British Championships

Last weekend Great Marlow School Boat Club (GMSBC) competed at the British Rowing Championships in Glasgow.

Due to the distance, the club only took a few crews but on the first day the Year 9 girls were on form. Racing into a stiff headwind they were keen to rectify missing out on the medals at National Schools Regatta. They had a good time trial and raced brilliantly in their semi and final to take Silver, just a length behind Henley and ahead of Nottingham, the Sliver medalists from NSR. Well done to all of them.

The Year 10 boys competed on Saturday and had a slightly disappointing time trial coming 10th. In the semi-final, however, they raced professionally and made up a massive 9-second deficit to finish 3rd and qualify for the A-final. An excellent result from them, given they have not done much sculling in recent months: well done Year 10.

The wind turned around entirely for Sunday, but also picked up considerably. The Sixth Form Girls’ Double of Erin Huddleston and Amelia Eldridge had a good time trial coming an amazing 9th in a field of nearly 50 entries. By their final, however, the waves were North Sea like and they struggled somewhat, the experience was invaluable and their overall result is to be celebrated: well done girls.

The Boys’ Coxless Four earned the second fastest time going into the final but were hampered by a slow start. Sitting in 6th place after 250m they pushed hard for the next 500m and gradually worked their way up through the field. At halfway, where the waves really started to become challenging, they were in second place with Windsor Boys a length and a half ahead. Sadly, this distance was not overcome in the water conditions but celebrated their Silver medal win: a fabulous race well done boys.

This was the last event of the season for most, except four the top Four who go to Cork next weekend to represent England at The Home Countries Regatta.

Thank you to all the staff and students who took part: you make our school proud.