Shiplake College dominated at the British Rowing Junior Championships last Sunday, coming home with three golds and one silver. The competition, held at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham in blistering 31-degree heat, started with the 1,500m time trials for each crew, with the fastest 12 progressing to the semi-finals for six lane side-by-side racing over a 2,000m course.
Charlie Crisp was fourth fastest out of 49 competitors in the Open J18 Single Sculls event. He came fourth in his semi-final, just missing out on a place in the A Final, and then finished third in the B Final.
Nicole Dunn topped the time trial results in the Women’s J18 Single Sculls, consisting of 34 competitors. She won her semi-final race by three seconds and proceeded to take gold in the final, 14 seconds ahead of second place.
Shiplake was the only school or club to enter two crews into the Open J18 Eights event, the 1st VIII topping the time trial table and the 2nd VIII coming third out of 9 entries. The 1st VIII won their semi-final and the 2nd VIII came second in theirs, both crews therefore progressing to the A Final. The 1st VIII, consisting of Dan Hallsworth, Freddie Middleton, Ed Tayler, Dylan Hillier, Wallace Fisher (cox), Danny Mulligan, Felix Arkle, Angus Wood and Toby Rackett, took silver in the final, close behind St Paul’s School. The 2nd VIII came an impressive fourth - ahead of King’s College School Wimbledon which had taken silver at the National Schools’ Regatta in May. This crew was Ned Floyd, Adam Hunt, Lucas Morgan, Fred Fox, Jake Birch, Matthew Johnston, Ed Dallas and Luke Byca, with Christa Scott as cox.
Mia Vickerman and Merry Oakes made up the Women’s J18 Double Sculls and they were fastest in the time trial by seven seconds, out of the 31 entries. They won their semi-final by eight seconds and also took gold in the final, again with second place eight seconds behind.
The Women’s J18 Quad, made up of Ellie Webb, Casey-Jane Green, Scarlett Maleham and Izzy Blake-Hurworth, were top of the time trial table out of 19 crews and won their semi-final by nine seconds. They took gold in the A Final, winning by three seconds. This meant the Shiplake College girls took a clean sweep of the sculling events, winning the women's single sculls, double and the quads.
The College also entered the Open J18 Quad event, coming 19th out of 32 entries. The crew, of Xan White, Louis Swinburne-Johnson, Tom Madden and Harrison Harper, won their D Final.
Despite only entering seven crews and competing in the Sunday’s J18 events, Shiplake College came third in the whole competition which included J16 and J15 races the previous two days. Shiplake had 31 points, close behind Marlow Rowing Club’s 33 points with Victor Ludorum going to Henley Rowing Club with 47 points, both clubs entering around 15 crews.
Mr David Currie, Director of Rowing, said; “We had some fantastic results at the British Junior National Championships on Sunday, gaining 3 golds and 1 silver medal with our 2nd VIII coming 4th in the 1st VIIIs A Final, which showed the depth of talent we have within the boat club. The Shiplake team spirit was very evident at the regatta and inspired all the rowers to do their very best. Success really did breed success for our team this weekend and we will use this motivation going forward to HRR in a few weeks time.”
Next stop... Henley Royal Regatta!
