After a positive end-of-season for our senior rowers, the success stories continue to come in over the summer with many of our senior pupils in action at events including the Home International Rowing Regatta and the Coup de la Jeunesse. Additionally, we are delighted to announce that three of our rowers will be competing at the U19 World Championships in Canada later this month!
In total, nine pupils underwent GB trials with eight selected to be involved with British Rowing over the summer which is a fantastic achievement and highlights how the Boat Club continues to go from strength to strength. A special mention must go to outgoing Joint Captain of Boats Ollie Joiner who, despite not being selected, was still brilliant in achieving an invitation to the trials. For the boys, there were 38 sweep rowers and 8 coxes invited from across the country with 32 rowers invited for the girls.
Home International Rowing Regatta
The Home International Rowing Regatta is an annual competition which sees the four ‘Home Nations’ of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland compete. Every race counts towards combined team trophies for Junior Women, Junior Men, Senior Women and Senior Men.
In previous years, we have seen Shiplake representation at this competition and in 2024, we were delighted to continue this with Ben Brooks and Monty Walker racing for England’s Junior Men’s Coxed Four and Eight boats. It proved to be a successful day for Ben and Monty as they won their JM4+ and JM8+ races to help England win the Junior Men trophy – The John Hartlend Trophy. England went on to win all four categories to retain the trophies once again.
Coupe de la Jeunesse
It was a successful weekend of rowing for Team GB over the weekend (Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August) at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Racice, Czechia, where three of our pupils were involved. It was fantastic to see Henry Day-Clarke selected to race in the boys' four (JM 4-), and Finlay Rhys-Jones race in the boys' eight (JM 8+). Additionally, Josh Barnes was called up to the squad as a spare.
The Coupe is an important step on the pathway to an international rowing career beyond the Under 19 level. It brings together different European nations and for many of the athletes, it is their first opportunity to represent GB at an international event in Europe. Many go on to further international representation in future years.
It was a successful weekend for both our boys with their respective boats qualifying for the A Finals on Saturday and Sunday. The JM 4- placed second in both finals earning a silver medal for Henry. Sunday's final proved to be a close finale with Henry's 4- being pipped to the finish by the Spanish crew by 0.9s! For the JM 8+, it was a second-place silver medal for Finlay as his crew were also narrowly beaten in Saturday's final - this by an even closer time of 0.6s! In Sunday's final, Finlay's JM 8- finished 4th.
In total, 56 GB athletes competed where they won nine silver and four bronze medals across the two days of racing. The result of all of this placed GB second overall behind Italy and we are extremely proud of Henry and Finlay's efforts over the two days!
U19 World Championships
Last year, we saw Freddie Middleton and Jessica Weir race and win gold for Team GB at the U19 World Championships. This year, we are delighted to go one better with three of our senior rowers called up to row for GB at the same World Championships in Canada later this month. Congratulations to Emily Downing and Amelia Westbrook who have been selected for the girls' eight, and to William Harper who has been selected for the boys’ eight. We can’t wait to see them in action and report on how they do!
Flickr album: Boat Club International Rowing, Summer 2024 |
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