STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s junior crews competed at the prestigious Junior Sculling Head on the Olympic course at Dorney Lake.
The club’s J14, J15, J16 and J17 squads took on competition from across the United Kingdom at the event.
And the J17 squad fielded a women’s coxless quadruple scull to take on the top clubs and schools from around the country.
The crew of Martha Cooke, Martha Baines, Millie Smith and Maeve Dunn finished in 14th place after a solid row of two 1,800m legs.
And the WJ16 4x- of Orla Linforth (stroke), Imogen de Pennington, Maria Ntoukaki and Erin Appleton (bow) placed 17th out of 52 crews after overtaking a number of other crews.
Stratford coaches, Hugo Happel and Eric Appleton said: “The girls really focused on rating, sitting tall, energy management and avoiding rowing in and it paid off.
“A fantastic result against the best of the best crews in Britain. The girls should feel very proud, well done.”
The J14’s competed on the national stage for the first time as the quad of Islay Milles, Eva Cruise, Amelia Cruickshank and Mary Heenan with Archie Mansfield as cox, finished ahead of several clubs who boast larger squads and lighter boats.
And the J14 boys quad of Archie Eaton, Chris Durance, Arthur Burt and Eli Ford with Ethan Siwakowski as cox, finished an impressive 11th out of 50 crews.
Coach Jon Francis said: “To come to the biggest rowing arena in the UK and perform with such composure really highlights the maturity and promise of this young squad.”
