Two Jersey rowers make Team GB

Wednesday, 29 October 2025 00:00

A Jersey rowing duo have been selected to represent Team GB.

Islanders Chris Thompson and Natacha Searson have been selected to represent Team GB at the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in Antalya, Turkey in November.

Searson will be half of the Olympic-class mixed doubles on her third World Championship appearance. She has also been selected to compete at the European Championships in October.

Thompson will be in the men's quad in his debut season of beach sprint rowing.

He says he's proud to be representing Great Britain:

"Balancing training with full-time work as a data engineer at The Summit has been tough, so it feels especially rewarding that the effort has paid off.

‘It’s great to have two athletes from Jersey Sport's Performance Sport Programme in the GB setup this year – their support has been immense, both in creating more opportunities off-island and in providing support services here in Jersey.

"Thanks to everyone at the rowing club who’s built up the beach sprints programme in Jersey."

Searson, who won World Championship gold in the PR3 mixed doubles with para athlete Colin Wallace last year, says:

"Beach sprints is a new Olympic sport and in LA 2028, so to be selected to row in the Olympic class boat this year is amazing.

"Going into the beach sprints trials last month, I wasn’t too sure how I’d do, but the training paid off and trials went better than expected, so I’ll be rowing in the Europeans for the first time this year, and then in the Worlds."