Team Newcastle takes the water by storm at the World and European Championships

At the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Newcastle University saw 4 graduates become World Champions and helped qualify 4 boats for Paris 2024.

Four alumni took to the water in Belgrade, Serbia on the 10th of September as part of the World Rowing Championships, with representatives in both the Eight and Quad competitions. There was plenty of success in the boats with current Team Newcastle rower James Rudkin alongside fellow alumnus Tom Ford winning gold in the men’s Eight, retaining the title from last year.

In the women's competition, alumnae Emily Ford placed 4th and 9th in the W8 and W2 becoming the first British woman to qualify two boats for the Olympics in the same regatta. Another alumnae Lola Anderson secured gold in the Women’s quad, becoming the first Newcastle University Boat Club Senior World Champion.

Alongside this senior success, earlier in the summer, current student Ben Brockway competed in the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This competition saw him claim a silver medal in the Men’s Eight with guidance from our own Newcastle University rowing coach, Julian Egan-Shuttler.

Reflecting on his achievement Ben said:

“I’m very happy to be bringing home the silver medal and it’s an honor to be representing Newcastle University on the international track.”

Julian added:

"Coaching the GB Men's 8+ for the U23 European Championships was an excellent experience. We brought together athletes from the best rowing programmes in the UK and abroad to deliver a performance everyone could be proud of. Bringing home a silver medal was a great end to the summer, and is an experience that has helped further develop my coaching."

Rachel Bradley also gave it her all in the U23 Women's Quad competition, placing 8th at the end of the day.

With the Paris 2024 Olympics on the horizon, it has been great to see some of our past and present students excelling in the run-up to such a huge competition and helping Team GB with their qualification along the way.

Photo Credits: British Rowing, Allmarkone