News

Posted: 04 November 2025

18 Scottish athletes travelled to Boston last weekend to take part in the first of this season’s GB Trials for Seniors, U23 & FISU athletes.

Image: Scottish Rowing. Boats lined up on the River Witham at Boston.

The athletes, representing six different Scottish clubs, took to the ergometer for their early season 2k tests. Eager to prove that they were well prepared for the event, seven of the Scots recorded personal bests on the ergometer. Highlights include Rachel Aldridge of St Andrew BC (also representing Leander Club) finished 9th overall in the Women's list; Grace Dawson (Edinburgh Uni BC) ranking 7th in the U23 category and Jemima Aspinall (University Rowing Aberdeen) finishing the day as 7th ranked U21 athlete at her first Senior trial. On the Men’s side Scott MacCallum (Strathclyde Park RC), Murray Bone & Freddy Foxwell (Edinburgh Uni BC) finished 16, 17 & 19th respectively in the U23 category following their personal best performances, with Scott racking fourth among the U21 athletes.

15 Scots made the GB standards and were eligible to race the 5k water time-trial on the Sunday.

First up on Sunday morning were the Men’s crews, who had the option to split into single sculls or pairs, with all Scottish interest opting for the sculling route. Murray Bone led the charge for the Scottish athletes finishing 21st overall, working his way to 8th ranked U23. He was closely followed by Matthew Hughson of Glasgow University BC who ended the race in 22nd place and 10th ranked FISU athlete, closely followed again by club-mate Ethan Sutherland, who finished 27th overall and 10th ranked U23.

Image: AllMarkOne. Performance Development Academy athlete Scott MacCallum (Strathclyde Park RC).

The afternoon saw the Women take to the water, with all athletes required to race the single scull. Rachel Aldridge was the leading Scot, finishing 12th overall, building on from her 2024 result (16th overall). Grace Dawson continued her strong form from the weekend with an overall position of 17th and a strong third place ranking among the U23 athletes. Polly Swaile (Strathclyde Park RC) & 2025 FISU World Champion Sophia Issberner (University of St Andrews BC) were separated by just half of a second over the course as they came in ranked 38 & 39th, respectively.

Image: AllMarkOne. Performance Development Academy athlete Polly Swaile (Strathclyde Park RC).

GB Para Trials

Jake Woods (Strathclyde Park RC) & Samantha Gough (St Andrew BC) raced at their own trials event this weekend, where they headed to the home of GB Rowing, Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake in Caversham.

Much like their U23/Senior counterparts, they too used Saturday to lay down an early season marker of fitness in a 2000m ergometer test, before moving onto the water on Sunday morning to avoid the forecasted winds.

With the Shanghai world championship athletes still on their post-season break, Jake made his mark on the field with a small PB on the ergo, before taking the top spot on the water across the combined categories. Sam put in a respectable marker on the ergometer, before working her way into 4th place in the combined rankings racing her single scull, steered by coach Lindsay Flockhart.

Image: Scottish Rowing. Samantha Gough (St Andrew BC) prepping for GB Para Trials 

Both Senior/U23 and Para athletes will look to crack on with some more training and enjoy some domestic racing opportunities over the coming months as they wait to hear about possible trials & training camps through December & January ahead of the next stage of open trials in February 2026.

Next week will see the Scottish U19 athletes open up their GB Trials campaign with a new Regional Benchmarking Event built into the Inverness Autumn Head next weekend. Keep any eye out for these young athletes who will be racing down Caledonian canal on Saturday morning!

For more information on trialling for the GB Rowing Team, head to the Rowing for GB section of the Scottish Rowing website.

Image: Maisie Aspinall. Jem Aspinall (Uni Rowing Aberdeen) on her way to the startline.

Triallists

Scott MacCallum (Strathclyde Park RC)
Murray Bone (Edinburgh Uni BC)
Freddy Foxwell (Edinburgh Uni BC)
Ethan Sutherland (Glasgow Uni BC)
Nathaniel Fishburn (Strathclyde Park RC)
Matthew Hughson (Glasgow Uni BC)
Alexander Levi (Edinburgh Uni BC)
James Deardon (Edinburgh Uni BC)

Rachel Aldridge (Leander / St Andrew BC)
Grace Dawson (Edinburgh Univ BC)
Polly Swaile (Strathclyde Park RC)
Sophia Issberner (University of St Andrews BC)
Lucy Lucas (Edinburgh Uni BC)
Maisie Aspinall (Uni Rowing Aberdeen)
Jemima Aspinall (Uni Rowing Aberdeen)
Ella Gildert (Strathclyde Park RC)
Kirsty McRobb (Glasgow Uni BC)

Jake Woods (Strathclyde Park RC)
Samantha Gough (St Andrew BC)