STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s junior squad rose to the challenge at the Henley Long Distance Sculls.
Stratford’s junior scullers tested themselves over the 3,000-metre course on the Henley Reach against a field of clubs from across the country.
A couple of crews represented Stratford’s J17/18 squad as the women’s double scull of Becca Smith and Lily Warren finished in 11th in a packed field.
And the mixed coxless quadruple scull of Sophie Franklin, Ollie Rowlands, Theo Richter and Becca Smith stepped up to row in the senior event.
The quad showed their class to take an emphatic victory in their race despite stepping up to senior level.
Stratfird’s J15 squad also saw four crews take to the water as the girls’ doubles of Meredith Paul and Martina Bruce-Bonilla and Lillian Parsons and Scarlett Wheeler finished ninth and 10th respectively.
And Reuben Stanford finished ninth in the boys’ singles while he placed fifth in a double with Tristan Hammick.
Stratford’s J15 coach, Dave Parkin said: “The crews should be proud of their efforts and will have taken much learning from their day on the Thames.”
The club’s youngest members in the J14 squad revelled in the chance to row on Henley’s stretch of the River Thames.
The J14 girls’ quad of Islay Milles, Eva Cruise, Amelia Cruickshank, Charlotte Franklin and Mary Heenan (cox) performed strongly in their category.
And the boys’ quad of Ethan Siwakowski, Chris Durance, Arthur Burt, Archie Eaton and C Franklin (cox) finished third to earn a place on the podium.
Stratford’s J14 coach, Jon Franicis said: “Considering that this was a much longer course than they have previously encountered and in conditions far more challenging than any they have ever endured, this was immensely rewarding to see them perform so well.”
