U19 World Rowing Championships 2025 – Great Britain Women’s Quad Preview

Image Credit: Benedict Tufnell/British Rowing

After a bronze medal in 2023 and a silver medal in 2024, there is no doubt that the quality of the GB team’s female scullers is increasing, making the goal of a gold medal in 2025 seemingly attainable. With a fresh set of faces selected ahead of the U19 World Rowing Championships, these women will be rearing to go and show the world what Great Britain is capable of.

Lily Anderson

Originally a member of the Hartpury learn-to-row program, Lily moved to Wycliffe College for her Junior 16 year. While she has not been the top performer at trials this year, she has progressed through the system and worked her way up the ranks. On the open circuit, she won the final of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, retaining Wycliffe’s crown for the second year in a row. She will surely be looking to help lead her crew to some more silverware this summer.

Charlotte Van der Wiele

A product of the London GB Performance Development Academy centre based out of the London Docklands, Charlotte made the move this year over to the Tideway Scullers School, where she picked up a win at the National Schools’ Regatta and made it to the Saturday of Henley Royal Regatta. Charlotte is no stranger to the trials system: she made final crew formation in 2024 but fell short of the mark. This year, she returned to secure a GB vest and gold medal at Munich Regatta. Now coming into the World Rowing Championships, she is sure to use her vast and varied experience to aid her and her crew in the progression needed to make the step up from domestic to international racing.

Lauren Kennedy

Having an impressive domestic year, including a bronze medal at the National Schools’ Regatta and a final at Henley Royal Regatta, Lauren has now turned her attention to the international stage. With a fifth-place finish at GB April Trials, an impressive result preceded by an 18th-place finish at the February long-distance trials, it is safe to say that Lauren has been progressing throughout the year. The final test will be to see if she can continue to build and lock down the silverware.

Eleanor Lawrence-Preston

A J17 at Wycliffe College and newly crowned Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup champion, Eleanor has set some impressive markers over the season, such as a win at GB February Trials and a vest at Munich. Sadly, we did not get to see her final result at the April trials regatta due to a mishap halfway down the course meaning Eleanor was unable to complete the race, but clearly her previous results – coupled with a sub-seven minute 2k ergo – showed the coaching staff of the U19 team that she is ready to fly the flag on the world stage.

I think this quad has every indication of a world championship-winning crew. The women’s sculling team has been building for the past five years, and this feels like the culmination of hard work and dedication from coaches and athletes, past and present. I am excited to see them light the course on fire in Lithuania and make their country and fellow club teammates incredibly proud.

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