Image Credit: Benedict Tufnell/British Rowing

It speaks to the pedigree of junior women’s sweep in the UK that this U19 World Rowing Championships eight is such a young crew: all but two of the athletes entered are J17s, and some will earn their very first international vest at this all-important regatta. These athletes are not to be dismissed on account of their age. This crew represents the bright future of GB women’s rowing off the back of a stellar Olympic Games for the senior squad and a series of medals on the world stage for the juniors.

Charlotte Tong – Henley Rowing Club (J17)

Despite the relative youth of this crew, this is Tong’s third time representing GB in the eight, having done so twice before at the J16 fixture against France in 2023 and 2024. Bypassing Munich and Coupe de la Jeunesse, Tong has stepped up directly into the bow seat of the eight as one of the more experienced in the boat, following in the footsteps of clubmate Abi Smith, who came away with silver as the bow-woman of last year’s eight. Even with the greater pressure of the U19 World Rowing Championships, Tong’s experience in previous GB fixtures makes her a calm and collected presence in the bows.

Elayna Yap – Headington School (J17)

Coached by junior women’s sweep lead Ryan Demaine out of Headington School, Yap will be familiar to some as the stroke seat of their all-conquering eight who won Henley Royal Regatta in a record-breaking final against Shiplake College. Yap has shown her strength in small boats by consistently placing within the top three pairs at GB trials throughout the season in various combinations. Her sense of rhythm and connection to the boat make Yap a significant asset to the crew from the two-seat.

Eve Pinsent – Marlow Rowing Club (J17)

Pinsent has had a meteoric rise over the year to move from Marlow’s second eight into their top quad, who were finalists in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta. As such, she’s spent much of this season sculling, but showed off her sweep experience throughout the year at GB trials, placing fifth in the time trial then second in the B-final at the April regatta. With such an awe-inspiring trajectory throughout this season, there’s little doubt that Pinsent will go further and propel this eight to a high-placing finish in Lithuania.

Ione Haley – Marlow Rowing Club (J17)

Like clubmate Eve Pinsent, Haley is typically a sculler by trade and has held a seat in Marlow’s top quad for two years now, medalling at the National Schools’ Regatta and reaching the final of Henley Royal Regatta twice. She is, however, a force with one oar too – having initially trialled as a sculler, she was asked to switch to sweep, a decision which yielded excellent results. Haley is an athlete of enormous strength, no matter the discipline, and brings power and valuable racing experience to this boat, after stepping up into her club’s top boat as a J16.

Lucy Pillar – Headington School (J17)

Another success story from Headington’s powerhouse of a program, Pillar made her international debut at the Munich International Regatta in the pair and coxless four. For two years running, Pillar has sat in the Headington eight that went on to win both Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regatta – she brings fantastic pedigree in this boat class and will surely cope with the pressure of the world stage better than anyone, after thriving in the heat of one-on-one racing.

Freya Coupe – Canford School (J17)

Heralding from the less prolific Canford School, Coupe demonstrated the strength of their programme at trials this year and won the B-final at April’s regatta to secure herself her first international vest for the U19 World Rowing Championships. Coupe’s raw power and efficient technique mark her as one of Canford’s standout athletes and one to watch for this year and the future – she is one of many athletes in this crew eligible to return to the U19 World Rowing Championships next year. Though this will be her first race for Great Britain, all indicators are that she has a bright international future ahead.

Charlotte Taylor-Aubery – Kew House School (J18)

At the April trials, Taylor-Aubery teamed up with stroke seat Lara Bone to win the regatta overall. They’ll be a formidable stern pair, with Taylor-Aubery also supplying key experience as one of only two J18s in the crew – the other being cox Hannah Jacobs. It has to be said that Kew House’s programme started only seven years ago and is already training up some of the best junior athletes in the country: Taylor-Aubery is their second athlete in two years to sit in the GB women’s eight. Whatever is going so well at Kew House School, Taylor-Aubrey will inject something special into the stern pair of this boat.

Lara Bone – Godolphin and Latymer School (J17)

Bone will reunite with her former pair partner, Charlotte Taylor-Aubery, to generate an unmatchable rhythm for this crew. It’s a skill she will have down to an art, having stroked Godolphin and Latymer’s top eight to Henley Royal Regatta qualification just a month ago, and a massive win in the B-final at National Schools’ Regatta back in May. Alongside crewmate Lucy Pillar, Bone earned an international bronze in the pair at the Munich International Regatta and will aim even higher in Lithuania. Bone’s experience in the stroke seat and her synergy with Taylor-Aubery will be invaluable to this crew throughout the regatta.

Cox – Hannah Jacobs – Surbiton High School (J18)

Jacobs is arguably the most experienced athlete in the crew, racing the GB France fixture back in 2023 before coxing the women’s eight and coxed four at Coupe de la Jeunesse last year. At Coupe, she pushed the eight to a British record and left with four medals for her efforts. Though she may not manage quite the same haul this year, Jacobs will be instrumental in the success of this eight, taking on not just the steering but the trust of her athletes to deliver the best race possible. With her experience and talent, Jacobs’ importance to this crew cannot be overstated.

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