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50 Rowers: One Stretch of Water at Bedford

Posted on 11 May, 2015 in About GMS, Clubs, Events, Rowing

On Saturday 9th May 50 rowers took to the water at Bedford. GMS performed in the first race of the day at 08:15 and in the last race at 19:40. Between those times the school’s boat teams won 21 races in total and made it through to 5 finals. GMS bumped into local rivals Sir William Borlase on two occasions, in the early rounds, and in both instances emerged the victors.

The Year 9 A and B Girls’ Quads both had tremendous days; both made it through to their respective finals. There performance has the hall marks of making a very exciting squad. The Year 10 Girls’ Four, sadly, met arch rivals Henley Rowing Club in the first round. Despite losing they had clearly closed the gap since last season. The Girls’ Four were successful when they joined with two Year 11s and Lizzie Harper to form a Senior Eight. This team beat Borlase in the first round and Warwick University later. In the final they were up against Henley Rowing Club. This turned out to be an exceptionally close race with GMS leading for the first half, but Henley’s greater power pulled them ahead so that they narrowly beat our girls.

Year 9 Boys’ Quads both won races but lost in the semi finals. Two Year 10 teams were entered for the Quad Sculls race and and an Eight. In the Quads event they met each other in the semi-finals, having each beaten two crews to get there. The A crew went on to race the Gold Medallists from last term’s National Sculling Head in the final. It was an exceptionally hard fought race with GMS leading by ½ a length from about 250m in. GMS crossed the line ¾ length ahead of the opposition, but, sadly, a really slow four from the previous race was still finishing their row and impeded the Windsor Boys crew. Although this did not really affect the outcome, it was considered by the umpires to justify a re-row. This would have been fine if this had been their only event but as they were just about to row in the final of the Eights against Radley College the extra race would have been extremely detrimental for them.

As a result of their success in both events, the Eight started the final rather exhausted having raced in 7 events, while their opponents had only raced in 3 events. This proved too much for their aching legs, and despite having the faster times throughout all the heats, went down to Radley by 2 lengths.

GMSBC consider Bedford as good training for the National Schools Regatta that takes place in two weeks’ time. Hopefully, when racing on two separate days the fresher legs will lead to a winning outcome for our school.

GMS congratulate all the crews listed below. We are delighted that so many of our pupils are involved in this sport.

J14 4x+ Blaise, Michael, George, Lewis cox Jake H

J14 4x+ Zeke, Tom Mac, Dan B, Ross B cox Georgina A

J15 4x+ Ryan, Jake C, Alex, Josh Mc, Henry W cox Jake H

J14 8x+ Zeke, Ross B, Michael, Dan, Tom Mac, Blaise, Lewis, George cox Georgina A

WJ14 4x+ Auriane, Alice, Kereth, Polly cox Zeke

WJ14 4x+ Millie W, Millie T, Devon, Mia, cox Alex Hardy

WJ15 4x+ Amelia L, Megan, Rachel, Mollie-Mae cox Georgina A

J15 4x+ Oli E-B, Carl, Jamie-Jack, Oli P cox Jake H

WJ15 4+ Amelia L, Pippa, Amy, Rachel cox Lottie

J16 4+ Mohan, Henry, Sam, Will cox tbd

WNOV 8+ Pippa, Amy, Lizzie, Rachel, Laura, Amelia L, Hannah, Leanna cox Lottie