This year’s President Rupert Price represented Great Britain at the U23 World Championships 2012.
He was selected in late May to race in the Lightweight Men’s Quad with the team due to leave for the Championships in Lithuania on the 9th July. Rupert raced in the 2-seat alongside scullers from Imperial College Boat Club, Leander Club and Edinburgh University Boat Club.
Their first race started well with the GB crew up on 2011 U23 Champions, Denmark. The heat held a steep learning curve for the relatively inexperienced crew who were then rowed down by the rest of the field to finish 5th. This meant they had to race the repechage the following day where only 1st and 2nd were good enough to secure a place in the ‘A’ Final.
The rep saw the quad take on the middle half of the race more aggressively and while they rowed through Brazil in the closing stages they had to settle for 3rd and a place in the ‘B’ Final.
A considerable cross-head wind blew down the course for the final but the GB crew were in contention at halfway with a lead on Brazil and still in touch with Switzerland ahead. Soon a battle between GB and Brazil developed but Brazil overcame the GB crew in the final sprint leaving Rupert in 3rd, taking 9th overall.
This was a fantastic achievement for a member of CULRC to represent GB at this level. We hope it will pave the way for future successes within the club as it moves from strength to strength in the coming years.
Rupert has now passed on the Presidency to Simon Morris for the 2012/13 season against Oxford.