Miss Huckle (Head Rowing Coach)
It has been a very busy week for our rowers, with students competing at Women’s Eights Head of the River Race, The Schools Head of the River Race and The National Junior Sculling Head. Over 70 rowers competed across the three days, and it was fantastic to be back competing in head races at National Level.
On Saturday 12th March, the BGS First VIII headed to the famous Tideway stretch of water home to the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race. The Women’s Eights Head of the River Race – founded in the 1930s with 5 crews participating – has now become the largest women’s rowing race in the world with around 2,880 women racing and up to 320 crews taking part. It is the only race in the UK where novices can compete in the same race as Olympic champions and as such attracts a wide range of rowers from clubs and universities. Our eight put in a fantastic performance to finish 108th overall, and 9th place in their Junior/School category. Well done to Alex Gentry, Chloe Howe, Aimee King, Lottie Giles, Anna Beckmann, Olivia Smith, Amy Wallington, Rachel Gibb and Leonie Cooke.
Two days later, we were back on the Tideway stretch to compete at The Schools Head of the River Race. 18 girls competed at this prestigious event on Monday 14th March. The Schools' Head of the River race is run as a time trial along the 4.5-mile Championship course on the Thames in London every March, and attracts schools and clubs from across the country. Our Senior VIII again finished 9th in the School/Junior First 8 category, and our J16 VIII, also put in a fantastic performance to finish in 6th place in their respective category.
Following another day of rest, 63 rowers from Years 9 to Upper Sixth headed to the London 2012 Olympic Venue, Dorney Lake, to compete at the National Junior Sculling Head. All of our crews put in good performances, with the first time racing on a National stage for many. With three senior quads, two J16 quads, three J15 quads and three J14 Octos competing it was fantastic to see so much BGS representation out on the lake. A third race in a row for our seniors, and a switch to sculling, they put in good performances to finish in the middle of a very competitive field. Our J16 quads, again many on their third race of the week, finished 20th in a field of over 40 crews. Our J15s put in a fantastic performance for their first time competing at National Level, with all three quads finishing in the top third of the competition, placing 23rd, 27th and 30th from a field of 70 crews. Finally, in the pouring rain, our Year 9s took to Dorney Lake for the very first time, with brilliant professionalism and boatmanship, they raced well, with our A octo finishing 21st from over 40 crews entered.
We now look forward to our training camp at Loch Ken, Scotland over the Easter break before we return to begin our regatta season, where all rowers will compete regularly in side-by-side racing throughout the summer term.
