Juniors Triumph at Shrewsbury

Royal Chester Rowing Club had a fantastic weekend racing at Shrewsbury Regatta and Sprint on the River Severn accumulating a total of 10 wins. The event usually sees the strongest rowing crews on the Dee and Severn going head to head and this year was no exception. The first Royals win of the weekend was over the 1000m course and went to the junior boys crew of Jake Freer-Smith, Ben Newell, Oliver Smith, Morgan Linfield coxed by Eve Lawlor winning the Novice coxed four event beating neighbours from Kings School in the semi final and Grosvenor Rowing Club in the Final. The Women’s Junior 14 coxed quad crew of Fenella Cowdell, Issy Ford, Hettie Dunlap, Hannah Jones and cox Claudia Delafaille also picked up winners trophies. The Masters crew of John Hinnigan, Mike Stephens, Peter English, John Boothman coxed by Anna McGarva were not leaving it all to the juniors winning the Masters G coxed fours.

The wins came quickly at the Sunday Sprint over a 600m course yielding wins for Women’s Junior 15 double sculls Ellie McQuair and Hazel Tongue. Following their Saturday success Jake Freer-Smith and Ben Newell took on Royal Shrewsbury School on their own stretch of River to win the Junior 18 pair. Harry Morland then won through to collect the Junior 15 single scull pot and the Women’s Junior 14 coxed quad of Erica Long, Octavia Shore, Celyn Richards, Megan Griffiths-Tucker and cox Sophie Palgrave-Neath triumphed in the plate event. Jake Freer-Smith then went on to take the J18 single sculls, Dylan Westoby the J17 single event and Ellie McQuair WJ15 1x plate event.

Michal Palamarczuk, Junior Rowing Co-ordintor said "It has been a great weekend of racing with lots of juniors on the water building the foundations of what looks like being a great regatta season, I am very proud of them all particularly the Moreton Hall girls entering their first race and winning a heat. A huge achievement for the short time they have been rowing.”

Photos

Novice 4, Jake Freer-Smith, Ben Newell, Oliver Smith, Morgan Linfield coxed by Eve Lawlor.

WJ14 4x+ Erica Long, Octavia Shore, Celyn Richards, Megan Griffiths-Tucker and cox Sophie Palgrave-Neath

Women’s J15 2x, Ellie McQuair and Hazel Tongue