World Junior Rowing Championships, Beijing, 8th -11th August
Following the final trials at the start of July, Emily Piggott was selected to represent Great Britain at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Beijing, China. Before flying out, the team had training camps at Chester and Dorney, which were unfortunately disrupted by flooding.
Once in China, the team spent a week prior to the regatta aclimatizing to the heat (36 deg C), high humidity, and smog. The regatta was held at the new purpose-built Olympic rowing lake in the Shunyi district, to the north-east of Beijing, and was one of many trial events being held to test out facilities for next year's 2008 Olympics.
With Vicky Knight of Molesey, Emily raced in the womens coxless pair event. Heats were held on the opening day, and the pair rowed hard to finish 4th in their heat. Following a hard fought repechage, the next day, Emily and Vicky qualified for the B final. On Saturday, finals day, the girls rowed strongly to finish 3rd, and 9th overall, which was a pleasing result.
Coupe de la Jeunesse, Italy, 4th and 5th August 2007
Eleanor Piggott returned with two gold medals from the 23rd Coupe de la Jeunesse, which took place in Varese, northern Italy, at the beginning of August.
Eleanor raced in the Great Britain girls quad scull against opposition from eleven other European rowing federations.
On Saturday she helped beat off competition from the Netherlands and Ireland to win gold, claiming her second gold on Sunday with victory ahead of Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland.
Full results can be found here
COMBINED 12 NATIONS ON POINTS
- ITALY 196
- GREAT BRITAIN 187
- FRANCE 177
- POLAND 128
- SPAIN 108
- NETHERLANDS 104
- IRELAND 81
- SWITZERLAND 77
- BELGIUM 76
- HUNGARY 70
- AUSTRIA 59
- PORTUGAL 34
GB v France Match, Nottingham, 16th July 2007
Eleanor Piggott was selected to represent Great Britain in the girl's single scull, after finishing as the fastest J16 sculler at the final GB trials earlier in the month. Following a three day training camp, with accomodation at Nottingham University, the match took place on Monday 16th July at Holme Pierrepoint. In the single's race, despite a good start by Eleanor, the French sculler won by approx. two lengths, and France went on to win the girl's and overall trophy.
National Schools Regatta, 25th to 27th May 2007
The High School entered eight crews across all three days at this regatta, and acheived a fantastic result of four medals.
In the Womens J14 Octo, the High School crew sculled strongly to win their heat, and were the fastest qualifiers by two seconds. In the final, the girls again sculled very well to win the gold medal, nearly two seconds ahead of Emanuel School.
The High's first crew to compete on the Saturday was the J15 coxed quad. Unfortunately, having qualified for the semi-finals, they had to withdraw due to an injury in the crew. The next crew in action was the J16 eight, who finished third in their semi-final, and so qualified for the final. Despite a strong performance in the final, the High School crew missed out on a bronze medal by four seconds, finishing fifth.
The third crew in action on Saturday was the Womens J18 coxless quad, who won their semi-final by three seconds from Marlow. In the final, they again sculled strongly to win the silver medal, behind Maidenhead RC.
The following day, many of the girls competed again. First to race was Eleanor Piggott in the Womens J16 single, who progressed through the time trial and semi-final, and went on to win a silver medal in the final.
The High School entered two crews in the Womens J16 coxed four event. Both crews rowed well in tough conditions to qualify for the semi-finals, but unfortunately then finished fourth in their respective races, and so did not qualify for the final.
The final Bedford High crew in action was the Womens J18 coxless four. In tough conditions they raced well in their semi-final to finish a close second to Molesey. However, in the final the girls put in a fantastic performance to win a well earned silver medal, three seconds ahead of Headington School.
Well done to all of the girls involved.
Full Results can be found at the National Schools Regatta Website - click here
Bedford Regatta - 12th May 2007
The High School entered five crews in this event, the high point of the rowing year in Bedford. Despite difficult conditions of gusting wind and, at times, torrential rain, all crews competed hard in their respective events. Wins were recorded in the WS4 Coxed Four and the WJ14 Coxed Quad. The WJ14 Coxed Quad (B) came second as did the WJ16, eight competing in the adult WS4 8+ event. Commiserations go the WN4X+ who had to retire from their race.
The victorious J14 crew with their tankards
Eleanor Piggott also made a flying visit to the Ghent International Regatta in Belgium, on Saturday 12th May 2007, to compete in a composite crew Junior 18 double, and a Junior 18 quad. Despite a strong tail wind, both boats competed well achieving a bronze in the double, and a gold in the quad.
Wallingford Regatta - 6th May 2007
Three High School crews competed at a blustery Wallingford regatta on Sunday 6th May 2007. In difficult conditions all three the crews achieved excellent results with two wins and a third place. The WJ16 eight of Charlotte McClean, Katie Kedward, Emma Havens, Cate Dixon, Cat Stenhouse, Helen Tredget, Grace Hodge, and Laura Versnel, coxed by Hayley Thomas put in a strong performance to win the Womens Novice Eight category by 10 seconds. Eleanor Piggott won the Senior Four single scull, finishing five seconds ahead of the next sculler in the final. In the Junior Womens coxless quad category, the crew of Dani Hinckley, Chloe and Sophie Symmonds, and Hannah George sculled strongly to finish third in their final.
Bedford Small Boats Head - 15th April 2007
The Bedford Small Boats Head, held on Sunday 15 April, saw some very good performances from the 17 High School crews entered in 12 events. There were wins in 5 events: WS4.4X, WJ16.4X, WN.4+, WN.4X+ and WS4.1X. For full results please see the Bedford Rowing Club website and for more photographs please click here.
Good luck to the WJ16 eight who are representing the Eastern region on Saturday 21 April at Holme Pierrepoint, Nottingham in the Junior Inter Regional Championships. Rumour has it that the FoBHSBC marquee will be attending!
Please note that a marquee space for FoBHSBC has been reserved at the National Schools Regatta (25 – 27 May 2007) at Holme Pierrepoint, Nottingham. This is the highlight of the school rowing year and the High School will be entering a number of crews. More news to follow soon….
National Junior Sculling Head and Schools Head of the River Race - 14th and 15th March 2007
Wednesday 14th March saw High School rowers competing at the National Schools sculling head at Dorney rowing lake in Windsor. This event is the most important schools sculling event of the winter season with crews from throughout Great Britain competing.
Leading our entry in the blue ribbon junior girls quad event was the crew of Eleanor and Emily Piggott, Wiebke Neumann and Dani Hinckley in a strong field of 18 entries the girls showed great quality and excelled finishing in 2nd place a mere 0.8 secs behind the winners from Maidenhead. In the same event the crew of Grace Hodge, Chloe and Sophie Symmonds with Hannah George also recorded an excellent result finishing a very creditable 6th overall.
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In the women’s junior 15 coxed quad event the Lower 5 crew of Emily Moore, Claudia Sahno, Philippa Relph and Andi Petersen steered by Zoe Amos (U5) surpassed all expectation producing an outstanding performance finishing 4th overall from a field of 42 entries.
Last but by no means least were the women’s junior 14 octo of Lizzie Stenhouse, Chloe Wardell, Emma Brocklehurst, Sian Harding, Susannah Odell, Rachel Turton, Rosie Algar and Lydia Hill steered by Nat Wood. Starting in last place the girls sculled with fierce and sustained determination to finish in Silver medal position in a strong field of 14 entries just 2.9 seconds behind the winners.
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On Thursday 15th March our crews were in action on the famous boat race tideway course at Hammersmith. As with sculling this event is the most important sweep oar event of the winter season.
In women’s junior 16 eights the High School crew of Emma Havens, Rachel Meredith, Charlotte McClean, Katie Kedward, Cat Stenhouse, Helen Tredget, Cate Dixon and Laura Versnel coxed by Hayley Thomas recorded a very strong result finishing 2nd to St Georges College.
After their efforts of the previous day the crew of Eleanor and Emily Piggott, Wiebke Neumann and Dani Hinckley were joined by cox Jess Owen and raced in the women’s junior coxed four event. Once again the girls showed great quality and strength returning a brilliant row to finish 2nd of 17 entries just 3 seconds behind Henley rowing club.
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I would like commend all of those who raced at either or both of the events as their results were truly brilliant and a testament to the relentless hard work they have done since September. It is notable that not one of our crews was beaten by any other local School or Club crew.
Both Emily and Eleanor Piggott were back in action on the Tideway on Saturday 17th this time the girls were selected to row as part of a British women’s junior development eight. Starting a lowly 187th this crew produced one of the best performances of recent times finishing in an extremely creditable 22nd place in a field of 277 entries.
All the rowers would also like to thank the parents and supporters for the fantastic support they provided on both days, as well as Mr Deards, Miss Sawford, and Mrs Whale.
Hampton Head - 10th February 2007 and Bedford Head- 11th February 2007
Bedford High School rowers produced some excellent results at both Hampton and Bedford Heads last weekend.
At Hampton Head the development Junior Women’s Coxless quad of Ellie Piggott, Emily Piggott, Sophie Symmonds and Dani Hinckley secured a comfortable win in their event.
The WJ15 4x+ quad of Emily Moore, Emily Curtin, Andy Peterson, and Izzy Algar finished in a creditable 7th place, out of a field of 13 entries.
On the following day at Bedford the High School competed in force with the girls returning some excellent results, and wins across four categories.
The scratch crew of Emily and Ellie Piggott, Emma Havens, Becky Yeomans, Sophie and Chloe Symmonds, Charlotte McClean, and Dani Hinckley steered by Hayley Thomas rowed aggressively to win the senior 4 8’s event from 10 other entries.
In women’s novice eights, the Junior 16 development crew of Emma Havens, Rachael Meredith, Charlotte McClean, Katie Kedward, Catriona Stenhouse, Cate Dixon, Helen Tredget and Laura Versnel, coxed by Hayley Thomas displayed potential by winning the event from a large entry of much older University and club opposition.
After their win at Hampton, the Junior quad was re-shuffled with Chloe Symmonds replacing sister Sophie. Once again this crew stormed to a convincing win in the senior 4 event, recording the joint fastest time of the day for a women’s crew. The crew of Becky Yeomans, Sophie Symmonds, Rachael Meredith and Hannah George recorded a final High School win in the Novice coxless quad event.
Toni Hollowood, Mel James, Hannah Fox, and Emily Curtin (coxed by Zoe Amos) combined on the day to race in the WN4x+, finishing a creditable 2nd in this category.
In the WN4- category, the crew of Portia Higgs, Laura Curtin, Hattie Thoday, and Jenny Ayley, coxed by Zoe Amos, rowed well to finish 4th.
The WJ15 coxed quad, which had raced at Hampton the previous day, again sculled strongly to finish 3rd in their category.
Well done to all the crews involved.
Mick Deards
Click here for the full results for Bedford and click here for the full results from hampton.
Peterborough Head - 3rd February 2007
On a surprising calm day, the High School raced in two crews, over the 2500m course.
In division one, Ellie Piggott raced up an age category in the WJ18 single sculls, and sculled strongly to win the category in a time of 12:40, just one second ahead of a sculler from Headington.
In the following division, Ellie Piggott, Sophie Symmonds, Chloe Symmonds, and Dani Hinckley combined to form a coxless quad in the WS3 event. However, the girls put in a strong performance, overtaking two crews, and finished a creditable second in 11:04, twelve seconds behind the winners from Rob Roy.
click here for photos
Full results can be found on the Peterborough city Rowing Club website - www.peterboroughcityrowing.co.uk/
Boston Head – 21st January 2007
Finally the weather was kind enough to let us race!!
On 21st January, Bedford High entered 4 crews into their second event of the New Year. It was a timed head of the river event, over 3 km on the river Witham. It certainly lived up to it’s reputation as one of the coldest races in the calendar, with a bitterly cold wind for the spectators to enjoy!
All high school crews performed very well, and recorded wins in 2 categories as well as strong second places in a further 2 events.
In the first division of the day, Emily and Eleanor Piggott raced in the WJ 2- category, and finished second in 11:46 minutes, 6 seconds off the winners.
In WJ15 4x+, the quad of Emily Moore, Phillipa Relf, Issy Algar, and Andy Peterson steered by Zoe Amos, put in a solid performance to finish first, in a time of 10:49 minutes.
Two senior crews were also entered in the Women Junior coxless quad event. The quad of Eleanor Piggott, Emily Piggott, Chloe Symmonds and Dani Hinckley sculled strongly to win the event in 9:59 minutes. However they were closely followed by the other High School quad of Hannah George, Sophie Symmonds, Rachael Meredith, and Laura Versnal, who finished a strong second in 10:26, and were over half a minute ahead of the next crew in third.
Well done to all the crews involved.
http://www.naturesimages.co.uk/BH072desti/pages/_PLU6731.html
Cambridge Head to Head – 20th January 2007
This was the High School’s first event of the new year, and certainly set the bar high for the year to come, with a strong win in the Women’s Novice Eights category.
Despite the extreme conditions – apparently light could be seen under the boat at one point due to the large waves! - the crew of Emma Havens, Rachael Meredith, Grace Hodge, Charlotte McClean, Katie Kedward, Grace Hodge, Cate Dixon, Catriona Stenhouse, and Laura Versnal, steered by Hayley Thomas , coped very well. The head involved racing over the course twice, and the girls recorded times of 10:38 and 12:40, with a cumulative time of 23:18.
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