Image Credit: Benedict Tufnell/British Rowing
The British men’s eight arrive in Lithuania as the reigning champions, having topped the podium for the previous two years. Last year, they conquered the field of six boats by a margin of two seconds: with an entirely new crew this year and a deeper field of nine crews, their work is cut out for them as GB set their sights on a third consecutive world title.
Alastair Heathcote – King’s College School (J18)
One of two King’s College School rowers in this eight, Heathcote earns his second international vest off the back of a series of successes throughout the trialling process, including winning the B-final at the April trials regatta. Heathcote was part of the eight at the Munich International Regatta that enjoyed victory over several European crews, building confidence and synergy within the eight as they gear up to race the world’s best.
Harry Bernard – Hampton School (J18)
Harry Bernard has had a fantastic season in the stroke seat of Hampton School’s first eight, establishing himself as a talented athlete and formidable technician. Stepping up from the pair at last year’s Coupe de la Jeunesse, which finished fourth and fifth, Bernard earned two medals at the Munich International Regatta (including a win in the eight) alongside his bow pair counterpart Conway. Hampton’s top eight stepped on massively through this season, placing fourth at the National Schools’ Regatta and reaching the semifinals of Henley Royal Regatta – momentum that Bernard will carry into this ambitious eight.
Leo Robertson – Hampton School (J17)
Alongside schoolmate Bernard, Robertson placed third at the April trials, solidifying himself as one of the top junior oarsmen in the country. The U19 World Rowing Championships marks his international debut, but Robertson is no stranger to high-pressure racing, having played a key role in Hampton’s run to the semifinals of Henley Royal Regatta this year. This coolness under pressure and mature racing savvy make Robertson a real asset to the crew.
Richard Wolskel – Royal Shrewsbury School (J17)
A bronze medallist at the British Rowing Indoor Championships and another returning athlete from Munich International Regatta, Wolskel is Shrewsbury’s only representative at this year’s U19 World Rowing Championships, and a strong choice for the four seat of this boat. He brought length and power to the middle four of Shrewsbury’s top eight from the six seat, a skill that will be used as he leads bow four down the regatta course.
Gaspard Wenger – Radley College (J18)
Radley’s Wenger took silver in the eight at the National Schools’ Regatta’ and was the losing finalist in The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta – he’s surely aiming to go one step further this time to cinch gold for the GB eight. Having sat at five in his school’s eight for much of this season, Wenger will be another natural asset to the middle four of this crew, carrying a formidable rhythm and immense power through to the bows of the boat.
Luca Hunt-Davis – Shiplake College (J17)
Hunt-Davis will complete a stellar season at Shiplake College on the biggest stage of all in Lithuania. After two silvers at Coupe de la Jeunesse 2024 alongside cox Felix Jamieson, the U19 World Rowing Championships is an opportunity to consolidate a year of success for Hunt-Davis, in which he notably won both the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta from the five seat of Shiplake’s historic top eight. The power, rhythm, and sheer determination that Hunt-Davis has developed this year will be put to their very best use in the six seat of this boat.
Nicholas Conway – Norwich School (J17)
The ever-improving Norwich School programme will be delighted with Conway’s selection for the eight, a spot he earned following two medals at the Munich International Regatta in both the eight and the coxless four. Evidenced by his second-place finish at the April trials, Conway is a skilled small boat mover – this technical finesse will lend itself well to the bow pair of this boat. One of four J17s in this boat, Conway is an exciting prospect for next year’s racing, and will look to make his mark from the seven seat of the eight.
Ivo Monaghan – King’s College School (J18)
Monaghan is a natural choice for the stroke seat in this crew, with international experience from both Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2024 and this year’s Munich International Regatta. He’s spent two years in the stern pair of King College School’s top eight, perfecting a rhythm that earned the crew a spot in the A-final at the National Schools’ Regatta two years running. From the stroke seat of this boat, his rhythm and technique will set up the crew well to power through the regatta.
Cox – Felix Jamieson – St Edward’s School (J18)
Henley Royal Regatta winner Felix Jamieson is one of the most renowned coxes on the junior scene, and brings buckets of experience to this crew. He took the reins of the eight and coxed four at Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2024, earning a bronze and two silver medals while picking up a British record. At Munich International Regatta in 2024 and 2025, he coxed the British eight to victory over some of the strongest crews in Europe, and looks poised to do the same against the fastest junior eights worldwide.
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