Rowing Academy Pick up Wins at Totnes and Wimbleball
The Rowing Academy took part in two regattas during June, at Wimbleball Lake and Totnes, both in Devon. These events proved to be excellent racing experience for the Rowing Academy’s first year intake in particular.
At Wimbleball, BTEC Sport students Dave Luffman and Will English teamed up with A Level student Chris Druzga and James Bird of Gloucester Rowing Club to secure a convincing win in the Under 18 Coxed Fours event. There was also a win for James Bird, who will be joining the college to study A Levels in September, in the Under 16 single sculls event.
At Totnes regatta the following week the wins continued, with a 100% success rate in events entered for Dave, Will, Chris and James. On the first day of the event Dave and Will teamed up to win the senior double sculls event, and Chris secured the novice single sculls event.
The following day James won the Under 16 single, Dave the Under 17 single and Dave and Chris the Under 18 double. Sarah Bonar, who was using the event as a warm-up for GB selection trials the following week, also got in on the act winning the Under 18 single. Sarah and Katherine Shaw also picked up a further win, rowing for Gloucester Rowing club and helping them to win the Women’s 8.
The next major event for the Rowing Academy is the British Rowing Championships, one of the major events of the season. This will provide an opportunity for the first year rowers to experience racing at a national level event for the first time. Also competing are the recently selected Welsh Junior double of Hannah Mansfield and Lauren Williams, who will be using the event as a warm-up for the Home International Regatta on Saturday 21st June.