QEHS rowers produce a blitz of top medals
Last updated 13:35, Thursday, 31 July 2008
HEXHAM Queen Elizabeth High School rowers once again surpassed expectations when they came home from the recent National Rowing Championships with six bronze medals.
This event is held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham over three days.
Last year’s event was cancelled part of the way through due to bad weather and the two major events held there this year were both cancelled due to high winds and rough water.
On arrival on the Thursday, the course was quite calm but by Friday morning and the start of racing, the breeze had picked up slightly although the course was reasonable.
This was good as all the junior heats and most of the repercharges and semis were to be held on the Friday.
First off was Chris Scrimshaw in the time trial for the U18 single sculls.
With over 40 entries, the aim to reduce the field to 12 for the semi-final stage.
Chris had trained hard all year but the competition at this level was intense, so he was delighted to have made the top 12.
He then had to wait until Sunday, by which time the conditions had become a lot rougher, for the semi-finals.
His hard work was rewarded when he gained his place in the final.
A medal did not come his way on this occasion but it was an enormous achievement to reach the final, and being only 17, he can compete again next year.
The next event on the Friday was the heat of the women’s U15 single scull.
Nicole Lamb knew she had a very difficult task ahead of her as she was drawn in a heat against some of the top girls in her age category.
Only one would go through to the final and the next two to the repercharge.
Nicole was bitterly disappointed when she was narrowly beaten into fourth place and therefore eliminated.
She did take consolation from the fact that even though the other heats were closely contested, her time was the fourth fastest of the day.
Daniel Teasdale and Michael Ronan were both entered into the U15 single scull event and were drawn in the same heat.
Only three would go through to the semi-final stage. It was obvious from the early stages of the 2km race that there were four scullers in contention for the three places.
All four crossed the line within a couple of seconds but Michael was eliminated.
Daniel went on to the semi-final later in the day where he too just missed out on a place in the final in a tightly fought race.
Next up were the U14 double sculls with Poppy Brewer and Laura Scrimshaw in the girls’ event and the newly formed double of Zak Varty and James Mullins in the boys’ event.
These rowers are still in their first year in the sport and showed spirit by wanting to compete on the national stage.
The competition proved too hot to handle and both were eliminated. However, they were undeterred and their positive attitude was demonstrated by James’ comment that they must train a lot harder before next year’s event.
Although Nicole had been knocked out of the single event, she had a second chance in the women’s U15 coxed quad.
She joined Steph Charlton, Chloe Glendenning, Kate Hastie and their cox Gemma Mills.
These girls have had a mixed year following injuries and the recent departure of one of the crew which created the place for Nicole.
Pressure was on to obtain a medal in their new, recently named boat, Minerva. From the start they dominated their heat and their time was the fastest of the day in their event.
This should have given them the best lane in the final on the Saturday.
Unfortunately, by then there was a strong cross wind across the course, so those in the outer lanes had a more sheltered row.
The girls rowed well through the rough conditions and were absolutely delighted with their bronze medals.
It was pointed out to the umpires shortly after their race that all the winners were previously weaker crews who were in the sheltered lane.
Subsequent races were redrawn giving the fastest crews the more favourable conditions.
It was too late for QE but third best in the country is still a brilliant result.
The boys’ quad of Matthew Mole, Charlie Dickinson, Chris Harvey, Joe Brinton and their cox Avram Benjamin just missed the first position in their heat so had to race again in the repercharge.
When a large wave knocked the blade from Chris’s hand, they did well to recover and still get their place in the final.
However, their low ranking gave them the worst lane in the final on the Saturday.
In the rough conditions they rowed strongly but a medal was not on the cards for the boys at this event.
Michael Mullins and Will Briggs have been together in a pair for only a short time, and did not expect to progress beyond the semi final stage.
They were therefore surprised and pleased to qualify for the final on Sunday.
In the final, their lack of experience showed in the rough conditions but they could take pride in the straight course they steered and the creditable performance they gave on the day.
The final heat on the Friday was the U18 coxless four.
This was a composite crew where Chris Scrimshaw joined two Durham School boys and another from Bradford Grammar School.
The crew progressed straight to the final, which was scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Chris had already raced his semi and final in his single scull event so needed to draw on all his strength to compete in the fours’ final especially has he was in the all important stroke seat.
It was a shattered but elated Chris who climbed onto the podium to receive his bronze medal.
Thanks should also go to Angus Elliott who coached some of the crews but gave advice and support during the event by cycling 4km alongside all crews for every race.
A very big thank you to all who have contributed their time or finance during the year and yet again maintained QEHS as the top club in the North for junior rowing.
A reminder to all who wish to join this successful club the new season training starts on Saturday August 9 at 10am and thereafter every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at the same time.
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