Junior Inter-Regionals Trials

Posted on March 22, 2006 | Filed under Rowing

Evesham Rowing Club is the most successful club in the West Midlands at trials for junior inter-regionals

Evesham junior rowing crews were out in force at trials held in Worcester last Sunday to decide who is to represent the West Midlands at the Junior Inter-regional Championships in May. The club entered 13 events and won 11 of them - a stunning achievement for the youngsters, particularly those who were rowing and winning, up to three events during the day.

The single scullers were first to row. Thankfully the bitter wind of the previous day had eased off. But the river was still very high from snow meltwater and rain coming off the Malverns producing strong currents. That, added to a couple of treacherous bends, made the going on the 3,000 metres pretty tough and several crews had to be disentangled from trees on the bank over the course of the day.

Tom Walker won the J16 singles event in a time of 8.38 minutes, just two seconds ahead of club rival Will Tew. At J15 Oli Staite picked up gold in a time of 8.29, while Ben Farrar made the J14 look a piece of cake winning in a time of 9.27.

For the junior girls there was a win for Ruth Whyman at J14 who rowed a time of 9.49, well ahead of her competitors. Abi Penrose at J15 came up against a phenomenal rower from RGS Worcester to claim silver. But her time of 9.31 was faster than all of the J16 girls so she may yet be selected to represent the region.

In the doubles Evesham reigned supreme. Tom Walker and Will Tew coasted home in a time of 7.55. Oli Staite and Rory Sullivan, rowing a club boat that had definitely seen better days, managed to put some water between them and their nearest rivals from Stourport who were rowing in a brand new Lola Aylings. The boys were rightly proud to have rowed the course in 7.59. At J14 the twins Adam Shirra and Alex Shirra, rowing in one of their first big events, beat a crew from Hereford, in a time of 8.42. For the girls Colleen Penrose and Chloe Bryan beat six rival crews, romping home in 8.59, a good ten seconds ahead of a Ross crew.

By the third race of the day energy levels were flagging. Oli Staite and Rory Sullivan had already rowed 12km, six at race pace, by the time they set off for the start of the J15 quad race. They were joined in the boat by James Crumpton and Josh Hendry - two fresh pairs of legs - and put in a great effort to beat six other crews. Coxed by Adam Fensome, the boys rowed the course in a time of 7.52, five seconds ahead of a crew from King’s School Worcester.

At J14 the coxed quad of Rob Barnett, Ben Farrar, Jon Farrar and Tom Noble, coxed by Jordan Bunyan, were getting on for a minute ahead of their nearest rivals, Hereford Cathedral School, rowing a time of 8.18. For the girls the J14 crew of Lucy Palmer, Sam Edwards, Chloe Bryan and Colleen Penrose, coxed by Katie Cattell, faced three strong crews from King’s Worcester and scraped gold with a two second lead.

There were also second places for Sam Edwards in the WJ14 singles, and the WJ15 coxed quad of Tash Symonds, Sophie McDonagh, Ruth Whyman and Abi Penrose (cox Jess McKay).

The fantastic days’ results were just reward for all the hard work the youngsters, and their coaches, have put in over the winter training season. Final decisions on selection of who will represent the West Midlands will be made soon but once again it will be an Evesham-dominated squad.

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