Henley Rowing Club had 9 crews competing in the National Schools' Regatta returning with three golds and two silver medals.
The first day of the regatta had sculling events for J14 crews, raced over 1000 metres and J15 crews raced over 2000 metres.
The J14 girls' quad of Emily Robinson, Juliet Len, Camilla Barlow, Isabella Hughes and cox Aryaveer Kotwal placed second in their time trial a second behind Nottingham but in the final the girls had a poor start which left them with a lot to do over the short course and finished a very close 4th with only 0.6 secs separating 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
The J14 boys' campaign to win the quad sculls trophy started with the usual time trial, in which to their annoyance they finished just second. It was more than enough to qualify for the final, however, and they were determined to exact revenge. In the final, the crew of Miles Vann, Flynn Burrow, James Weeks, and Franco Bigmore-Wallace coxed by Theo Berry found themselves just in second place at the first marker but then inexorably moved up to lead at the halfway point. They then drew away to win by more than a length. A significant victory over a field comprising a majority of the UK Rowing Clubs and Schools.
The J15 boys' quad of Charlie Green, Finn Whiteman, Oscar Newson, Diego Petrosillo, Cox Rares Visinoiu finished 7th in the time trial just 0.13 secs off making the A final, and in the B final the boys finished 2nd
On Saturday the J15 and J16 sweep events follow the same format as Fridays event and raced over 2000 metres. The Henley girls' J15 coxed four Martha Hart, Holly Jackson, Scarlett Hyde, Scarlett Sissons and cox Petra Frank finished fourth in the time trial. In the final they got off to a terrible start but this gave them the impetus to make their way up through the field to find themselves overlapping  with the race leaders Enniskillen Boat Club. The Henley girls couldn’t quite get past and had to settle for a well deserved silver medal.
The J15 girls' eight of Ella Butler, Sophie Floyd, Emma Floyd, Grace Haldane, Agnes Chapman, Amy Scott, Daisy Millard, Lauren Pollard and Cox Emily Schutz just scraped a place in the A final finishing 6th in the time trial. In the final they took the lead from the start and whilst the first 750 of the race was close, a gear change just after saw Henley move out to clear water over Surbiton and Wimbledon from which they never looked back to take the win by 7 seconds over Surbiton and Wimbledon in third.
Photo credit to AllMarkOne
The J16 girls' eight of Evelyn Meeks, Jemima Painter, Charlotte Tong, Molly Hall, Lucy Green, Lilian Graham, Martha Dickson, Jemima Butterworth and cox Elise Pindoria finished first in the time trial 3 seconds ahead of Wallingford and Headington. Wallingford set the pace to half way in the final but Henley where always close by and going into the last 500 Henley nudged ahead and continued to build a lead to take the win by just over 2 seconds.
Photo credit to AllMarkOne
The J18 boys' quad finished 12th in the time trial and had to race the repechage where they finished 3rd, to progress to the C/D semi and then Final C which they won.
The J18 girls' Championship Eight (Gwennie Hunter, Abi Smith, Lilya Wild, Chloe Hughes, Emily Simmons, Tabbie Hall, Freya Weiser and cox Ella Dickson) and girls' 2nd eight (Tilly Mackenzie Smith, Fran Reeves, Daisy Janes, Jess Mack, Nicolette Pagdin, Sophia Spanswick, Sophie Eltze, Freya Smith and cox Elise Pindoria ) both raced in the same semi final, where the Champ eight finished 3rd to reach Final A and the 2nd eight finished 5th to reach the B final. In the B final the girls took the lead from just before half way but Lady Eleanor Holles and Kingston Grammar School wouldn’t let them get away. The Henley girls held on to win the B final and as Headington were the only 2nd eight in the A final it meant the Henley girls won the 2nd eight silver medal. In the A final the Henley Championship eight got off to a good start and in an 8 boat final where fighting for the lead with Hincksey, Headington and St Edwards. In the last 500 Hinksey moved ahead leaving Headington, Henley and St Edwards fighting for silver and bronze, in the end St Edwards took silver and Headington Bronze.
Comments