Chronicle Summer 2023

55 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

River Race in Chester. The Saturday was used to familiarise crews with the course and with 20km completed over two sessions it proved useful training time on a fantastic stretch of water. The race was held on Sunday with the girls’ 1st VIII winning their division which was a fantastic achievement. It was even more encouraging to see three J16s in the crew, with Julia Simmonds and Fifi Pucks-Fazel continuing to hold their own in the senior group and a debut win for Emily Orpen. The boys’ 1st VIII were second in Open VIIIs, just four seconds behind a quick local crew from Royals. The 2nd VIII won their category with Teddies crews rowed their way to gold at the National Schools’ Regatta at Dorney Lake in May, with spectacular wins for the boys’ 1st VIII in the Championship Eights and the girls in the Coxed Four. Teddies boys’ and girls’ crews had been working hard for the NSR and it showed; not only in the fantastic skill and ability on display but in two almighty wins, including the first victory for St Edward’s in thirty years in the Championship Eights. Up first in the regatta were our Shell and J15 crews, who took to the water on Friday. Crew of the day was the J15B who won their time trial and narrowly missed out on the

ease, some 40 seconds ahead of Shrewsbury and 56 seconds ahead of King’s School Chester. The main event of the term had arrived and seven VIIIs were entered into the Schools’ Head which would have been a record for SESBC but sadly illness and injury struck again which meant the J16 boys VIII and senior mixed VIII (a new event) were withdrawn. The five remaining crews took on the Championship course under tough conditions but produced a strong set of results. The standout result of the day was a 4th place finish for the boys’ 1st VIII who medals in the group A Final, finishing in 5th place. The girls’ J16 coxed four demonstrated a good mid-pace rhythm in their time trial and were rewarded with a place in the B Final, in which they placed an impressive 6th, winning a national ranking of 12th, a step on from earlier races in the season. Teddies saw its first win on Saturday as the senior girls’ coxed four were victorious, taking first place (by over 6 seconds) in the Jim Mason Plate, with Godolphin & Latymer in 2nd place and Royal Shrewsbury in 3rd. It was a dominant performance from start to finish on the 20th anniversary of the

first time a Teddies girls’ crew had won at NSR. In a wonderful display of Teddies’ community spirit across the generations, they were cheered on by most of the 2003 winning girls’ crew and their coach, who enjoyed a reunion at the regatta (pictured overleaf ). The boys’ J16 coxed four reached the C Final, racing well to finish first and therefore gaining a national ranking of 13th. The boys’ 2nd VIII raced in the worst lane and ranked 4th in the time trial, setting up a close final with Radley, Shiplake and St Paul’s. With 100m to go, Teddies were in 3rd place but the dreaded cross wind hit in their final were just 4.6 seconds behind Radley in 2nd and 3.3 seconds behind St Paul’s in 3rd. With two members of the 1st VIII out with illness, the senior boys squad demonstrated good depth with Elliot Coakes and Max Maddox moving up. With Max and Elliot moving up to the 1st VIII, Jasper Fritze and Spencer Banfield were called up from the J16 squad. The crew raced superbly and with Jasper stroking the VIII for the first time they placed 5th, well within touching distance of their target of a top three finish in the summer.

Gold for Teddies at National Schools’ Regatta

On Sunday, the boys’ 1st VIII were victorious in the headline event, the Championship Eights, overcoming fierce competition to win the prestigious Queen Mother Challenge Cup.