Silver & Bronze at National Long Distance Championships: Rowing

Over the last couple of school days, GMSBC has been competing at the National Long Distance ( Head) races.

On Friday 17th March, the club entered three crews in the Schools Head, raced over the Championship Course from Chiswick Bridge to Putney (4 ¼ Miles). Our ‘upbeat’ senor girls crew of Erin Huddleston, Abi Forgenie, Poppy Spence and Charlotte Greening, were our only quad because, sadly, our senior boys quad had been suffering with illness and it was considered prudent to pull them from the race.

Although ‘upbeat’ our senior girls crew were facing a big challenge in this top class event. When the times were published, showing them in 15th place, this was great news, better than all expectations and promised well for the summer. However, once the crew came off the water, it was discovered that a most extraordinary event had occurred: a race Marshall had ordered them to stop in the middle of the race as a returning Eight was crossing their path. It is impossible to workout how much this cost them in time, but looking at the results of other crews around them it seems fair to assume they would have been sitting in the top 10. A hugely impressive result for the girls and their best ever showing at Championship Girls’ Quads.

Our other crew was the Year 11 Boys’ Eight who had a good race: coxed by Monty Todd they steered a great course, which is a major factor on these tricky tidal waters – 4th overall – an excellent result.

Monday at Dorney lake was for the Junior Sculling Head.

First off was our Sixth Form Boys’ Quad. They were still not feeling that well, but as it was their last chance to get some kind of ranking at this stage in the season they raced and 8th place was a solid result.

The scale of this competition is impressive with nearly 600 crews racing throughout the day and individual divisions having up to 70 crews for each class. Of the 9 crews we took, 7 were in the top 10 of their event, with Year 9 boys coming just outside at 12th.

Particular mention must go to the Year 11 Boys’ Quad who took Bronze, which added to their win at the recent regional trials looks for a promising summer season.

The best was saved for last when our very strong Year 9 Girls’ Quad took off just behind Henley Rowing Club, who had beaten them so narrowly in the regional trials. Revenge was not to be and Henley held them off well, but both crews pulled significantly away from the following crews and an amazing Silver medal was their just reward.

A very good day for all crews and the medals were very exciting.