By Mrs Reeves (Head Rowing Coach)

To conclude our winter racing season, BGS Boat Club attended the two largest National Junior Head Races in the UK.

On Friday 17th March, three BGS Eights competed at The Schools Head of the River Race. The Schools Head  is a 4.5-mile time trial held on the infamous Tideway stretch of the river Thames, the piece of water that is home to the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race. Our Senior eight of Chloe Howe, Pam Achari, Lottie Giles, Leonie Cooke, Olivia Smith, Millie Partridge, Sienna MacFarlane and Emily Pinkney, coxed by Alex Gentry competed in the Junior Girls 1st Eights category and put in a brilliant performance to finish 8th. 

The J16 2nd Eight of Charlotte Peck, Lydia Henry, Erin MacFarlane, Ivy Nelson, Sarah Mehrez, Lily Simester, Catherine Chaplin and Melisa Rasool, coxed by Rose Cavalier competed on the Tideway stretch for the very first time finishing 4th in their category.

Finally, our J16 1st Eight had a great row, again competing on the course for the first time to win their event and become the Schools Head of the River champions for 2023. A huge well done to Rosie Foster, Martha Ibbott, Ellie Mullan, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Emily Dyall, Evie Hayward, Carys Roberts, Elyse Vickers, and cox Licia Cacioppo. This was an amazing set of results on a national stage, and sets us up for what looks like could be an exciting regatta season ahead.

On Monday 20th March, 40 BGS rowers competed at the National Junior Sculling Head. For our J16 and Senior squads this was an opportunity to jump out of their sweep oar boats and scull in quads. All of our Seniors and J16 rowers put in some great performances to conclude their racing for the weekend. Our Year 10 competed in the J15 quad event against  71 crews from across the UK. Our 1st J15 quad of Bella Moretto, Gracie Beech, Eva Blake and Emily Feiger, coxed by Licia Cacioppo fought hard to get themselves into the top 20 crews nationally, with our second quad also making it into the top half.

Finally, it was the turn of our Year 9 rowers (J14), and for our J14 squad this was not only their first visit to Dorney Lake, it was their first ever race outside of Bedford. Racing in an Octo and a Quad, they again raced incredibly well with the J14 Octo finishing in 15th place.

March 2023 has certainly seen BGS Boat Clubs best performances on a National stage for a number of years and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all students that have represented BGS on the water this winter season.