Two Star members named in the Youth Olympics Squad

Ex-Junior squad members Josh Butler and Lottie Burgess have been named part of the 2009 Youth Olympics squad in Austrailia, next January.

Please follow this link for the announcement on the ARA website http://www.ara-rowing.org/news/youth-olympic-names-announced.

Star Club are very proud of both Josh and Lottie. We have watched them progress through our Junior squad achieving great results for the club but have both now gone on to achieve your ultimate aim of representing their country at the Olympic Games.

Star wish both of them well and we look forward to seeing them bring home the medals in the New Year.

Well done.

Chris C

Star Crews Fight It Out With The Best In Tricky Conditions

Last Saturday (8^th November) saw the Fours Head of the River Race take place between Mortlake and Putney on the Thames in London. 4 crews from Star club competed. In extremely tricky conditions between Hammersmith and Fulham all 4 crews battled their way on to secure some outstanding results among the 550 crews competing. 

The men’s senior 1 quad which was a composite crew of Star, Sudbury and Trent RC, included star members Chris Callow and Will Eason, and finished 2^nd in their event and 48^th overall. 

The men’s junior quad, consisting of Tom Durrant, Tom Beechioner, Sam Butler and Andrew Walker, finished 13^th in their event and 103^rd overall. 

The women’s junior quad which again was a composite crew, this time of Star and St Neots, included star member Ruby Ellam, initially finishing 3^rd in their event and 250^th overall due to being given a 10 second time penality. However after an appeal, this penalty was dropped and saw the composite crew leap to winners of WJ 4x's.  

The 2^nd women’s junior quad, which was made up of Eleanor Grimley, Charlotte Cook, Emma North and Victoria Huckle, finished 16^th in their event and 369^th overall. 

Sunday the 9^th of November was the Veteran’s 4’s head along the same course, where a S4 Star crew of Alex Collard, Simon Lamb, Andrew Chillingsworth and Dick Talboys, coxed by Martine Kushner, competed in the windy conditions to finish 9^th out of the 13 crews in their status.

Juniors head the way

STAR JUNIORS have made a good start to the rowing season with wins at their first three events this year. All Junior 16 and Junior athletes competed at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls, 4000 metre course on 27^th September achieving some very encouraging results. In particular the girls coxless quad of Victoria Huckle, Eleanor Grimley, Emma North and Charlotte Cook won their WJ16 4X event.

At St Neots Small Boats Head on 5^th October the squad competed in single, double and quad events. In heavy rain and gusty winds all crews performed well and turned in some good times. There were wins for Tom Durrant in S4 1X, Tom Beechinor in J18 1X, Charlotte Cook in WJ16 1X and Ruby Ellam competing with Bethany Astell from St Neots in the WS3 2X.

Again Star Juniors achieved good results at Bedford Small Boats Head with many second and third places in single sculls and coxless quads. The WJ16 4X won their event against Dame Alice Harpur School.

Club awards announced at AGM

Club Awards for 2007- 2008 announced at AGM on 5.10.2008

These awards will be presented at the Awards Dinner on Saturday, 11^th October

Oarsman of the year - Chris Callow

Oarswoman of the year - (Jointly) Helen Thompson & Sophie Barnwell

Cox of the year - Laura Wallbank

Most improved oarsperson - Debra Scott

Veteran oarsperson of the year - Mick Parker

Coach of the year - David Swain

Junior oarsman - Sam Butler

Junior oarswomen - Lottie Burgess

Clubman of the year - Doug Carter

Clubwoman of the year - Esther Marchant

Margaret Smith award - Rachel Armstrong

John Deakin was elected a Vice President.