On Saturday 19th June, 14 crews (39 individuals) raced at the Star Regatta on home water. There were many magical moments on the Great River Ouse, which included three wins by the BGS crews.

There was a magical moment when the two Year 11 coxes took to the water in a double proving that although they have focussed on coxing it was still a lot of fun to go out and race. They really got into the spirit of the event with matching team cox t-shirts. The Year 10 eights raced each other in the semi-final of the (WJ17 8+ - this is two years above them) the B eight outperformed the A eight in terms of technical application, confidence and composure. However, the natural strength of the A boat brought them home just ahead to progress to the next round. After a good crew chat the A’s come out in the final against St. Edwards and this time brought their A game and narrowly lost to a crew two years older.

Two of the older coxes stepped down to the Year 10 boats, enabling the squad to make the next step. Sophie Parry (Year 11) and Bella Trobe (Year 11) were exceptionally influential in delivering the performance learning to the coxed four and eight, which they coxed.

The Year 9 girl’s quad raced a superb heat, then semi taking them to the final where they met an exceptionally well-drilled quad from St Edwards School. 

The Year 9 and 10 doubles racing was a brilliant display of taking on a challenge. These self-selected partnerships worked very well together. The double of Jaya Chambers (Year 10) and Lauren Summers (Year 10) sculled a very long and well-steered race taking them on to the final.

Winners

The 1st VIII really did bring their A game to Star Regatta and totally dominated a crew from the University of Leicester in the final of the open women’s eights. This was a powerfully executed race, which will give them confidence moving forward.

Megan Harris (Year 11) and Olivia Ames (Year 11) rowed an exceptionally well-executed race to take the open women’s pairs title. Olivia steered a superb course which is very difficult in a pair and the relentlessness of the pairing dismissed the older much more experienced opposition before the town bridge.

The Year 10 coxed fours racing was a good display of strength in depth of the BGS team. Each race was a tightly fought contest with each athlete not wanting to let their teammates beat them.  Overall winners being Ava Orman-Wheeler, Kharis Mgbezeh-Morrison, Katherine Whitehead, Ruby Webb and cox Sophie Parry. 

A fantastic regatta on the Great Ouse and one which the girls will all take ideas forward to improve for their next set of races. With the last two regattas of the 2018 season coming in a short space of time the girls will now split with the seniors racing at Women’s Henley and the Juniors Racing at Reading Town regatta.