Ross Rowing Club Cox tastes European Success

Ross Rowing Club’s Junior Academy celebrated more success at the weekend. Morgan Baynham-Williams came home from the Coupe de la Jeunesse 2011 held in Ottensheim, Austria (the junior European Championships) sporting the silver medal she won with the GB Women’s Eight.

Morgan, 17, who has been a member of the Junior Academy since 2005, was selected for the GB Junior squad earlier this year, following a series of rigorous selection tests.

Meanwhile, Ross Rowing Club travelled locally to the Hereford Regatta on Sunday, fielding eighteen athletes from the junior academy.

George Probert and Dale Kernot beat fellow Ross scullers Elliott Ball and Henry Vowles to win the J14 double sculls event, while the J15 single sculls was won by Johan Lai against a strong opponent from Hereford Rowing Club.

Catrin Morris and Molly Phillips won the women’s J14 double sculls, also against Hereford opposition.

Jess Crossman won her heat and then the final of the women’s J14 single sculls against club mate Georgie Jones in a close final. Nick Burden won the boy’s equivalent event in fine style.

Johan Lai and Henry Jones won the J15 double scull in a straight final against Hereford whilst Morris and Phillips repeated their earlier success by winning the WJ15 double sculls, beating team mates Caitlin Scott and Charlie Morris in a very close and exciting race.

Finally, the J14 coxed quad event was won by the crew of George Probert, Elliott Ball, Henry Vowles and Dale Kernot, coxed by Tom Scott.

There were also good performances during the day from Lucy Jones (WIM2.1x), Charlotte Leach (WJ16.1x) and Effie Hirem & Olivia Baynham-Williams (WJ15.2x).

“This was another excellent set of results and performances from all of our young athletes,” said Junior Captain Mark Scott. “They competed well all day and deserve a lot of praise and credit”.

Ross Men’s and Women’s Squads sent 9 crews to the Hereford Regatta weekend, including one to compete for the West of England Challenge Cup for Elite coxed fours (which was won by Ross two years ago).

Over Saturday and Sunday, despite valiant efforts, only one crew emerged victorious. The men’s IM3 coxed four of Lenny Colling, Tim Ball, Mitch Browning, Sam Jenkins and cox Jess Crossman won both their races to win their event – resulting in more points for the crew members and Tim losing his Novice status.

By Mark Scott and Jeremy Picton-Turberville, Ross Rowing Club