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Maidenhead Junior Regatta

Mr Murison writes about ‘The Day at Maidenhead Races’ where he certainly had a great day.

“GMSBC Year 8s and 9s had a busy and successful day at Maidenhead on Sunday 15th. They took part in a sprint regatta, over 500m, with repechage events, which ensured every crew were involved in at least two races, while very popular for this reason, the logistics can become a little challenging at times.

It was an early start for many with registration at 7:00 am and the morning’s races were packed into a very tight schedule, A crew from Fulham Reach Rowing Club added a little drama by capsizing on the start line, causing a delay, which furthered the chaos to an already stretched schedule.

By the lunch break, GMS teams had raced a total of 16 races and most crews had won at least one race. Shortly before lunch, our Year 8 Girls’ A crew of Emily Yellowy, Natasha Pendlebury, Lucy Platt, Bea Spence and cox Charlotte Tedder, raced Headington School and won, only to turn straight around and race Guildford in the Year 9 B event with Charlotte Tedder, replacing Lucy Platt. Despite the lack of rest they rose to the challenge and won their way to that final as well.

Shortly before this, the Year 9 Girls’ A crew had raced Marlow Rowing Club and a rather disputed call from the finish umpire gave it as a dead heat. The girls then had to go straight back to the start for a re-row. This was a slightly closer call, but GMS won by 3 feet.

Another Year 8 Girls’ crew, having narrowly lost their first race, took on Henley in the repechage and had a fantastic race against this strong club crew, only being pipped on the line by 1/3 length.

GMS had crews in the finals for both Year 8 girls and boys; and both Year 9 Girls’ Quads for the respective finals for the A and B division, we were set for an exciting afternoon.

First off were the Year 8 girls, lined up against the top crew from Headington, a very strong independent school from Oxford.  Our crew of Lucy Platt, Natasha Pendlebury, Emily Yellowy, Bea Spence and cox Charlotte Tedder, began in a strong way and having had the experience of quite a few races had learnt to focus on their rowing and not to watch their opposition too much. By half way a well drilled Headington crew had taken the lead by a few feet, but the GMS girls held their nerve and put in an almighty push, retaking the lead: this was too much for the opposition who steadily fell behind. Our first outright win of this regatta and a first for the Year 8 crew.

Next came the Year 8 Boys’ B Crew, who  raced well but could not stay with a strong Henley crew.

Our Year 9 girls, who had done so well at the Junior Sculling Regatta to make the B final, had high expectations but an exceptional crew from home club Maidenhead proved too much.

Next, it was our Year  8/9 B Girls’ Crew, up again for their 7th race of the day against Shiplake Vikings Year 9s.

This was a battle royal with the older girls taking a small lead at the start and while the GMS crew rowed well and hard, their legs were somewhat tired from the number of races they had participated in, which meant, although they pushed back, they could never quite on even terms with  the Shiplake girls , so they were not to make it a double.

Last, but far from least, were the Year 8 boys who had won at Marlow Spring and were excited to be in another final. A poor start and a lost blade in the first 100m stopped them dead. Credit to them for taking off with a vengeance once back together, they could not quite catch the Henley boys’ crew. I am sure his team of boys are hungry to do better when they meet again.

The weather was not that obliging , but the drizzle did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the rowers, all of whom had a great day at the races.”

The website team thank Mr Murison for this report and to his commitment and the commitment of his team of coaches who inspire the GMS rowers to aim high.

 

 

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