Wallingford Regatta kicked off our domestic racing season giving most of the squad a great opportunity to test their speed and get back racing side-by-side at the weekend.
The morning division saw small boats for the women’s squad winning both the Chairman’s Challenge vase for Women’s Challenge Coxless Pairs and the Lorcha Challenge Cup for Women’s Challenge Coxless Fours.
The W4- was made up of Eleanor Brinkoff, Ella Bramwell, Philipa Emery and Abigail Topp. The W2- saw a return of established duo Juliette Perry and Amelia Standing, following their success at GB trails a few weeks ago.
Dorney picked up its characteristic headwind later in the afternoon division for those two boats to come together, joined by Nic Dunlop, Phoebe Snowden and Isy Hawes, to race and win the Presidents Cup in memory of Bob Elliot for Women’s Challenge Eights. They raced alongside a field of Thames Rowing Club boats as well as Leander B, who raced hard in both their heat and final to come away with 3rd place. Leander B contained Jiya Saggu, Abbie Bird, Jemima Furness, Muryn Green, Alice Ives, Hannah Cooper, Issy Powell, Sophie Chumas and Grace Dening-Smith.
On the sculling side, we had two women’s quads racing a straight final. Leander A raced to second place just behind a strong Molesey Crew and Leander B came in 3rd.
The Men’s squad started their morning early racing heats in the Theodosius Challenge Cup for Open Challenge Eights. After a tight heat and close repechage, Leander B joined Leander A in the final; Leander A cruising to victory 14 seconds ahead of the field and Leander B coming in 5th.
Leander A contained Sonya Gladstone, Tom Ballinger, Bruce Turnell, Douwe de Graaf, Dan Graham, Miles Beeson, Jack Prior, Josh Bowesman-Jones and James Vogel.
Leander B was made up of Hermione Hill, Osian James, Marlow Depeza, Matt Fielding, Nat Gauden, Nick Bryan, Jack Cullen, Isaac Hillick-Tulip, and Tristan Grainge.
The afternoon saw the M4- win the President’s Challenge cup for Challenge Coxless Fours against some strong crews from Thames Rowing Club. Bruce Turnell was joined by Calvin Tarczy, Honza Vacek and Pete Lancashire.
After a very exciting dead heat in the Men’s Single Scull, Bryn Ellery was awarded joint first with Greenback Rowing Club Falmouth in being awarded the Ushers Challenge Cup for Challenge Single Sculls.
Our Junior Men’s crew of Ryder Apatu, Archie White, Max Musttoo and Will Eaton won the J H W Skeat Fow trophy for junior/school quadruple sculls just ahead of a strong Hinksey Sculling School crew.
Thank you to the organisers for putting on a great event, our athletes loved the chance to test their winter training before heading to Ghent next weekend, then onto our training camp.
