���Ĵ�ý

Season starters and international debuts: Para Rowing Regatta 2026

Six medals won on return to Vaires-sur-Marne for the first time since the 2024 Paralympic Games

The British Rowing Paralympic Programme picked up from where it left off after a strong set of results at the Para Rowing Regatta 2026.

The team, comprising of Paralympic Champions and those taking their first international strokes on the journey to LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032, brought home three golds, a silver, and two bronze medals.

European, World, and Paralympic Champion Benjamin Pritchard returned to the middle of the medal podium after a dominant second half of his A Final. Pritchard kicked off racing with an impressive 22-second win in his heat of the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls, ahead of Paris Paralympians Alexis Sanchez of France and Germany’s Marcus Klemp. In the final, Pritchard was joined by Jake Woods, who had placed second behind Italy’s Giacomo Perini. Welshman Pritchard pulled away from Sanchez, kicking on in the second half to an unassailable lead. However, Woods stepped on from his opening heat, pushing his bows ahead of Perini and growing in confidence with every stroke on his way to a bronze medal.

“It was a tough race, and the conditions certainly picked up from this morning, so some lessons to be learned, but it was a good race overall,” said Pritchard after his win on Paralympic waters.

“I was actually watching Jake’s race rather than concentrating on my own! I was watching his come through the field and take Giacomo, which was pretty special.”

Much like Pritchard, another Paris regatta heralded another gold medal for Frankie Allen. Teaming up with Cantabrigian Rowing Club’s Micah Mugge, they raced Italy’s Carolina Foresti and Ludovica Tramontin in the heat, and again in the final of the PR3 Women’s Pair. On both occasions, Allen and Mugge were imperious, gaining speed with every stroke, winning by 33 seconds and 52 seconds in each of their races.

“We first got in a boat two days ago, so to go out in these conditions, where there’s a huge crosswind, was really good, and I’m proud of us, and of this little project. Micah did so well,” said the Paralympic Champion.

“It was my first international race and the conditions were pretty windy out there, so we battled through, and there was lots of communication between us, and we won, so you can’t ask for much more than that with a first race,” added a delighted Mugge.

The third gold medal of the day came from Charlotte Taylor in the PR3 Women’s Single Sculls. Taylor was undefeated throughout the day after winning her morning heat by clear water, with Uzbekistan’s Belyanina Dinara in second place. Come the final, Taylor had work to do, trailing Dinara through halfway. However, the Oundle School Boat Club rower was unfazed as she rowed through the Uzbekistani, winning by a greater margin than the morning’s heat.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s not the most glamorous thing I’ve ever done, it was a tricky race, but I’m so happy to finally do my first international race! The conditions were tough. The start was tricky just because there was such a large headwind, but it was such a good race,” explained Taylor after receiving her gold medal.

After winning the preliminary race of the PR3 Men’s Pair, Paralympic Champion Josh O’Brien and England’s Jonty Ridley lined up against the same trio of Italian Pairs. Come the final, Stanislau Litvinchuk and Marco Frank had an explosive start to the race, establishing a lead they held to the finish, with the British combination coming home comfortably in second place for a silver medal, the first of Ridley’s career.

“It was Jonty’s first race for Great Britain, so congratulations, it’s a big moment for him,” said O’Brien.

Rounding off the medal haul was Jacob Gunn in the PR3 Men’s Single Sculls. Second place in the heat behind Abduvaliyev Akbaralifrom Uzbekistan was a great way for Gunn to open his international account. In the A Final, the student from Liverpool John Moores University Boat Club found himself neck and neck with Italy’s Giorgio Melone at the 1000m mark. In the second half of the race, the Italian pulled away, with Gunn winning bronze on his international debut.

“I feel like I had a good crack at it. I was holding well with first and second before dropping off in the middle, but I’m still happy with third place, and I’m chuffed to get my first international medal,” said Gunn.

Alongside the medals, this trip was about gaining international classification for a number of the rowers who have emerged from British Rowing’s Paralympic Pathway.If you want to know more about classification and the Paralympic Pathway, contact Performance Talent Coach Rob Cree, or visit this page to sign up for testing.

[email protected]     07886 820 705

The GB Rowing Team at the Para Rowing Regatta

All crews are coached by Nicola Benavente, David Breen and Will Stockton

PR1 Men’s Single Sculls
Benjamin Pritchard (City of Swansea RC)
Jake Woods (Strathclyde Park RC)

PR3 Men’s Single Sculls
Jacob Gunn (Liverpool John Moores University BC)
Sam Lake (Agecroft RC)

PR3 Women’s Single Sculls 
Charlotte Taylor (Oundle School BC)

PR3 Men’s Pair
Jonty Ridley (Durham University BC/Hexham RC)
Josh O’Brien (Molesey BC)

PR3 Women’s Pair
Frankie Allen (Oxford Brookes University BC)
Micah Mugge (Cantabrigian RC)

Support Staff
Marie Grant
Tom Dyson
Rob Cree