Some of Grantham’s young rowers contested the Ancholme Head at Brigg as members of Newark Rowing Club.
The J17 (Year 11) quad crew of Luke Wren (King’s School) at stroke, George Mitchell (Priory Ruskin Academy), Max Bradbury (King’s) and Ashley Cowley, also of King’s, at bow, excelled themselves. Racing against adults as intermediates, they knew they would have a tough race on their hands.
The Newark quad recorded 9min 45sec, breaking the previous course best by one second. They were awarded the Chamber of Trade Challenge Trophy for the fastest crew boat of the day. Luke Wren also took home the Reynolds Trophy Cup for fastest single sculler of the day with a time of 12 minutes precisely.
Sophie Eaves and Gabrielle Price, who both attend KGGS, raced in the WJ14 double race, finishing second to York. They also raced as WJ14 singles, Gabrielle winning the race and Sophie coming in second. Gabrielle’s older sister, Rowena, rowed up a year group in the WJ18 singles race and came first.
Newark RC coach Paul Fenhoulet said the club had its most successful intake of young rowers for many years. He said: “Following a highly successful 2012, they are not resting on their achievements, but are starting on a new, harder training regime as they strive to improve and achieve even greater things for themselves as individuals and for their crews and the club.”
In the 2012 season the rowers between them gained national medals both on water and for indoor rowing. hey are all hoping to race in the GB Rowing Early Identification Trials at Boston in November, which is the first stage in a long selection process for a coveted place on the GB junior rowing team next summer. Luke Wren and George Mitchell have been part of the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme for 2012.
The photograph shows from left to right: Adam Wright, Luke Wren, Max Bradbury, George Mitchell, Ashley Cowley and Rowena Price with the cups for fastest crew of the day and fastest single sculler.