Two silver medals for Stratford rower Esme Booth at European Championship

ESME BOOTH claimed two silvers to help Great Britain top the rowing medal table at the European Championship in Munich.

The Stratford rower, who made her international debut last year, reflected on an “amazing summer” as GB finished with ten medals at the 1972 Olympic Regatta Centre.

The 23-year-old was second with Emily Ford in the women’s pair on Saturday morning and was then part of the women’s eight to take silver 24 hours later.

Booth and Ford were overhauled by Romania in the final 500m in the women’s pair and then the duo joined Rebecca Edwards, Lauren Irwin, Heidi Long, Rowan McKellar, Samantha Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten in the eight coxed by Morgan Baynham-Williams.

After finishing 1.79 secs behind champions Romania in the pair, Booth said: “It’s been an amazing ride and incredible, actually.

“It’s been an amazing summer and great to be part of this pair - I’ve really enjoyed it.

“During the winter, you get a little bit lost in training and the hours and hours you spent on the water and doing all sorts.

“And then all of a sudden, summer comes along – and it really has been an amazing summer.”

GB’s success has signalled a big turnaround since the disappointment of last year’s Tokyo Olympics when a tally of just one silver and one bronze medal marked their worst Games return for almost half a century.

But widespread internal change in the months and Booth and Ford says the changes brought in by Andrew Randell, appointed Women’s Olympic head coach in February, have helped transform the programme and they believe his influence will be crucial heading into the Paris Olympic cycle.