The year started well with the Cheltonian Society Regatta held at the Boathouse. This incorporated House Pots which was raced in a round robin format with Southwood eventually coming out on top for the boys and Queen’s for the girls.

As we moved into October, the winter rain started and by the end of the month the Boathouse had already been flooded. The decision was made to move the boats to Gloucester Rowing Club and to start training on the canal. What we didn’t realise at this time was that water levels would not drop enough for us to get back to the Boathouse until after Easter.

Our next big event was the British Rowing Indoor Championship held at the NEC. Everybody that took part set a new personal or season best time and despite only taking a small squad, we managed a creditable haul of medals. Edward Davies and Victoria Hemphill took Bronze Medals with Victoria less than one second from the Gold and William Geary taking Silver.

Continuing our indoor season, January saw us at the annual invitational competition at King’s Worcester, racing against several local schools. As usual we put in a good performance leaving with a large collection of medals.

March saw us racing on the Olympic Lake at Eton-Dorney in the Scullery Head, this is used as a selection event for the regional rowing squad, with the Third Form boys of Andrew Robinson, Sebastian Hemphill, Edward Davies and William Jenkins coxed by Sean Degnan being selected to represent the region at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. They raced hard in the time trial to earn a place in the B Final where they finished in second place.

The next two big regattas both involved a return to Eton-Dorney. In the Scullery Regatta the Third Form boys missed a place in the A Final by the tiny margin of 0.04 of a second. Whilst at the National Schools Regatta, the Fourth Form boys eight and Third Form coxed quad both made it into the finals. Sixth Formers Charlie Whitney, in a single, with Bertie Parkes and William Draper in a pair, raced in the championship class, also reached the finals.

Despite the weather causing the cancellation of several races this year we raced at Wycliffe Head, Worcester, Hereford, Bridgnorth and Reading, collecting a number of pots and medals, in all age groups, along the way. There isn’t space to mention everyone by name but congratulations to all members of the Club that represented College over the season.

This year the coaches have been joined by Mr Ben Burch, a returning OC (BH, 1997 and current parent), who rowed for both the University of Oxford and Great Britain winning the Boat Race on two occasions. Ben was instrumental in getting the girls of Groton School in America to do some training and racing with us as they prepare for Henley Royal and Henley Women’s regattas. A relationship we hope to build on in the coming years.

Full Colours: Charlie Whitney

Mr Jed Greenhouse and Mr Mark Trotman