Star secures win to represent GB

A junior sixteen quad has made it five Star Club Juniors representing Great Britain as they were victorious in their race off at the GB France match trials. Competing against the two quickest quads of the season in Evesham and William Borlase they powered through after the first 250 metres to gain a lead of one and half lengths that they never looked like loosing. The quad of Victoria Huckle, Charlotte Cook, Ruby Ellam and Ellie Grimley now travel to France where they take on the French in a head to head winner takes all race.

Three of the girls are WJ15 with Ruby Ellam leading the boat as the only WJ16 showing a promising group for the future of Junior girls at Star Club.

The boats success is put down to a strong junior set up led by both Nicky Durrant (Junior Captain) and Tatjana Rozman (Junior Vice Captain). Congratulations should also go to the coaches of the girls over the past season: David Johnson, David Swain, Tatjana Rozman, Rosie Mayglothling and Tristan Mayglothling.

Tristan Mayglothling

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Lottie secures a place in the Coupe team

Lottie Burgess was representing Star Club at the final set of trials to secure a place in the junior international team a week after her victory at Womens Henley.

Unfortunately a poor start in her single left her in sixth position leaving Lottie with alot of work to do over the next two days to recover her position. This was done in brilliant fashion as Lottie proved herself to be very quick in both a double and quad as she moved back up the rankings to fourth. Due to only a double scull going to the Junior World Championships Lottie will be heading to Ireland with the Coupe de la Jeunesse team in a double with Juliet Steynour from Marlow Rowing Club. Good luck to both of them.

It has capped off a hugely successful season for Lottie and we wish her the best over the summer and then onto her University rowing.

Tristan Mayglothling

The Di Ellis Trophy comes to Star

The Junior girl’s squad have been preparing hard in anticipation of Women’s Henley, which was held on June 20^th to 22^nd. The junior quad of Helena Rozman, Kit Mulvanney, Ruby Ellam and Pam Ewang at stroke was unlucky enough to be drawn against a GB trialist composite boat. However, they relished the challenge of top class opposition and were determined to give them a good race. On Saturday there was an unusually strong head wind for this time of year and this proved challenging for all the crews. The Star girls got a good start and put the composite boat under pressure. Even when their opposition started to pull away the Star girls carried on pushing hard still within a length at the enclosure. The winds gusted forcing both crews off their racing line making it testing to row a straight course within the booms. Indeed the Star girls were blown into the booms but recovered well. However the huge effort to keep in touch took its toll and the GB scullers were able to increase their lead and win by 4 lengths. The Star crew although disappointed to lose were consoled by the fact that their race was the fastest in their event. The experience was invaluable as Pam and Ruby who are both 16 and Helena who is 17 will all be eligible to compete again next year. 

The unwelcome wind from Saturday had intensified on Sunday. Lottie Burgess, Star’s single sculler, showed tremendous courage and determination in her semi-final to brave the unyielding wind and an Australian sculler who has won in a single, double and quad at the Australian National Championships. The competition was intense as each girl was determined to do her best and pull away. During the race both girls pushed hard neither willing to surrender. At one point the wind whipped Lottie’s blade and she needed great skill to keep in her boat. However it was Lottie’s strength that saw her pull away and finally win by 2 1/2 lengths.  

Lottie set herself up to face Ally Brooks from Maidenhead in the final. Lottie had to kept calm as instead of the wind easing it became stronger through the course of the afternoon. On the start both girls had to fight to keep their sculls on the racing line before the Umpire could call them to attention. The atmosphere was tense as they started but Lottie was ready and took half a length out of her opposition really quickly. She never looked back from there. The strength of the wind could be measured by the fact that at the end of the island the launch following the race had to engage into a neutral gear and was still in danger of catching up the crews. Lottie worked really hard the determination etched in her face as she took each stroke. Both girls were buffeted and Lottie ended up on her opposition’s station . However, she had gain such a lead by this point she was not impeding her opposition. The final verdict was 4 lengths. A first class row and a superb win; Lottie has given Star Club its first win at Women’s Henley.

Also competing at the regatta in the Senior events were -

Rachel Armstrong who raced in the Elite Open Sculls event. Rachel made it through her 1st round beating an opponent from Germany, but then losed in the 2nd round. 

It was the same storey for Nina Jenkin who raced in the Intermediate Open Sculls event. Nina missed out on a quarter final place by losing in the 2nd round.  

Well done to all.  

Tatjana Rozman

Star enjoy Success at the National Veterans Regatta

The 2008 National Veteran Championships was held on Sunday 15th June at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham. Raced over 1000m, STAR had representation in 4 different events.

Miriam Taylor, Ewa Whiteman and Mick Parker all representated STAR CLUB in their respective age categories.

Miriam in the UK Gold 8 raced in Vet B and C categories winning Silver in both. Although both races were very close and exciting, Miriam was disappointed and is now looking forward to a re-match at Henley Veterans in July.

Mick Parker competed in the Vet D singles, but unfortunately was knocked out in the fastest heat. He then joined Ewa Whiteman in the Mixed Vet D doubles to win a comfortable gold and they both now are also looking forward to Henley Veterans.

Well done to Miriam, Mick and Ewa and we wish them the best at Henley Veterans.