National Schools Regatta 2015

A long weekend away at the National Schools Regatta in Nottingham started on the road at 05:00 am on Friday morning and ended at 23:00 on Sunday night back in Lancaster. LRGSBC fielded both J14 and J15 crews which meant that the junior squads raced on Friday and Sunday and two trips to Nottingham over the weekend with a time trial at 08:20 on Sunday made for two very early starts for parents, boys and staff.

The following report has been updated after the official results have been displayed on the NSR website. The excellent photos of crews racing can be ordered from rowingphotography.co.uk. Mike Gelder has also sent me his photos which I can pass on.

On Friday morning, the J14 coxed quad of Ben Eaton (str), Sam McLoughlin, Adam Burkhart, Richard Mead and Joshua Melling (cox) did themselves proud getting through the initial time trial and making the semi-final. Possibly, a first for LRGSBC in only their second event outside Lancaster.

After lunch, the J15 squad started their campaign in double sculls. The combinations of L.MacPherson & T.Kerr, S.Gelder & C.Whittaker, and B.Heseltine & W.Burrow worked hard against a high standard of doubles sculls and finished up as the fastest non-qualifiers, missing out by a couple of seconds.

Boys, parents and staff all departed to various locations around the country for Saturday and regrouped at 07:20 on Sunday morning.

LRGSBC entered a crew in the Creber Cup (J15 4x+ event for 'A' crews) and in the Jubilee Cup (J15 4x+ event for 'B' crews). The 'B' crew of J.Morphet, S.Gelder, W.Hornby-Phillips, B.Heseltine (str) and L.Targett (cox) sculled well but missed out on the cut for the knock out competition.

The 'A' crew of L.MacPherson, C.Whittaker, T.Kerr, W.Burrow (str) and C.Hopkinson (cox) got through against a draw full of the usual public schools crews and progressed to the semi-finals. This was the start of an exciting day for them and their parents.

In the semis, they took more scalps coming third and so progressed to the finals at the end of the day. The final was stacked with top junior crews and the usual 'suspects'. Having surpassed their goal of getting to semi this year, the J15s proved that they can 'mix it' with the best and had a fantastic final race. They finished fifth to the loud cheers of their supporters on the bank.

Plenty of  rowing 'business' was conducted at the event. The monies raised this year has meant that two new Kanghua double sculls have been ordered and should be arriving from China in July. The two demo double sculls borrowed from Swift Racing and Kanghua were returned (before any more damaged was sustained). The Lancaster Rose was measured up for new quad riggers by Dave from ES Rowing and progress was made with Dominic at Concept 2 to provide me with equipment, parts and glue to repair all the Club's sculling and sweep oar collars.

Many thanks to parents, boys and staff who all working hard and made it a memorable weekend.
PJ