On Saturday 10 October the Boat Club headed to the tideway for the first time this season, in order to compete at the Pairs Head of the River. The race took place on the famous Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race course, although it had been shortened slightly. Rather than using the traditional finishing line – Putney – the course started at Chiswick Bridge and ended at Hammersmith Bridge, knocking approximately 2.5km off the length of the course. Shiplake boated an impressive nine crews, including three girls double sculls; a great step forwards for girls rowing at the College! The boys raced three double sculls, and three coxless pairs.
Seb Newman and Charlie Rollet-Manus put in a wonderfully impressive performance, finishing in seventh place from the 470 boats competing, and placing second fastest in the Junior 18 doubles. Oliver Gerrard and Will Carey weren’t far behind, finishing 26th overall, and fifth in the J18 doubles. The third double, of James Love and Ben Pogmore, finished in 15th place in division, and 121st overall.
First home of the Shiplake coxless pairs was the duo of Tim Waller and Henry Blois-Brooke, finishing in 10th place in the Junior 18 pairs, and 93rd overall. Hot on their heels were the pairing of Christian Hjortland-Marks and Tom Scott, finishing 21st in division and 166th overall. Will Dolin and Marcus Colao brought home their pair in 30th in division, and 216th overall.
The girls also put in very strong performances. Lucy Walker and Claudia Adams were the first girls boat home, finishing 10th in the Women’s Junior 18 doubles, and 278th overall. Olivia Lucas and Anna Brown were the next Shiplake boat across the line, finishing 16th in division, and 352nd overall. Madeline McNerney and Charlie Scales finished 22nd in division, and 390th overall.
Director of Rowing, Mr David Currie, commented on the performances, saying that ‘they are a great foundation for the rowing events to come this year, and show just how much hard work the rowers have continued to drive into training. We will look forward to some more spectacular results over the next year!’
To see more photos from the event, please click here.