Words RACHEL QUARRELL Photography IGOR MEIJER
In a year with a very late world championships it’s been a breathless early season. Racing every three weeks in the World Cup/Europeans series, with Henley Royal and Holland Beker sneaking in for those who wanted a bit more action. As the Worlds approach, there’s no doubt that the new brew is coming to a top-class simmer.
Brits would have been sitting comfortably after four golds at the Belgrade world cup in early May, but the lack of any other big teams barring the Dutch and Poles did leave the relatively inexperienced GB team wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. Three weeks later, was the answer, when Italy, who usually taper for it, dominated the European Championship in Racice with Romania and the Czech Republic hard on their heels. It was the first time a full GBR team had been lower than Ireland in the medal table for uncountable years.