Juniors July Report
Gloucester Rowing Club junior squad had a successful trip to compete at the Stratford upon Avon Regatta , where racing is held on a 750m course on a scenic stretch of river behind the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
The WJ16 4+ (Josie Ashworth, Laura Springham, Leanne Phillips, Kirstie Bicknell and cox Ed Jones) have had a frustrating season. Selected to represent Wiltshire, Avon Gloucestershire and Wales in WJ16 VIIIs at the Junior Inter Regional regatta, their race was cancelled due to high winds. Dropping into a IV for the National Schools regatta the crew were one of Gloucesters' best hopes for a top results but once again high winds meant no race. With summer holidays looming Stratford was their only chance for a race, so they went out determined to win. Racing the Stratford 'B' crew in the first round the girls drew steadily away to win by a length and a half. Facing the home crew, Stratford 'A' in the final the Gloucester girls came into the home straight almost level and had to turn on the power in the final sprint to pull away and win by a third of a length. The photo shows the victorious crew with the Annie Davis Challenge Vase, which was first presented in 1874. Clockwise from top left Laura Springham, Kirstie Bicknell, Leanne Phillips, Josie Ashworth, Ed Jones, with the event sponsors.
Neil Vines and Ben Marshall have been struggling to find their form in the J15 doubles this season, but a good win over long time rivals Llandaff saw them into the final of their event. They recorded a comfortable win over the Evesham crew in the final and will hopefully take this success on to the National Championships in July.
Another crew looking to race at the Nationals is the newly formed WJ14 double of Lauren Williams and Hattie Neave. In her first year of rowing Lauren is proving to be a formidable competitor and the double were out to make a point in their first race together. They did this with easy victories over Leicester and Stratford and are now training hard for the Championships at Nottingham. In the J18 doubles Sam Thornton and Lyndon Cook were never troubled by their opponents from Evesham and the King Edward VI School and added another tankard to their collection of trophies.
Special mention must go to the WJ14 quad of Alicia Green, Beth Hamblett, Lauren Williams, Charlie Allen and Jess Sharples Facing a crew from Leicester who had finished 5th at the National schools regatta the crew raced hard and came into the final straight slightly down. A determined push saw them draw level on the finish line to record the only dead heat of the day. Unfortunately a collision on the way back to the start for the re-row left Lauren with a bruised arm which reduced her effectiveness and the crew lost the rerowed race by a length.
Nathan Devaux-Davies was the sole Gloucester Junior at Ironbridge Regatta. However he represented the club well with two 'easy' wins in the J14 singles event.
The WJ16 4+ (Josie Ashworth, Laura Springham, Leanne Phillips, Kirstie Bicknell and cox Ed Jones) have had a frustrating season. Selected to represent Wiltshire, Avon Gloucestershire and Wales in WJ16 VIIIs at the Junior Inter Regional regatta, their race was cancelled due to high winds. Dropping into a IV for the National Schools regatta the crew were one of Gloucesters' best hopes for a top results but once again high winds meant no race. With summer holidays looming Stratford was their only chance for a race, so they went out determined to win. Racing the Stratford 'B' crew in the first round the girls drew steadily away to win by a length and a half. Facing the home crew, Stratford 'A' in the final the Gloucester girls came into the home straight almost level and had to turn on the power in the final sprint to pull away and win by a third of a length. The photo shows the victorious crew with the Annie Davis Challenge Vase, which was first presented in 1874. Clockwise from top left Laura Springham, Kirstie Bicknell, Leanne Phillips, Josie Ashworth, Ed Jones, with the event sponsors.
Neil Vines and Ben Marshall have been struggling to find their form in the J15 doubles this season, but a good win over long time rivals Llandaff saw them into the final of their event. They recorded a comfortable win over the Evesham crew in the final and will hopefully take this success on to the National Championships in July.
Another crew looking to race at the Nationals is the newly formed WJ14 double of Lauren Williams and Hattie Neave. In her first year of rowing Lauren is proving to be a formidable competitor and the double were out to make a point in their first race together. They did this with easy victories over Leicester and Stratford and are now training hard for the Championships at Nottingham. In the J18 doubles Sam Thornton and Lyndon Cook were never troubled by their opponents from Evesham and the King Edward VI School and added another tankard to their collection of trophies.
Special mention must go to the WJ14 quad of Alicia Green, Beth Hamblett, Lauren Williams, Charlie Allen and Jess Sharples Facing a crew from Leicester who had finished 5th at the National schools regatta the crew raced hard and came into the final straight slightly down. A determined push saw them draw level on the finish line to record the only dead heat of the day. Unfortunately a collision on the way back to the start for the re-row left Lauren with a bruised arm which reduced her effectiveness and the crew lost the rerowed race by a length.
Nathan Devaux-Davies was the sole Gloucester Junior at Ironbridge Regatta. However he represented the club well with two 'easy' wins in the J14 singles event.