Mr Wells (Director of Rowing)
On Sunday 19th November, our girls took to the River Great Ouse and competed in the Star Small Boats Head. This was the first time our Year 9 crews competed. Your first race is always the most memorable experience and usually one, which you realise that you can really improve. We all need to start somewhere and for our Year 9 girls this was their moment.
However, at the other end of the club the Senior girls Lily Hudson and Emily Baker were participating in the Great British Junior trials on Saturday at Boston in Lincolnshire. The course has been the proving ground where all Olympic and World Champions have had to perform on before racing in their national vest. Prior to being able to race at this gladiatorial testing ground, both girls have previously had to undergo ergo (rowing machine) testing in order to move forward to be able to race at these trials.
Both girls raced with composure and skill over the full 5000m distance in singles, with Emily Finishing 53rd and Lily 79th. I know in school sport that we only ever cheer the success but it is vitally important that we acknowledge these girls and what they were prepared to do. It would be very easy for both to be the best in their school and relax in that position but to put themselves forward to the very brutal competition of the trialing system is something, which I am very proud to see. It shows what they are using their growth mind-set to challenge themselves further. Well done to both Lily and Emily and we hope to see them continuing to challenge in the future.
On the River Great Ouse, we had 16 crews in different combinations racing at the Star head with seven of these being eights. This term we have tried to match the crews going out to race to ensure that each individual has the space and time in order to take greater risks and consequently progress at a greater rate. This is the penultimate event before we start the selection of the racing crews for the 2018 season.
All crews raced exceptionally well putting the training, which they have been concentrating on to work over the shorter 2000m course. The day was not without incidents but luckily, all the girls have learned so much from these experiences, which could have prevented them from racing at other rowing events.
As always, the decision of Junior and Senior Girl of the Match has been a difficult one. When summing up the whole day of racing it was decided that this week, we would award it to crews. The Junior Crew of the Match goes to the WJ15 4x+ (Year 10 girl’s quad of Millie Giles, Lizzie Huckett, Jaya Chambers, Ruby Webb, Cox. Loire McBreen). After racing successfully in the eight they jumped into the quad and rowed a very competitive race and powerful race. The Senior Girls Crew of the Match goes to WJ16 2- (Year 11 girls pair of Megan Harris and Olivia Ames) for their technical smooth and proficient row down the course. As I have said before these were exceptional performances by all the girls and with some of them racing three times this is a fantastic effort.
My special thanks go out to the Friends of Bedford Girls School who really did #MakeTheDifference at the Head race.
