Ruth Walczak at the International Regatta, Essen, Germany

Brianna Stubbs, Ruth Walczak, Emily Craig and Eleanor Piggott smiling with delight after their win in the lightweight women’s quad in Essen, Germany

Ruth Walczak, of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club and Molesey BC, raced in the British women’s lightweight quad that sent a clear message of their intentions for the season with a dominating win against the Swiss and Hungarians at the Huegel International Regatta on the Essen-Baldeneysee in Germany.

The combination of Ruth, Brianna Stubbs (Wallingford RC), Emily Craig (University of London), and Eleanor Piggott (Wallingford RC) was formed following the result of the Great Britain National Team selection trials in April.

These four athletes will form the basis of a lightweight womens crew that is targeting the 2015 World Rowing Championships; which will be held from the 30 August to the 6 September in Aiguebelette, France.

Sir David Tanner, Performance Director for the GB Rowing Team, said: “We have had a very good regatta.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to race and to see our emerging rowers competing well.”

Attracting 1,300 athletes from 17 nations, the two day regatta in Essen Germany was the first opportunity to test out the new lightweight quad combination, with Emily Craig (University of London BC) replacing Charlotte Taylor (Putney Town RC) in the line up from the crew that finished sixth at the world championships last season.

In challenging rowing conditions the crew put out a determined race finishing 19 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals and it was a particularly satisfying win after a less convincing performance in the doubles sculls event the previous day

Ruth Walczak said: "We had prepared a good race plan, which we exicuted with a high level of skill and focused dertemination."

On the first day of the regatta, the quad combination was broken down into a double scull and two singles, and Ruth and University of London’s Emily Craig raced in the lightweight double scull. After a slow start it was a struggle to get back on terms with two German combinations vying for selection for the upcoming European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv Poland, but a blistering sprint finish moved them into third position after they had started the race at the back of the field.

The next opportunity to race will be in two weeks time at the Metropolitan Regatta on Dorney Lake, Eton and then the intention is to compete at the Holland Beker Regatta in Rotterdam, Netherlands to gain more competitive racing experience as the crew prepare for the world championships in August.