A busy half term for rowing crews

The Boat Club spent half term competing and taking part in training camps.  

The National Schools’ Regatta took place over the first weekend of the half term.  

The calm conditions of the previous few months were brought to an abrupt halt with strong winds providing a different challenge to the competitors and organisers alike. The crews took part in a 1750m time trial to get a ranking order for the respective finals. The school had twelve crews competing over the weekend out of close to one thousand entries. 

There were mixed results across the course of the day with a number of the crews struggling to adapt to the challenging conditions. In the side-by-side finals there were some encouraging first, second and third place finishes to provide a positive race experience in the circumstances. Sadly there were no medal placings to celebrate following the highs of last year’s two wins at regatta. 

There was fantastic support at the Shrewsbury tent at the National Water Sports Centre and a big thank you goes to the catering team for the fantastic spread of food on offer to the supporters and athletes. 

Over the second weekend of half term the 1st VIII and 1st Quad travelled to Henley-on-Thames for a short camp to familiarise the crews with the Henley reach where they will be racing at the end of the month. The camp is always a highlight with the opportunity to row out of the famous Leander Club boathouse, train on the stretch and get the chance to stay at the ‘Henley House’. 

With an intensive three days of revision, training and racing the camp provides a great opportunity for development with both crews making progress. On the final day of the camp the 1st VIII travelled to Dorney Lake to race at the Met Regatta. The crew placed twenty-fifth out of sixty-nine of the top senior men’s crews in the time trial. They were the only junior crew competing in the event. They raced off in a closely fought D final to place 5th out of 8. 

Athol Hundermark 

Director of Rowing