Rowers reach finals of National Schools' Regatta

On the first weekend of the half term the Senior and J16 rowers travelled to Dorney Lake in Buckinghamshire to race at the National Schools’ Regatta.

The event took place behind closed doors without spectators, but all the racing was broadcast live online. On Saturday, May 29^th, the Senior boys and girls got proceedings started in glorious conditions at the London 2012 Olympic venue. The crews took part in a time trial to progress to the respective six boat A and B finals.

The 2nd VIII, Senior Girls Coxless Four and 1st VIII all put in a strong row in their time trial to secure a spot in the top six crews nationally and a place in the A final. The Girls 1st Quad narrowly missed out, coming seventh (of 34 crews) and secured a spot in the B final.

The pick of the results in the finals was a tremendous third place and bronze medal for the Senior Girls Coxless Four. The 1st VIII came a creditable fifth place in hard fought race. The 2nd VIII came sixth and the Senior Girls Quad came second in the B final.

On the Sunday it was the turn of the J16A & B crews. Both crews produced strong rows in the time trial to secure a place in the A final. In the finals the B crew came desperately close to a medal coming in an agonizing fourth place. The A crew went into their final having finished third in the time trial. In the final Radley College took a strong lead ahead of Shrewsbury and Shiplake leading the chasing pack. Coming in to the final five hundred meters the crew were sitting in third place with the leading Radley crew a length out in first place. Shiplake and Shrewsbury pressed hard in the final stages of the race to surge past Radley in the final strokes. The J16 A crew secured a wonderful silver medal.

On the Monday two of the J16 girls raced in a double at the Junior Sculling Regatta. The girls came thirteenth (of 25 crews) in the time trial to get spot in the C final. The girls produced a great row in their final to lead from start to finish.