Thrills and spills at the 2019 British Rowing Junior Championships
The National Water Sports Centre hosted the championships from Friday, 19 to Sunday, 21 July
The National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham played host to the biggest ever British Rowing Junior Championships. Over 1,600 young rowers from across the country took part in an action packed weekend.
On Friday, it was the J14s who took to the water to take part in an omnium of skills and drills, a 500m race, as well as coxed quads racing over 1,000m.
The J14 scullers took on five skills; hands off at the catch, standing 360 in a boat, standing rigger dips, back down stop, 360 degree boat spinning, finishing off with a 500m sprint, slalom and emergency stop. The drills help to develop rowers technically, with lots of silky skills on show.
In the WJ14 single, Bewl Bridge A took the win, with Rob Roy BC’s B scullers taking the win in the WJ14 double. In the open event, Peterborough City’s A scullers took the win in the OJ14 doubles, while the Shiplake College B sculler took the win in the OJ14 single.
The coxed quads raced a time-trial in the morning and finals in the early evening, with Trentham BC taking the win in the open coxed quads and Henley RC A taking the win in the women’s race.
The action on Saturday took place under four seasons worth of weather, with the rowers managing the conditions well throughout the day.
In the morning, the equivalent of two Schools Head’s took place as 729 crews went through a time-trial before the side-by-side racing got underway at 4pm. Due to the weather, the F/E finals were regrettably cancelled but the C/D finals ran with some very competitive close racing across all events.
On Sunday, the semi-finals and A/B finals went down the track with plenty of close and exciting racing to keep the many spectators on the bank entertained. In particular, the quad races were of exceptional standard with the photo finish camera earning its spot on the finish line to separate out the medal places.
It was Gloucester Hartpury who had the best showing at the British Rowing Junior Championship, as they took home the Victor Ludorum ahead of Henley RC in second and Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association in third.
Chris Callow, Chair of the British Rowing Junior Championships Organising Committee said: “What a fantastic weekend of racing we have had. I’ve been blown away by the standard of competition, the energy of the rowers, coaches and supporters, and the enthusiasm of the army of volunteers who made the event possible. With a record entry this year, it’s clear to see that junior rowing is going from strength to strength. On behalf of the organising committee, a huge thanks to everyone who has supported this event.”
The minor finals on Saturday and all the semi-final and A/B finals were live streamed on YouTube so you can catch-up with all the racing from the British Rowing Junior Championships.
