We are still on such a high following our rowers' achievements at the National Schools' Regatta!

As reported on our socials at the time, our J16 coxed boys’ four of Jasper, Jack, Qiba, Dom, and Thomas (cox) won a Bronze medal at the prestigious event, which was held at Eton Dorney.

This is the school’s first boys’ sweep medal since 1986. The last sweep medal overall was recorded in 2011 by Old Elean, Phoebe Bradbury, who is now a member of school staff.

However, the regatta was not just successful for these lads. A total of 43 students represented King's Ely Boat Club during the three days, achieving some of the school's most impressive results to date!

Mr Craig Ward, our Head of Rowing, said: "On the Friday, all of our J14 and J15 rowers took to the course over a 1,400m time trial. The J14 Boys' Quad raced very well, finishing in the top half of a very competitive field of 55 crews. They narrowly missed out on the top 24 to progress to the latter stages. The J14 Girls' Quad also raced well, finishing 39th out of 56 crews. 

"The Year 10 boys raced in the J15 8+ against some of the biggest rowing schools in the country. They have gained a lot of speed since the start of May and finished 7th in the C Final. The Year 10 girls raced in the WJ15 Coxed Four and were frustrated by their time trial performance, narrowly missing out on a top 12 finish but recovered to storm to a win in the C Final! 

"Saturday saw the turn of our Years 11-13 boys. Seb started the day off in the Championship Single, impressing us with a 24th place finish out of 54 scullers, and putting him into the repechages. The Year 11 boys in the J16 Coxed Fours impressed, with the A boat winning the time trial and the B boat making the C Final, beating multiple A crews! The Year 12 boys raced in the Coxless Four and infamous for their lighter crew weight, produced an impressive time trial, finishing 10th overall out of 20 crews. 

"The afternoon finals saw the J16 B boat finishing 6th in the C Final in a close race. The A boat produced a fantastic row in one of the tightest finals we have ever seen and in a packed field managed to move in the last 250 metres to win a Bronze medal! 

"The day was wrapped up by the Year 12 boys in the Champ 4-. Despite a fast start, the boys found themselves 6th place going through the 1,000m marker and produced a barnstorming 2nd 1,000m to pick off the field and win 2nd place in the B Final and demonstrated fantastic sportsmanship with the Walton Rowing Club crew they pipped on the line. 

"After the high of Saturday, the heat ramped up further for our two double sculls on Sunday. With Gabriel and Henry in the Championship Doubles finishing 43rd, and Mia and Amelie in the WJ16 Doubles finishing 27th, narrowly missing the finals. 

"A fantastic weekend of racing, which highlights the dedication and commitment that the rowers have shown, not just in the Summer Term, but throughout the whole year."