The Head season well and truly arrived last weekend with challenging weather conditions which typify this time of the season. Shiplake crews had to cope with lashing rain and high winds that later caused the event organisers to cancel the afternoon division.
Fortunately, in the morning, conditions had yet to reach their peak so racing proceeded with Shiplake College Boat Club competing in crew boats. Continuing to develop individuals, the athletes were all mixed up into balanced crews with no lead boat at this event. Pangbourne Sculls is raced on the river Thames over 2750m as a time trial, boating from Beale Park.
For many girls in the two coxed fours which raced, it was their first experience of racing in inclement weather. Poppy Stebbings, Charlotte Scales, Scarlett Martin, Beth Tinker and cox Ollie Riley came home in 4th position while Jemima Brimacombe, Claire Fifield, Daisy Gill, Louisa Bird with guest cox, Misss McKellar finished in 5th. For these girls it was their first or second ever race so must be congratulated for working hard and coping with the tough conditions.
On the boys side two coxed fours, two coxless quads and two doubles raced. The 4 of Carey, Cawthorne, T Berkley, Parker coxed by Oglina came 2nd, only a few seconds behind a well-drilled Radley crew and 7 seconds in front of the other Shiplake crew of Green, Thomann, Love, H Berkley coxed by Marsh who finished 3rd in the division of 10 crews.
Waller, Emerson, Turnill and Edwards raced in Coxless Quad finishing 4th with Aldridge, Brady, Brown and Cuffe coming in 7th. Walter and Mottram raced in Junior 18 Double Sculls, finishing a respectable 3rd place out of 8 crews. Continuing their unbeaten record this season, Blois-Brooke and Newman won the J16 Double Sculls event by an impressive 28 seconds.
All rowers must be commended for racing well in very challenging conditions.
Full results can be found here, while more photos are available in our media gallery (click on the camera icon in the bottom left corner of the screen).
Mr David Currie (Director of Rowing)
