Junior Victor Ludorum at Reading Regatta

Henley Rowing Club enjoyed a hugely successful weekend at Reading Amateur Regatta, competing over a 1,500m course on Saturday and a 1,000m course on Sunday. The club's outstanding performances across all age groups earned Henley the prestigious Junior Victor Ludorum, awarded to the most successful junior club at the regatta.

Strong Showing from the Senior Girls

In Saturday's premier women's event, the Band 1 Eights crew of Molly Hall, Holly Jackson, Evie Meeks, Issy Hughes, Lillian Graham, Daisy Millard, Charlotte Tong and Scarlett Hyde, coxed by Elise Pindoria, produced an impressive performance. After a convincing semi-final victory over Lady Eleanor Holles School, they faced Bath University in the final. Despite a determined fightback through the middle stages of the race, Bath held on to win by three-quarters of a length.

J15 Girls Continue Their Excellent Form

The J15 girls claimed victory in the Band 1 Coxed Quadruple Sculls. Eliza Venn, Eloise Askin, Zeffie Whiteman and Liv Baker, coxed by Eva Worboys, recorded comfortable wins over Surbiton High School in the semi-final and Putney High School in the final.

Eliza Venn continued her excellent weekend on Sunday in the WJ14 Single Sculls. She defeated a sculler from Lady Eleanor Holles School by five lengths in the semi-final before overcoming Bewl Bridge Rowing Club by four lengths in the final.

Success for the J15 Boys

The J15 boys' eight raced strongly but narrowly missed out on a place in the final after losing to Radley College by one and a half lengths in their semi-final.

In the afternoon the boys raced in coxed quads. The two band 2 quads both won their semi-finals to set up an all-Henley final. In the final the crew of Finlay Lea, Noah Cottam, Ed Jones, Jack Elliott and cox Scarlett Spearing beat the crew of Aryaveer Kotwal, Joe Gilbert, Rufus Neville, Oscar McKenzie- Smith and cox Dylan Smith by two-and-a-half lengths.

On Sunday, Noah Cottam, Ed Jones, Will Askin and Jack Elliott, coxed by Sinan Girgin, raced in the J15 Coxed Four and were unfortunate to lose by just a canvas to King's School Canterbury.

J14 Boys Deliver Multiple Victories

Saturday began with two J14 coxed quads competing over the longer 1,500m course. In Band 3, Nai Kennedy, Zach Norman, Wilf MacDonald and Ben Freeman, coxed by Hugo De Gouveia, faced a strong Hinksey Sculling School crew and exited in the opening round.

The Band 2 quad of Tom Leppard, William Cowburn, Ernie Sterjo and Ace Hawkins-Bekir, coxed by Milo Eyers, enjoyed a superb day. After defeating Radley College, they produced a dominant performance in the final against Reading Blue School, establishing an early lead and extending it to win by six lengths.

Sunday saw Tom Leppard make an immediate impact in the Band 2 Single Sculls. He comfortably defeated Walbrook Rowing Club before beating Thames Scullers by six lengths in the final.

Both J14 quads reached their respective finals later in the day but were ultimately beaten by strong Windsor Boys School crews.

Further success came in the afternoon division when the octuple scull of Nai Kennedy, Ernie Sterjo, Ace Hawkins-Bekir, Hugo De Gouveia, Wilf MacDonald, Zach Norman, Milo Eyers and Ben Freeman, coxed by Robert Finlaison, won their opening race before finishing runners-up to St Paul's School in the final.

William Cowburn and Tom Leppard added another victory in the Band 1 Double Sculls.

After edging past Walbrook Rowing Club, they faced Windsor Boys School in the final. Despite a fast start from Windsor, the Henley pair stayed composed and pulled away in the closing stages to secure the win.

Outstanding Weekend for the J14 Girls

The J14 girls enjoyed an exceptional regatta. On Saturday, Martha Lowe, Aurelia Buckingham, Megan Greenham and Emma Groat, coxed by Pelin Girgin, won the WJ14 Coxed Quadruple Sculls.

The momentum continued on Sunday, with Megan Greenham and Emma Groat winning the WJ14 Double Sculls. The girls also secured victories in both the WJ14 Coxed Quadruple Sculls and the WJ14 Octuple Sculls, completing a remarkable weekend.

J13 Girls Extend Their Winning Run

Henley's J13 girls continued their impressive run of form at Sunday's regatta. Ellie Robinson, Matilda Woolford, Isla Boreham and Poppy Simonds, coxed by Hadley McKean, raced in the WJ13 Coxed Quadruple Sculls.

The crew defeated two crews from Lady Eleanor Holles School and a crew from Wimbledon High School across their races, recording comfortable victories and extending their unbeaten streak over recent weeks.

Junior Victor Ludorum Winners

The breadth of success across every age group demonstrated the strength and depth of Henley's junior programme. With victories ranging from singles to octuples and strong performances throughout the weekend, Henley Rowing Club accumulated enough points to be awarded the Junior Victor Ludorum, recognising them as the most successful junior club at Reading Amateur Regatta.

Congratulations to all athletes, coaches, coxes and supporters who contributed to a memorable and highly successful weekend on the water.