The Schools Head took place yesterday hosting every rowing school across the country. The race takes place on the Championship course on the tideway from Chiswick Bridge to Putney Embankment. The crews were blessed with fantastic weather making for spectacular racing conditions. There was a cool North Easterly wind which made a head wind for all the crews racing but this was not enough to disrupt any racing. Shiplake College really turned some heads with some outstanding results coming from the seniors boys, not to be out done by the boys; the girls boated the first ever Shiplake College girls VIII to race at the Schools Head.
The 1st VIII had an outstanding race, settling onto a great mid race pace rhythm being led by Tim Waller and Tom Scott. The crew starting from 10th position managed to overtake Kings Chester and catch up to Abingdon School. At the end of the race the crew was left wondering how well they had done but clearly feeling like they had a good race. The official results have Westminster winning Championship VIIIs, Shiplake College in joint 2nd with St Paul's, Eton in 4th and Abingdon in 5th. The crew of Pond, Waller, Scott, Carey, Newman, Hjortland-M, Blois-B, Dolin and Gerrard should be immensely proud of this result. This is a great result to build confidence going into the regatta season next term.
The 2nd VIII of Macmillan, Sheppard, Pogmore, Birdsey, Burnand, Godwin, Oglina, Mottram, Rollet-M continued the trend of mixing it with the big schools, finishing 5th, out of 15 crews just one second behind Eton College. They have put themselves in a great position going into their regatta season.
The 3rd VIII of Crowe, Aldridge, Colao, Love, Cuffe, Turnill, Brown, Johnstone, Sichel finished 4th from six crews ahead of Abingdon and Radley College. For Shiplake College to be able to boat a competitive 3rd VIII shows great strength and depth from the Shiplake Boat House.
We look forward to seeing how these boys progress through the summer leading onto NSR
The Girls 1st VIII of Brimacombe, Adams, Davies, Walker, Brown, Lucas, Scales, McNerney and Webb finished 9th out of 15 Crews, a creditable performance. They kept a good rhythm and looked a very tidy crew, all credit to the girls and their coaches.
The J16 4+ were the smallest Shiplake boat type taking on the Schools Head, Bailey, Coats, Sherman, Cronin and Hildred finished in 8th out of 13.
The J15 boys had their very first experience of the gruelling 7.4km course. Tremayne, Caldeira, Taylor, M Brown, Lind, Daniels, Adams, O’Hare, Green raced in the J15 A crew and finished 17th out of 30 crews racing J15 1st VIIIs. Parrot, Hargreaves, D Brown, Dallas, Bradbury, Garnett, Sichel, Seymour, Dorrell raced in the J15 B crew and finished in 9th out of 17 crews racing in J15 2nd VIIIs.
Mr D Currie
Director of Rowing
