STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s WJ16 quad crew won bronze in the A final at the prestigious National Schools’ Regatta on the Olympic Lake at Eton Dorney.
The quad crew of Jessica Long at stroke, Lucy Sartain, Nancy Davis and Harriet Froom in the bow seat rose to the occasion in the final with a clean row to secure a bronze medal.
And the crew finished within five seconds of the silver medal position having qualified third fastest for the A final.
The club’s other WJ16 quad crew comprised of Esme Elfwood at stroke, Molly Vondrak, Scarlett Richardson and Aimee Appleton at bow as the squad placed 12th in the B final.
The National Schools’ Regatta attracts the highest quality crews from schools and clubs from across the country with competition for medals fierce.
Stratford’s WJ14 coxed quadruple scull crew of Maeve Dunn, Becca Smith, Martha Baines, Sophie Franklin and Josephine Cooper (coxswain) qualified sixth fastest out of 53 crews in the time trial.
And the crew came home sixth in the A final before the WJ15 coxed quadruple scull crew of Alice Jones, Alexandra Francis, Poppy Baines, Sophie Evans and Lucy Yang (coxswain) placed fourth in the C final.
Stratford’s OJ15 coxed quadruple scull crew of Ollie Rowlands, Seth Vondrak, Xavier Sissins-Roffey, Lily Warren and Meg Nuttall (coxswain) recorded the 28th fastest time in their event.
In the Championship single scull junior 17 event, Stratford’s Uchenna Nwachukwu impressed in the repechage to secure a place in the E final only to have to pull out with a shoulder injury.
The women’s junior 17 coxed four of Amalia Richardson, Maddie Hall, Harriet Noyes, Kate Richardson and cox Imogen Hill impressed in their time trial to place fourth out of 22 crews.
And the Stratford crew finished second in their semi-final to qualify for the A final where they were pipped to bronze by Shrewsbury in a thrilling race.
Stratford’s J17/18 coach Sam Hill said: “Our target was to reach the A final at the National Schools’ Regatta this year, so to finish within half a second of a medal is a great achievement. We will be back next year.”
The J18 squad was represented by Lucy Browne and Freya Watts in the women’s Championship double sculls event.
And the pair placed 22nd in a lively time trial to qualify for the C final where they impressed to come home sixth in what was the duo’s last ever national event as junior rowers.
Stratford’s J17/18 coach Abi Terry added: “It was a great way for Lucy and Freya to finish their last National Schools Regatta, moving up on where they had placed in the time trial.”
