2 medals for Star & Eastern Region at the JIRR

Star Club had two crews representing the Eastern Region at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta on 18^th April.  The usual strong winds at the Nottingham National Water Sports Centre created some tricky conditions on the lake but fortunately racing was able to continue for the whole day.

Our WJ14 4X+ of Claire Hughes, Laura Haggerwood, Amy Stockton and Alanah Hamilton with cox Aiden Grimley were the first of our crews to race at 10.15am. In a strong race and despite a few problems caused by the waves their determination secured them a place in the A final at 3.10pm.

The WJ6 4X of Victoria Huckle, Charlotte Cook and Eleanor Grimley were joined by Emma Harris from Dame Alice Harpur School for their heat at 10.35am.  Having not rowed together before, they had a good start  and by 250 metres were seeing clear water into second place behind  the North West crew from Runcorn Rowing Club.  Again the waves caused a couple of minor crabs but they finished a strong race in second securing their place in the A final.

During the afternoon the wind eased slightly and the water became less choppy.  At 3.10pm the WJ14 4X+ lined up on the stake boat determined to have a faultless race and so it turned out.  In a very close and exciting race that left all their supporters hoarse from cheering they rowed themselves to a brilliant bronze medal winning position, only 2 seconds behind the Gold medal winning crew from Thames Downriver and 1.2 seconds from North West.

Thirty minutes later the WJ16 4X were in position for their final and also determined to have a good race.   Once again we witnessed a very close race but this time Runcorn from the North West were trailing and fighting for the first position.  In a nail biting finish the Star Club girls took the Gold Medal position with the North West coming in just 0.6 seconds behind.   Medals were presented to the girls by Di Ellis, Chairman of the ARA.

So eight girls and one cox left the Nottingham Water Sports Centre tired and extremely happy with their equally proud parents and coaches, some looking forward to the possibility of returning in 2010 for the Eastern Region and others thrilled to have won Gold in their last opportunity.

Eights wins for Star Club

Over 400 boats raced the 2000m time trial in over 50 events at the Bedford Small Boats Head on Sunday 5th April.

The fastest time of the day was set by a composite crew from Star Club and Bedford RC, consisting of Chris Callow, Chris Durrant, Paul Hamblett and Leon Taylor, completing the course in 6mins 18secs.

Callow then teamed up with junior Tom Durrant to race in the Intermediate 1 double sculls and won by a considerable margin.

Mick Parker and Ewa Whiteman claimed the Veterans D double sculls, with Mick also triumphing in his single scull racing in the Veteran D sculls event.

The remaining four wins for Star then came from the junior squad – the men's novice quad of Ross Mizen, Matthew Tapley, Richard Hepher and Will Stockton, the women's intermediate three quad of Eleanor Grimley, Charlotte Cook, Ruby Ellam and Victoria Huckle, a women's junior 15 coxed quad consisting of Laura Haggerwood, Claire Hughes, Amy Stockton and Alanah Hamilton, with cox Aiden Grimley, and the women's junior 16 single sculls, won by Eleanor Grimley.

Top 100 finish for past 5 years

Last Saturday, 21st March, was the annual Men's Head of the River Race held over the famous Mortlake to Putney course known as the 'Tideway'.

Star Club sent 2 crews to compete in the largest head race in the calender. Following last year's fantastic result, the 1st 8+ started 29th overall, competing in the Men's S2 category, and consisted of; from Stroke; Chris Callow, Chris Durrant, Will Eason, Joel Grant-Jones, Paul Hamblett, Tim Oswin, Steve Sangster, Andy Howard and cox Clarissa Coveney. They finished the race in 19 minutes and 3 seconds, placing them 91st overall and finishing 12th in the Jackson Trophy event.

The 2nd 8+ competing in the Men's S3 category, consisted of; Colin Hunt, Simon White, Mike Joyce, David Osgood, Simon Lamb, Carl Ellerington, Alex Collard, Andy Chillingsworth and cox Laura Wallbank. They completed the 7km course in 20 minutes and 49 seconds.

Both crews beat their respective competitiors, the 1st and 2nd 8's from neighbouring Bedford Rowing Club, by 31 and 91 seconds respectively. Yet again, Star Club was the highest finishing Eastern Region rowing club at the Head, with the 1st crew finishing in the top 100 out of 407 starters.

Chris Callow 

More Silverware for Star Juniors

Formally known as the Schools Head, the National Junior Sculling Head took place at a very windy Dorney Lake, Eton, on Monday 9th March. Three Star Club crews competed over the two 1800m legs.

The WJ14 4x+ of Laura Haggerwood, Claire Hughes, Alanah Hamilton, Amy Stockton and cox Aidan Grimley came an excellant 7th position out of 39 crews. This result was all the more impressive as it was their first race for all the girls away from Bedford and the first race ever for Laura and Claire. Aidan maintains his impressive record at the NJSH with this 7th position after a Silver last year.

The J17 quad of Tom Beechinor, Tom Durrant, Ross Mizen and Andy Walker overcame last minute injury to secure a Silver medal in a fantastic crew performance. Getting quicker from leg one to leg two they narrowly lost out on Gold to Runcorn, but were well clear of the Bronze medalists who finished 17 seconds behind.

The WJ17 quad of Eleanor Grimley, Charlotte Cook, Ruby Ellam and Victoria Huckle secured Gold medal by 11 seconds in a performance that was competitive with WJ18 quads - in spite of Ellie, Charlotte and Vicky still being WJ16 and Ruby racing only two days before.

These fantastic performances were down to the hard work of all the junior coaches and the athletes in the boats. Particularly the hard work done by Nicky Durrant (Junior Captain) and Tatjana Rozman (Junior Vice Captain). Congratulations and well done to all of you.