Congratulations to Bedford High School alumna Ellie Piggott, who was placed fifth in the lightweight double sculls World Championship Final (Saturday 15th September) with Emily Craig. The British duo gave an incredible performance in Plovdiv, Buglaria.

Ellie said: “We’re really pleased with our execution given the season we’ve had. We’ve not had much racing, so there was very much an internal focus on that race. “Next year is [Olympic] qualification year, which is really important looking ahead to Tokyo.

“There are seven boats that qualify (at the 2019 World Championships) so to be in a qualifying position this year, given the season we’ve had, is awesome. That said, each year the race and the speed moves on.”

Ellie, a former Head Girl, left Bedford High School in 2009 and went on to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford, achieving a first class honours degree. Well established in the competitive GB lightweight women’s squad, Ellie has represented the GB rowing team at every age level and is a former World University Champion. In 2016, she won gold at the World Championships in Rotterdam.