London 2012 gold medallist Kat Copeland won the lightweight women's single scull event at the GB Team Senior Trials in Caversham, near Reading
Having missed the post-Olympic season at international level, Teesside’s golden girl Kat Copeland returned to action with a victory.
The London 2012 gold medallist from Ingleby Barwick won the lightweight women’s single scull event at the GB Team Senior Trials in Caversham, near Reading.
The Tees RC rower won the time trial and then triumphed in her semi-final by more than 10 seconds.
The 23-year-old then produced another strong performance in the final in tough conditions, due to a strong headwind that continued throughout the day.
Copeland moved out to an early lead over Imogen Walsh, who, in turn, eased out to a comfortable margin to take second ahead of Putney Town’s Charlotte Taylor after a tight first 500m.
Copeland, who had considered retiring from rowing and going to university after her Olympic women’s double scull triumph, was pleased with the win at the trials given the conditions the rowers had to deal with throughout the day.
“It was pretty windy and pretty slow but it was exciting, I really enjoyed it,” she said.
“I think what’s really exciting for me is that there’s a group of really good girls at the top which means that we’re going to have a really strong double, which is what matters.”
In spite of a relatively comfortable win, Copeland was pragmatic about the result.
“I think I was pushed hard,” she said. “This was probably one of the most nervous races I’ve had, just because Imogen, Charlotte and myself have been neck and neck in training.
“I think it’s good though because we all push each other on and we’re all going to get better and the double is going to get better, so it’s a really good, healthy level of competition”.
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