Male and female rowers celebrate major success at Nationals
Both male and female rowing crews from St George’s College, Weybridge earned two Gold medals and one Bronze medal at the National Schools’ Regatta in Nottingham which took place over the May bank holiday weekend.
The National Schools' Regatta is the largest regatta for juniors in Great Britain. Held annually in May, it offers events for junior rowers between the ages of 14 and 18. First raced in 1947, then Regatta has since evolved into the largest domestic rowing event for girls and boys of school age. It is run over three days with around 3,500 rowers competing in fifty different events.
The country’s top independent schools and rowing clubs were present, including Eton, Radley and St Edmunds Colleges, and Headington School. The competition was tough, as only crews with a good chance of making the finals were able to enter each event. This year, St George’s College put forward eleven crews of such a standard, made up of boys and girls from the Third to Sixth years.
The Regatta began with time trials to put the top two thirds through to either two or three six lane semi-finals. Six crews then progressed to each of the finals at the end of the day. Amongst some outstanding performances from all of the St George’s crews, three major medals were won:
Under 15 Boys 1st VIIIs - Gold
The boys were half a second down at halfway, only to charge down the last 1,000 metres and win Gold by a second a half.
Girls Championship VIIIs - Bronze
The girls won a tough tussle for Bronze against Lady Eleanor Holles after sprinting for the line and winning by one second.
Girls Championship Coxless IVs – Gold
After quickly moving away at the start the girls dominated through to the finish line, winning Gold by five seconds.
The Regatta was a major achievement for rowing at St George’s, and made very clear the bright futures that lay ahead for the young athletes.
