SCHOOL CREWS TAKE HEAD OF THE RIVER AT MONMOUTH AND WORCESTER
A large number of Monmouth School rowers embarked on their first competitions of the autumn-winter season recently. The club took part in the local Monmouth Rowing Club’s Autumn Head, a 3 division event over 2.2 km and Worcester Small Boats Head, a 2 division course over 4 km on the River Severn.
The Senior Squad (Junior 16 – 18) were well represented at Monmouth with entries across all categories, showing their strength in-depth. The J16 quad comprising of Oliver, Daniel, Morgan and William E, won their event and proved to be the fastest crew of the day, a great performance at this stage of the season. Other winners were Novice double sculls, Huw and Nick. In Junior 18 single sculls, Club Captain, James, didn’t disappoint winning his category in style. Henry was delighted to win Novice single sculls, along with Andy and Tom taking the Intermediate 3 double sculls win. In intermediate 3 pairs, Will and Charlie took the honours and in J15 quads the young scullers of Ashley, Alex, Louis, Jamie, and coxing for the first time, Gabriel, sculled well to take the win.
Finally, Daniel completed his second win of the day in Junior 16 single sculls.
Special mention to all of the squad who took part including Michael sculling in his first event, the squad made a great start to the head season totalling eight wins for the club.
Worcester Small Boats Head on Sunday 2nd October provided a similar challenge, but competitors also had to deal with the very warm weather conditions and the longer course. Once again, the Monmouth School squad excelled across a number of entries. They took the honour of being the fastest crew of the day, this time with the Junior 18 quad scull comprising of James, Bowen, Henry and Kris.
Finishing third fastest of the day, the Junior 16 quad scull won their age category for the second week running. The Junior 18 coxed four of Sam, Harri, Will, Charlie coxed by Archie, proved to be the fastest coxed boat of division 1 and they also backed this up in the J18 coxless event in division 2.
Other good performances in division 1 were Mike and Harrison, Rob and Matthew, all in novice double sculls. Huw, Nick Tom and Andy in Intermediate 3 quads and in J15 double sculls Ashley and Gabriel performed well, their first time out in competition.
In Division 2, winning performances by James and Robbie in Intermediate 2 pairs and now in a coxed four the J16 crew took the honours in the J17 category, rowing a year up in event status
Huw and Nick took the Intermediate 3 double sculls win, with Alex, Louis, James, Jamie coxed by David taking the J15 quad scull honours for the second week running.
Good performances by Bowen and Kris in Junior 18 doubles and Tom and Andy. In Intermediate 3 doubles, Harrison and in Junior 16 doubles and Henry in Novice singles rounded off another successful day for Monmouth school, totalling seven wins.
The next event the Rowing Club will be attending will be Pangbourne Junior sculls on 5th November.