Last Updated: 26.Jun.2014

Racing has wrapped up for the U23 and Senior World Championships Trials in Princeton New Jersey, and three Craftsbury boats have earned their spot for the World Championships this year, joining Josh Konieczny and Austin Meyer in the men’s lightweight double.

The GRP was first to the line in the men’s heavyweight quad, the only Olympic-class event to be contested at these senior team trials. The lineup of Ben Dann, John Graves, Steve Whelpley and Peter Graves has decades of rowing experience between them, as well as numerous international and even Olympic performances. John and Ben raced last year as the men’s heavyweight double for the US along with Steve Whelpley in the men’s heavyweight single. Peter Graves has had several international appearances in the men’s double as well as competing at the 2012 Olympics in the men’s heavyweight quad.

While three of the four had already qualified for the World Cup circuit through the national selection regattas, the group decided to use all of its available resources and go after the bigger boat. With a change in the selection procedures, the first time the crew would race in New Jersey would be in the final against California Rowing Club, last year’s heavyweight quad. The group responded well to the pressure however, crossing the line in a time of 5:54, six seconds ahead of CRC to take the win.

Next up for the heavyweights? The boat is off to the Henley Royal Regatta in England to race in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup next week before the third World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland between the 11th and 13th of July. After the third World Cup the boat will return to the Northeast Kingdom to prepare for the World Championships in Amsterdam at the end of August.

Kyle Lafferty will join the US men's lightweight quad in Amsterdam as he led a composite entry from the GRP and Riverside Boat Club that won the lightweight quad against an entry from Malta. Kyle headed to Boston after getting second at the second National Selection Regatta in the lightweight double and has been training there until this race. The lightweight quad will continue to train in Boston before heading to the World Championships at the end of August.

The SBTC was also in action this week at the U23 World Championship trials, with Erik Frid from Ithaca College and Walter Banfield of Dartmouth teaming up to win the men’s double. A not-often seen combination of a heavyweight rower and a lightweight, the duo nonetheless won their heat on Monday and avoided a Tuesday trip to the repechage. When the combo took to the line on Wednesday there was no doubt as they led the field, finishing in a time of 6:40, three seconds ahead of the next finisher. Erik will be making his international debut at the 2014 U23 World Championships in Varese, Italy between the 23rd and 27th of July. Walter Banfield has previously represented the US at the Junior World Championships last year where he placed 10th in the junior men’s single.

Craftsbury also had good racing from the crews that didn’t qualify for this year’s national team, with Hugh Mcadam second in the light men’s single, Phil Henson and Phil Grisdela second in the light men’s pair, and Sarah Keller second in the lightweight women’s quad.

Next up for the Craftsbury group is a full set of racing at the USRowing Elite Nationals, stay tuned for updates from home and abroad as the team continues some great summer racing.

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