Chronicle 687

60 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Rowing By Adam Moffatt, Head of Rowing

on the water after a flooded spring. Spirits stayed high, even after a few chilly outings in the smaller boats, and all returned technically sharper and ready for the summer season. By the time we raced at the Wallingford Regatta it was clear that the training was paying off. The Girls’ 1st VIII won convincingly in the Junior Women’s VIIIs, fighting off strong competition. The Boys’ 1st VIII placed 6th in Open Eights, beating strong school crews including Eton and Hampton. The 2nd VIII raced among top level 1st and 2nd crews and narrowly missed out in a dramatic repechage. The 3rd VIII posted their fastest time ever, competing confidently against higher-ranked boats. The Shell crews stood out at the Worcester Regatta. The boys’ quads and octo raced brilliantly, ending with a victory in the final against Norwich. The Shell girls won their final in only their second-ever race together. Connie Chirnside and Risa Kojima also took the J15 double win, while Daisy

Highlights included a 10-second victory in the pair over a Spanish World’s crew, and the three eights finishing 1st, 2nd and 4th in a thrilling session of racing. Spring Term opened with the Quintin Head, where the Girls’ 1st VIII took 2nd place out of 32, just three seconds behind the winners. The boys entered three matched eights, placing 5th, 7th and 8th – proof of the increasing strength and depth in the squad. Our most successful showing ever came at the Schools’ Head of the River, with six crews entered. The Girls’ 1st VIII won bronze – a historic first for the club, the Boys’ 1st VIII placed fifth, the Boys’ 2nd VIII claimed bronze – the first in over two decades, the Boys’ 3rd VIII earned a fantastic silver, and the Girls’ 2nd VIII came 9th in their debut. The J15 Boys VIII were sadly unable to race after an incident in warm-up, but showed great progress leading up to the event. The Shell and Fourth Form rowers showed real grit at their Easter camp, finally back

This year has been an exceptional one for the Boat Club. From flooded rivers and challenging conditions to historic medals and record-breaking performances, the resilience, enthusiasm and determination of our crews has been truly outstanding. Despite flooded conditions limiting racing in the first half of the Autumn Term, the energy and focus across the club remained high. Winter training culminated in our now traditional camp in Seville. The girls opened the week with small boat seat racing and when moving into the VIII quickly built a strong rhythm, with some encouraging early speeds. The squad raced competitively in senior categories, including a fantastic 2nd place in the eight and narrowly missing out on a win in the pair by just 0.09 seconds. Meanwhile, the boys made history fielding three matched eights — an unprecedented achievement for the club. These eights hit the same speeds we saw from last year’s Henley semi-finalist and Temple qualifiers.