Miss Gowing (Senior Rowing Coach)

Weybridge Head was a new event for all at BGS last Saturday. Following a mild Autumn Term, it was a typical winter Head Race with drizzle all day. Luckily for the girls, the Friends of Bedford Girls’ School Rowing Club (FBGSRC) were there to help make the day more enjoyable, manning our gazebo.

The girls raced in a processional time trial format over 3000 m on the Upper Thames in Surrey. It was the first race back for the girls after their Christmas break and for some of our Year 11 girls it was their first rowing session back after mock examinations.

These processional-style races teach the girls a lot about themselves and how hard they can push themselves. Saturday was no different, with all the girls coming off the water with greater knowledge of the sport and a desire to make their rowing better for the next race.

From every event, we select a Junior and Senior Girl of the Match. These are the girls who have shown something exceptional through the day. Examples include supporting and encouraging the team, showing small acts of kindness, performing outside their comfort zone, or demonstrating an outstanding performance. It is always a great conversation with the coaching team on the return journey as to who should be given the prestigious award.

This time the Senior Girl of the Match is Millie Giles (Year 11) for her consistently strong technique over the length of the race. The Junior Girl of the Match is awarded to Tamara Oakley-Holton (Year 10), one of the coxes, for holding her nerve in the face of an aggressive line taken by a catching crew.