An afternoon of electric racing rounds out day three at the British Rowing Club Championships

Quad’s the word on Day Three of the British Rowing Club Championships as the juniors deliver some outstanding racing

After dreich conditions enveloped the National Water Sports Centre through the morning session, the weather dried and the sun threatened to beam down as the first of the finals came down the course.

There are very few finer sights in life than an armada of Quadruple Sculls duking it out over 2000m. For about half an hour, the juniors served up a series of sensational races with the B Final of the Open J18 Quadruple Sculls arguably the pick of the bunch. It acted as a thrilling appetiser for the exquisite A Final that followed minutes later, and it was another gold medal to add to the ever-growing trophy cabinet at The Windsor Boys’ School.

“It was great, we were down at half-way, but to be honest, with this crew, I was never in doubt. It was a great win for us. There’s definitely depth across the athletes in our squad, so to get another medal is really great,” explained newly crowned British Champion Ruben Taylor.

As part of the top billing of Quadruple Sculls racing, the WJ16 race was won by George Heriot’s School RC. The race behind for the minor medals was scintillating and saw Leeds RC come from behind in the final 500m to surge to a brilliant silver medal.

Rob Mackenzie, the Junior Academy Coach at Leeds RC, was delighted with his crew’s performance. “I’ve got no voice left! The past few years, they’ve both come fourth at these events. The hard work this season has finally paid off. They didn’t get to race at The National Schools’ Regatta, so it’s been a long grind, but they absolutely smashed, I can’t believe it.

The juniors continued to impress across the Quadruple Sculls with barnstorming wins for Henley RC in the Open J15 Coxed Quad and the Scottish composite of Clydesdale ARC and Strathclyde Park RC in the Women’s race. There was further goldmining for composites as Wallingford RC and Sir William Perkins’s School BC won the Women’s J18 Quad, but one of the day’s highlights was certainly the Open J16 Quadruple Sculls Final. George Watson’s College BC rowed through The Windsor Boys’ crew and led when it mattered most, across the finish line to win a phenomenal gold medal.

Spectators were treated to some thrilling encounters across the Open and Women’s Club Doubles to kick off proceedings in events won by Birmingham University BC and Leicester RC, respectively.

“We both learned to row at Birmingham, and we graduated last year. I’m in Devon and he’s in Norwich, so it’s a six-and-a-half-hour drive, but we’re still really good mates, keep in contact, and we compete on Strava! We thought we would do a week’s training and see what happens, and we didn’t come last,” explained Alexander Reed.

In the Women’s event, Leicester RC led from start to finish and put together a masterclass in doubles racing. It caps off an incredible season for Lizzie Webster, who qualified for the Princess Royal Challenge Cup a few weeks ago, the first time ever the club on the banks of the river Soar qualified two scullers for that event.

Speaking of doubles, the Open Championship race saw the clans unite as Clydesdale ARC’s Ben Parsonage and Edinburgh University BC’s Ollie Plank teamed up to win a silver medal behind Hinksey Sculling School. They raced against each other in the Open Championship Lightweight Single Scull on Friday, a race Parsonage dominated, continuing his epic season.

“It was really good, it was really fun. It was great to get a medal, and thanks to Ben for carrying me down the course,” laughed Plank on the medal pontoon.

“It’s take your kid to work day,” joked Ben. “Well, he didn’t half give me a fright on Friday, so I knew whatever happened he’d be able to pull me down most of the course!”

Bath University BCs Ella Fullman and Bea Hughes won the Women’s Championship event, beating sisters Catherine and Gemma King, who went one better than their bronze medal last year.

Much like any conversation about beginner rowing, Edinburgh University BC are never more than a few words away. Beatrix Fooks has been lighting up the domestic season, and after winning a silver medal in this event at BUCS Regatta, she’s gone one better upon her return to the National Water Sports Centre.

“It was absolutely spectacular and a pleasure to race against such amazing athletes,” said Beatrix after being crowned British Champion.

Her mother, Juliet, is incredibly proud of her daughter’s journey after trying a new sport at University. “She grew up here, U12 Sprint [Kayak] champion here. I’m a British Canoeing coach and to see her since September actually getting this position, she’s very committed and she wants to go as far as she can, it’s very exciting.”

This continued the success for the University of Birmingham BC, having already won the other Beginner event of the day, the Open Coxed Four.

Across the other club events, Nottingham RC stormed to victory on home water in the Open Club Coxless Pairs. Sir William Perkins’s School BC prevented the local club from doing the double as they won the Women’s event. Kingston RC took home the title in the Open Coxless Fours while Hereford RC beat Derby RC to win the Championship event. The last A Final was the Women’s Club Coxed Four, and Agecroft RC were victorious, drenching one another with their celebrations.

Racing continues tomorrow for the fourth and final day at the British Rowing Club Championships. All of the action will take place over 1000m and we look forward to welcoming increased entry from last year across the adaptive events as well as the first of the racing for the J14s.

Watch the races back on Champs Live!