the female athletes. Events: Junior World Rowing Championships – This is the top event that all of the trials are geared towards. Selected from the full GB trials process. Additional cost depending upon location. Coupe de la Jeunesse – A European match between 12 countries – The ‘B’ Junior Great Britain Team. Selected from the full GB trials process. Additional cost depending upon location. Home Countries – A match between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales The England Team is selected through GB Trials, England Team specific trials and winners of the Junior British Championships. GB vs France Match – An event designed for J16 athletes. No composite crews, the fastest club/school crews race off against each other and the winner is selected. Munich Regatta – A warm up event for those athletes consistently at the top of the water and ergo trials and who performed well at Spring Assessments. Number of Athletes Selected: In theory a full team consists of an 8+, 4+ (only boys), 4-, 2-, 4x, 2x, 1x. 18 sweep oar seats for boys, 14 for girls, plus 1 or 2 coxes. 7 Sculling seats. The Junior World Championship crews must reach a percentage of the gold medal winning time (this is effectively a comparison to the world record time) to justify that boat being selected to attend the World Championships. This is tested at Final Trials. The GB Team rarely send a full team to the World Championships so this lowers the numbers of seats available for selection. Team GB always send a full team to the Coupe de la Jeunesse. This event is seen as a great pathway for a J17 athlete who could progress into a Junior Worlds athlete at J18. Mark Bavington – Director of Rowing BMSBC - Great Britain Trials Cost: Although BMS are proud of any member of the Boat Club that gains selection to a GB event, the additional costs that are associated with trialling need to be met by the parents. The potential costs are listed below: Registration Fee: £100 This will be covered by BMSBC if the Director of Rowing feels the student is of the required standard. October Potential Camp: £150* Nantès Training Camp: £250* Overnight Accommodation for February Trials: £60* Spring Assessments: £300* Final Trials: £350* Junior World Rowing Championships: £1000-2000* Dependant on Location (2015 Rio de Janeiro) Coupe de la Jeunesse: £800* Dependant on Location *All of these prices are approximates. You need to realistically budget in the region of £2000-3000 for an athlete to attend and be selected for a crew with the Great Britain Junior Team. Mark Bavington – Director of Rowing .

Load more