Schools' Head of the River Champions

On Monday 14 March, Shiplake took part in the Schools’ Head of the River Race (SHORR). This event, which includes over 300 boats from a wide range of schools across the UK and Ireland, last took place in 2019 as the 2020 and 2021 events were unable to take place due to the pandemic.

The results achieved by Shiplake College were nothing short of exceptional. Winning four of the seven events that were entered, the boat club once again confirming our school as being one of the very best co-educational rowing schools in the country. 

The Boys’ 1st Eight were the first crew to set off down the 7km tideway course from Chiswick to Putney because they were the reigning champions from 2019. They had no crew to chase but knew the boats following were looking to close the gap on them. They completed the course in 16 minutes 54 seconds, five seconds faster than Eton College and retained the Schools’ Championship Eights trophy. Coach, Mr Hugh Mackworth-Praed said: “The tideway can be a tricky course but there were some great conditions for racing this year. Knowing we were going off number one we have been practising the start as well as working on our mid pace rhythm for the last couple of weeks and this clearly paid off for the crew. A great result which will give them confidence going into the regatta season.”

The Boys’ 2nd Eight won the 2nd Eights division by 11 seconds over Radley College. Their impressive time of 17 minutes 31 seconds placed them seventh overall, beating many other schools’ first eights.

Not many schools are able to put out a third boys’ eight so it’s great that a school of Shiplake’s size can have a competitive third eight and this crew finished 3rd after strong Radley and Eton crews, although their time of 18 minutes 15 seconds was still faster than some school first eights. The J15A boat competed in their first ever head race and finished a respectable 11th in their division.

Continuing where we left off last year the Girls’ A Quad won the Championship Quads by 10 seconds over Marlow Rowing Club and achieved a course record in the process, knocking off three seconds from the previous record. The girls’ second boat entered the Girls’ First Eights and won this division by 15 seconds ahead of Enniskillen Royal Boat Club Ireland. If they had entered the Girls' Championship Eights their time of 19 minutes 15 seconds would have placed them fifth overall. The girls’ third boat also raced in the Championship Quads and finished 11th in the division but they were the second B boat in the division.

Assistant Director of Rowing, Mr Dan Safdari, who oversees the girls’ rowing programme said: “I am really proud of what the Shiplake girls have achieved. It’s a reflection of all their hard work and commitment. The girls really stepped up to the occasion and delivered when it mattered.”

Director of Rowing, Mr David Currie, said: “The collective ambition of the group is what produced these outstanding results. The students have worked hard throughout the winter and this is their reward. I thank all our coaches who have worked extremely hard towards this race. Well done to Hugh Mackworth-Pread coach of the 1st VIII, Dan Safdari coach of the Girls’ Quad and Bridget Jacques coach of the girls’ VIII. Over the next few months we turn our attention to the regatta season which we hope will be just as exciting.”

For winning an event at the Schools' Head the rowers are given individual medals and also the crew receives a pennant. The four pennants were presented to the crews in this morning's whole school assembly and will now be displayed in The Davies Centre. Congratulations to all the rowers who did so well representing Shiplake College. Also a huge congratulations to the coaches of all these crews, without their experience, time and dedication these fantastic results would not be possible.

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