This year’s Champs Junior Sculling Head was a Cambridge-only affair, as building works at the Combined Boathouse made it unavailable for visiting crews. There was still plenty of competition as crews from Cantabs, City and Champs raced over a 1450m course from The Plough to the Penny Ferry.
In a welcome change from engraved glasses, which are the prizes in so many Cambridge races, winners’ prizes consisted of a metal oar on a ribbon which can be used as a key chain, with an extra prize for coxes of a waterproof kit bag.
Cantabs provided the only two octuple entries, and Phil Gunning picked two well-matched crews, who both put in good times, finishing with just 0.9 seconds between them over the 7 minute race! The winning crew-members were: Hollie (cox), Maria, Ethan, Shannon, Onur, Harry, Paulo, Max and Amelise.
In the WJ14/WJ15 4X+ category, the quad of Tabitha (cox), Helena, Eva, Jessica, Maddy won in 6.29; the WJ14 quad of Fiona, Scarlett, Anna Marie, Ellie, Olivia were second in 6.39; and Pippa, Roisin, Anavi, Katie L was third in 6.47.
Cantabs had a clean sweep in the women’s doubles:
- Hollie & Amelise won WJ13/WJ14 2X with a time of 6.53, whilst Sofia & Olivia were third with a time of 7.05.
- Imogen & Peony won WJ15/WJ16 2X in 6.30, beating 3 other crews.
- May & Ana won WJ17/WJ18 2X in a time of 5.59
In the singles, Joshua had no competition in J13 1X, but put in a competitive time of 7.53. Thomas (J15) was up against J16 competition in the J15/J16 1X, and finished fourth with a creditable time of 6.49. Imogen won WJ15 /WJ16 1x with a time of 7.11
In total the club picked up 21 medal and 2 cox prizes which is a pretty good haul! Full results are available at championrowing.org.uk. Well done to everyone who took part, and huge thank you to Phil Gunning who masterminded the logistics.
