Wingfield Sculls 2022: World Champion is triumphant on the Thames
Reigning World Champion, Imogen Grant, has won the 2022 Wingfield Sculls in a controversial showdown on the Tideway.
The Boat Race winner, representing Cambridge University, was victorious in this year’s edition of the Women’s Race. This followed a season that saw her win the European and World Championships as well as set a new World Best Time.
“I knew I was going to be in for some fireworks to see the least, but it surpassed all of expectations regardless.”
Following a conservative start, Grant began to move through the field of six scullers, attacking on the Surrey side. Her progress was quickly halted by race leader, Katie Mole from the University of Birmingham.
Mole, who won the Women’s Championship Single at the Scullers’ Head a month ago, collided with Grant as she refused to give way. Both scullers stopped dead in their tracks and had to untangle themselves.
Their crash also impacted Georgie Robinson-Ranger from the University of London. Racing on home water, the U23 World silver medallist narrowly avoided damaging her boat and rear ending her opponents.
Grant recovered well and by Hammersmith Bridge she was back in the leading pack. As she passed St Paul’s School, she occupied first place and she was unchallenged for the remainder of the race.
As the race entered the final stages after Barnes Bridge, Robinson-Ranger mounted a late charge, overhauling Twickenham Rowing Club’s Jade Lindo. However, there was too much ground to make up on Leander Club’s Imogen Magner and Becky Wilde.
Robinson-Ranger protested the result arguing that she was impeded during the crash, but Umpire, Graeme Mulcahy, 1976 Wingfield Champion, upheld the verdict.
In the Men’s race, Sebastian Devereux of Leander Club became the latest sculler to add his name to the history books. The Men’s race has been running since 1830 and previous winners include Olympic champions such as Greg Searle and Sir Steve Redgrave.
By contrast to the Women’s race, Devereux led from the start. He was never challenged as he successfully navigated the 6.8km course.
“I’ve rowed on the Tideway before, never in a side-by-side race. There’s always that added element of beating your fellow man.”
“It’s a race I’ve had my eye on for a while. I’m over the moon.”
Two scullers withdrew prior to racing. Devereux’s brother and club-mate, Miles and London Rowing Club’s Rui Xu, who won both Scullers’ Head and Pairs Head earlier this year.
Luke Reiser of Twickenham Rowing Club was able to hold onto second place after a mighty sprint came from former U23 Lightweight World Champion, Matthew Curtis who relegated Jamie Gare from the University of Bath to 4th place.
Despite having the inside line round the Hammersmith bend, Gare was not able to capitalise on this advantage. Reiser came through the Bath sculler and shut the door on him in the shadows of Barnes Bridge.
Speaking after the event, Sam Meijer, 2019 Champion and new Secretary said: “It is a huge honour to take over the running of the race from Wade Hall-Craggs, who has run the race for 25 years. Today we had two incredibly exciting races, which showed some of the best of British sculling and we have two new champions to show for it.”
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