Talented Putney rower is determined to secure her GB squad place


Pippa England, second from the left, celebrates becoming European university champion

A talented Putney rower is determined to secure her place in the Great Britain squad for next summer’s World Under 23 Championships. 19 year old Pippa England has successfully completed her first year studies in biochemistry at Imperial and trains from the university boathouse in Putney.

Pippa England, 19, concluded an action-packed season with a gold medal triumph for GB in a coxless four with Imperial College London at the European Universities Rowing Championships in Serbia.

Now the Imperial College student wants to further boost her reputation among the sport’s elite. Pippa captained Wales and rowed for GB during her school years at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls.

Pippa says she has drawn inspiration from her success last month at European level: “I am hoping to trial as a lightweight rower in the 57 to 59kgs section for the GB Under 23 team. The 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships is being held in Poznan, Poland, next July and trying to get into the GB squad will be my main focus for next season.

“The selection process starts in November with the first round of land-based testing on the rowing machine. I will need to complete 2,000 metres in a designated time to move on to the next stage. However, if it doesn’t work out, we have pre-qualified as a four for next year’s European Universities Rowing Championships so I could use that to fall back on.”


photo: Imperial College

Despite living in student accommodation a significant distance away from the boat club in Putney, Pippa’s commitment and motivation to the sport remained strong. She would set her daily alarm clock for 4.30am to travel across London on the tube for the 6am winter training sessions. But she said: “I will be living at the boat club in my second year, which will make my life a bit easier. I want to work as hard as possible at my rowing next term and living at the club will save me a lot of time.

Pippa concluded: “I also like life in Putney and I am looking forward to returning to university next month to begin training for the new season.”

August 18, 2017