WYE steersman Jack Tottem added 2026 European silver to his 2025 world bronze, steering the GB women's 8 in Varese, Italy.

After clocking the fastest time ever by a British Women’s Eight in their opening race (5.53), the British were back in action in the final, where the crew established themselves in second place behind Romania.

The British did well to keep home favourites Italy at arm’s length throughout the race and crossed the line in 6.01 just over a length behind the east Europeans, and some seven seconds behind their earlier time, which was achieved in a strong tailwind.

Welsh crew member Katherine George, whose father Julian is an Old Monmothian like Oxford Boat Race Blue Tottem from Devauden, said: "It was a good race. We went out wanting to be brave, and that’s what we did.

“We wanted to try something new, and we did that. The whole crew was happy with the performance on Friday, and we wanted to see how we would build on that.

“We’re in the middle of quite a long training camp, so it was a good opportunity to test what we have been working on and see what we can do next.

"Friday’s performance was a huge thing, and we were all very excited by that.

"We’re all thrilled, and it shows how much we’ve put in, as well as how much effort and grit we’ve got, which is very exciting.”

And the crew now head for the World Championships in Amsterdam from August 24-30, having won bronze in Shanghai last year.