By Mrs Reeves (Director of Rowing)

On Saturday 20th January 2024, our J16 and Senior rowing squads travelled to London to compete at Quintin Head. Quintin is our first race of the season held on the infamous Tideway course, where rowers have the opportunity to race on the same part of the River Thames used for the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race.

With so many events cancelled before Christmas, the Boat Club were thrilled to be back out on the water racing, and to be back with the rest of the rowing community.

BGS had three eights entered into the event; our First and Second senior eights and our J16 First Eight. For our J16 squad, this was their first Tideway experience through which they have learnt invaluable skills ahead of the Schools Head of the River race in March.

After three months of dedicated training through the flooding, our senior squad were certainly hungry to race. Our first VIII put in a great performance to finish in the top 10 women’s junior crews, and our second eight finished 6th in their respective category. A brilliant start to the year, with a huge amount to build on over the coming season.

We now look to our next race at Peterborough Head of the Nene on Saturday 3rd February, followed closely by Bedford Fours and Eights Head on Sunday 11th February where all year groups will compete on home water, where we hope BGS will come out in force to cheer them on.