National success for Rowing Club

The last weekend of May was a busy one for The King’s School Rowing Club with two national competitions taking place on Dorney Lake, home of the 2012 Olympic Games. 

National Schools’ Regatta 2021

Over the May bank holiday weekend, The King’s School Rowing Club travelled down to Dorney Lake for the annual National Schools’ Regatta. The two-day event was held on the 2000m course in hot weather but perfect racing conditions. 

On Saturday’s Senior Championship day, the school had a boys’ and girls’ 1st VIII racing, a girls’ 2nd VIII and a senior boys’ coxless four. With the boys finishing in 8th place in the Championship B final and the girls finishing 4th and 8th in the girls’ Championship A final, it was a very successful day. The girls VIII matching the schools best ever finish position in this event.

Sunday’s racing was the turn of the J16 boys and girls team. The school entered a boys and girls Championship J16 VIII along with a boys Championship quad and a second quad. It was another excellent day of racing with the boys VIII finishing in 4th place in the B final and the boys 2nd Quad narrowly missing out on a medal in a close 5th place finish in the A final. 

Mr Blackham was full of praise for the team: “After a challenging year, it was an exceptional performance. Having 59 athletes competing on the National stage was a strong showing by the school and a credit to the athletes’ perseverance, determination and focus.”

National Sculling Regatta 2021

On Monday, May 31, the J15 team were at Dorney Lake to compete in the National Sculling Regatta. The J15 team, despite no opportunities to race during the current season, has maintained an excellent focus and the full team performed incredibly well, showing real professionalism and a competitive approach to such a big occasion.

The school raced in the boys 1st and 2nd octuples, girls octuples, girls double scull and the boys coxed quad events. With all three octuples and double making their respective finals, it was a fantastic first racing experience for the team. In total 33 J15s raced at this National event, a fantastic achievement by the team.

Mr Blackham also extended a big thank you to the rowing team who supported the athletes throughout the whole weekend; this was a great team performance by The King’s School Rowing Club team and a great foundation for further success on the National rowing stage.