Ruth Walczak ready to go at World Rowing Championships

Emily Craig from University of London Boat Club and Brianna Stubbs and Eleanor Piggott both from Wallingford Rowing Club, Ruth Walczak, Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club (3rd from left)

Ruth Walczak, who learnt to row at Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club in Rochdale, has been
selected for the World Rowing Championships.

The former Wardle High School pupil has been selected to race in the lightweight quadruple sculls event and is part of a strong GB Rowing Team that have big ambitions for this years World Championships.

The lightweight quadruple sculls is is the same event that Ruth raced at the 2014 World Championships in Amsterdam, and the crew is aiming to improve on their sixth place finish in last years final after medal success this season racing at international regattas in Germany and Holland. The other three members of the crew are Emily Craig from University of London Boat Club and Brianna Stubbs and Eleanor Piggott both from Wallingford Rowing Club.

Sir David Tanner, GB Performance Director said: "The GB Rowing Team is ‘ready to go’ and looking forward to taking on the best in the World, fresh from our finishing training camps. The extra fizz at this year’s Championships comes from the battle for Olympic and Paralympic qualification slots – the strength of our Team comes from its depth of standard and professional attitude, backed by superb support from the National Lottery at home.”

The World Championships are taking place from the 30 August to 6 September on Lake Aiguebelette in France, an iconic rowing venue, famed for its physical beauty and great racing conditions.

There is a record entry of 1,300 athletes from 77 countries and finals will take place across four days.

The GB Rowing Team left their final training camps on Wednesday and Ruth said: "We've had a really productive final training camp in Italy and so I'm really looking forward to see what our crew can do in Aiguebelette next week. We've done some really solid work in training and so it feels like it's all to play for and I'm very excited to start racing."