Lymington Amateur Rowing Club member Sol Chamberlain-Hyde wins silver medal at the Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints Championships in Murcia, Spain
LYMINGTON Amateur Rowing Club member Sol Chamberlain-Hyde added to his impressive resume by securing silver at the prestigious Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints Championships.
A cornerstone of the international U19 rowing calendar, the Coupe de la Jeunesse is renowned for its high level of competition, and this year’s event delivered thrilling performances on the water and the European stage.
Proudly representing Great Britain for the third time this year, following stellar outings at the European Championships and the World Rowing Beach Sprints Finals – where he won gold – 17-year-old Sol from Milford on Sea competed alongside Tom Walker from Christchurch Rowing Club in the junior men’s double sculls.
Set to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Beach Sprints is gaining momentum as an exciting and accessible rowing discipline.
With a tremendous 2024 season behind him, Chamberlain-Hyde is well-positioned to play a key role in the sport’s development. His success has also inspired the Lymington Amateur Rowing Club to enhance its Beach Sprints program.
“We are perfectly placed to incorporate Beach Sprints into our own program,” says club captain Hugo Mills. “With one of British Rowing’s Coastal Sculling Academies based at Knoll Beach in Studland, our junior rowers regularly benefit from the expert coaching of British Rowing’s Lucy Hart.
“Beach Sprints is an exciting and inclusive addition to the rowing world, and Lymington Amateur Rowing Club is proud to embrace this new frontier.”
Chamberlain-Hyde and Walker performed strongly in the time trial, securing second place, narrowly edging out three other crews, including Great Britain’s other pair, Xavier Jebb (Christchurch RC) and Oli Snoxall (Reading RC).
Chamberlain-Hyde and Walker demonstrated their determination in the knockout rounds, defeating Ireland in the last 16 and overcoming Italy in the quarter-final.
The semi-final saw them triumph over Switzerland, earning them a spot in the A-Final, where they ultimately claimed the silver medal against Spain.
In addition to his success in doubles, Chamberlain-Hyde also competed in the men’s single sculls.
Despite focusing primarily this year on mixed doubles training with his world champion rowing partner Leah Saunders (Evesham RC), he made it to the quarter-finals of the singles, losing to the eventual winner from the Czech Republic.
Beach Sprints – a thrilling combination of coastal rowing and beach running – is a demanding format that tests a rower’s strength, speed, endurance, technique, and navigation under dynamic conditions.
As Chamberlain-Hyde continues elevating British rowing on the international Beach Sprints stage, Lymington and its rowing community are poised to ride the wave of its growing popularity and success.
