Stratford upon Avon Boat Club, for the first time, sent athletes to the GB Paralympic Rowing Trials at the weekend at British Rowing’s training facility at Caversham. The trials are invitation only and Jess Dowdeswell and Curtis Dickens were asked to compete
Jess won her event comfortably: she competes in Women’s PR1 Single Sculls. PR1 is where the individual is unable to use their legs – it is often called “arms only” or “fixed seat” rowing. Curtis was second behind the incumbent GB rower in Men’s PR2 Single Sculls. PR2 is where the person has some but very limited use of their legs
The trials test everyone against the Gold Medal Time (GMT), the time that won the last Paralympics in the event. Curtis is much nearer to the GMT in his event than Jess is in her event. As a result, Curtis has been invited to attend two GB Squad training camps: one, for a week, in the UK just before Christmas and the second in France, for a fortnight, starting in late January 2024
Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach commented, “The trials were a first for our adaptive squad:
we are pleased with how it went. Curtis is being seen as a prospect to join the GB Squad after the Paris Paralympics in 2024. Jess, at twenty years old is a long term candidate for the GB Paralympic Squad. Our core delivery is to our club athletes: we have sixteen other adaptive athletes who row with some kind of impairment. These are exciting times for us but we will not lose sight of what is our primary purpose which is getting people out on the Avon having fun!”
For media coverage, please see Stratford Herald page sixty and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-boat-clubs-adaptive-athletes-take-part-in-paralympic-trials and back sports page https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/editions/view/?/Stratford/2023/11/17&pages=32