Youth Boat Race Makes Waves
Inaugurual Youth Boat Race
On Tuesday 26th March, The Boat Race Fund and Fulham Reach Boat Club collaborated in a first of its kind Youth Boat Race to provide opportunities for local children to participate in the magic of The Gemini Boat Race ahead of Saturday's big race.
32 local children took to the water from 7 local state schools, including Kensington Aldridge Academy. In attendance were the Gemini Boat Race official umpires, Sir Matthew Pinsent and Judith Packer, accompanied by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Councillor Patricia Quigley who awarded the medals to all participants.
Sir Matthew Pinsent, Gemini Boat Race Umpire and four-time Olympic Gold Medallist, added “FRBC do a fantastic job bringing more people into the sport, we’re always looking to drive more people into rowing, and the Youth Boat Race is a wonderful initiative bringing a new dynamic and new population to rowing. It's all about camaraderie, teamwork, dedicating yourself, having fun and being with your mates. Yes, there’s racing and competition, and I've won 4 Olympic gold medals, but when I look back it’s the experiences and the people that stay with you years later.”
Race One saw mixed crews from Kensington Aldridge Academy race Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. Sir Matthew Pinsent aligned and started the race, with Cardinal Vaughan taking an early lead. Kensington Aldridge Academy were coxed by Tashi Spence, Alumni of the school and Fulham Reach Boat Club Coach, who was looking to muster a big push to bring them back on to level terms but the crew were hampered by an oar coming loose, which meant they followed in second.
Race two saw mixed composite school crews from Sacred Heart High School, Hammersmith Academy, Fulham Boys School, West London Free School, Holland Park School and Kingston College. This was a close fought race all the way to the finish with the crew coxed by Sophie Wrightson, Junior World Champion Cox and Fulham Reach Boat Club Coach, just pipping it to the finish post.
Mayor Quigley added “Everyone should be very proud of what they have achieved today. This has been a fantastic event and fingers crossed we can continue to have a Youth Boat Race in the future”
Whilst the KAA team did not come in first, the team were excited to participate and enjoyed meeting their counterparts in different West London schools. We intend to sign up for more boat races in the coming months and have added another session of training each week with the Squad on the water.
Our Sports Enrichment Coach, Nicholas Pritchard has had an amazing impact on the enthusiasm and commitment of our young rowers and, brilliantly, secured 11 ergs free of charge (a machine that rowers use to simulate rowing without an actual boat). This means our pupils have the ability to train on land at the school and helps improve endurance and hone skills that can later be transferred to the boat.