- New Trophy For QEHS Rowers
- Wins Sept 2010 - July 2011
- Queen Elizabeth Rowers Succeed at Nationals
- Durham Regatta June 2011
New Trophy For QEHS Rowers
For the second year running Queen Elizabeth High School Rowers have won the Junior Victor Ludorum for the Long Distance Sculling series, which is a set of four events held across the local region during the autumn months. This result is outstanding as only rowers J15 and above took part because the new Year 9 rowers are not up to competition standard in what can be very unpredictable weather conditions at this time of year.
The presentation at Tyne United Rowing Club on Saturday evening was enhanced by the introduction of a new trophy presented by Cambois Rowing Club in memory of Norman Howitt a member of that club for 60 years and a stalwart in promoting North East rowing especially at Junior level.
The first event in the series was at Cambois Rowing Club near Blyth, this was for juniors only in the morning but open to all in the afternoon. There was a good turnout from the clubs in the region and the rowers enjoyed an excellent day of racing in glorious sunshine.
The second event was at Berwick but QE decided not to go to this venue. At this time of year the club numbers are swollen by a large influx of new Year 9 students interested in trying the sport. Staying at home this weekend allowed these students to do their normal training session on Tyne Green. Time spent on the water is essential if they hope to compete in the near future.
The third event was held at Tees Rowing Club in Stockton. Last year the weather was horrendous, torrential rain all day made it a unpleasant experience. However this year the sun shone all day and it was only the wind that made certain parts of the twisty course challenging.
The final event of the series was held at Tyne Rowing Club. The 5km race starts just below the A1 Bridge over the Tyne and finishes on the straight below Ryton. This stretch of river can be quite rough depending on the tide and the direction and strength of the wind. The rowers were delighted to be greeted by a river like glass and a clear blue sky, perfect rowing conditions.
Several of the crews entered for both the morning and afternoon events found they had no opposition in their junior category so had to pitch themselves against senior entries in their boat category. With all entries timed they would not win a pot but could aim for the satisfaction of beating senior crews and the higher up the finish order the more points gained. It was therefore very satisfying to win the Victor Ludorum, overtaking Durham School who had been in the lead at the end of the third event.
Success of QEHS Rowing Club is down to the commitment of the athletes who train for up to 10 hours a week on water and this is complemented by Gym sessions. To further ensure QEHS continues to be a thriving centre for Junior rowing the club have booked two full days training at the Scottish National Watersport Centre at Strathclyde Park, Glasgow over the next two weekends.
Wins Sept 2010 - July 2011
| TEES LDS October 3rd 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J15 4X+ | Ewan,Tom,Jamie,Chris+Katrine |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+Laura |
| YES | WJ18 2x | Steph,Gina |
| TEES SBH | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J18 1X | Matthew |
| TYNE LDS October 16th 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J15 4X+ | Ewan,Tom,Jamie,Chris+Ben |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+Laura |
| Won by 4X- | J16 4X+ | Harry,Elliott,Ben,Ricky+Jon |
| YES | J18 1X | Matthew |
| 1 opp | WJ17 4X- | Sarah,Nat,Tasha,Laura |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Katrine |
| TYNE SBH | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J15 4X+ | Ewan,Ben,Jamie,Chris+Tom |
| YES | WJ16 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Ellie,Robyn+Steph |
| WANSBECK LDS October 23rd 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J15 4X+ | Ewan,Tom,Jamie,Chris+Ben |
| YES | J16 4X+ | Harry,Elliott,Ben,Ricky+Avram |
| 1 opp | J18 1X | Matthew |
| 1 opp | J16 2X | Matt,Dan |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Gina |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+Laura |
| 1 opp | WJ17 1X | Poppy |
| WANSBECK SBH | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| 1 opp | J16 2X | Harry,Elliott |
| YES | J18 1X | Michael |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+Laura |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Gina |
| 1opp | J15 1X | Ewan |
| DURHAM SBH | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J15 4X+ | Ewan,Tom,Chris,Ben+Avram |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia.Nicola,Robyn+Laura |
| 1opp | WJ18 4x+ | Sara,Poppy,Nat,Laura+ |
| YES | WJ18 2x | Steph,Katrine |
| TYNE HEAD | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | WJ18 4+ | Steph,Katrine,Nat,Laura+Gemma |
| YORKSHIRE HEAD | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | WJ18 2x | Steph,Katrine |
| PONTELAND HEAD | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J16B 1x | Matt |
| YES | WJ18 4x- | Steph,Katrine,Gina,Laura |
| YES | J14 4x+ | Alex,Daniel,Charlie,Jordan+Avram |
| YES | WJ18 2x | Steph,Katrine |
| VICTOR LUDORUM WINNER | ||
| CHESTER-LE-STREET REGATTA | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | IM3 4x+ | Ewan,Tom,Chris,Ben+Laura |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+ Marie |
| YES | WJ17B 2X | Sarah,Nat |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Catherine,Katrine |
| YES | J16 4X- | Harry,Elliott,Jon,Matt |
| YES | WIM2 4X+ | Poppy,Katrine,Sarah,Nat+Laura |
| YES | J16B 2X | Dan,Matt |
| YES | WN 4X+ | Marie,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+Avram |
| YES | WJ18 4X | Poppy,Katrine,Sarah,Nat |
| YES | N 2X | Zak,Sam |
| YES | WJ15B 2X | Nicola,Marie |
| YES | WJ15B 1X | Robyn |
| YES | N 4+ | Harry,Elliott,Dan,Ricky+Jon |
| STRATHCLYDE PARK REGATTA | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| GOLD | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Lydia,Nicola,Robyn+Marie |
| GOLD | WJ18 2x | Steph,Catherine |
| SILVER | J18 1x | Matthew |
| DURHAM CITY REGATTA May 7th 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Katrine |
| YES | WJ16 2x | Robyn,Fran |
| YES | IM2 2x | Matthew,Ben |
| CAMBOIS REGATTA 21st May 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Katrine |
| YES | J14 4X+ | Alex,Daniel,Charlie,Jordan+Avram |
| YES | J18 1X | Matthew |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Fran,Nicola,Lydia,Robyn+Marie |
| YES | WJ16 2X | Fran,Robyn |
| HEXHAM REGATTA June 4th 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | IM1 1X | Matthew |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Katrine |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Marie,Nic,Lydia,Robyn+Poppy |
| YES | MXD IM3 4X+ | Sarah,Nat,Zak,Sam+Laura |
| YES | WIM3 2X | Fran,Robyn |
| YES | J18 1X | Matthew |
| YES | WJ18 4X+ | Steph,Katrine,Poppy,Catherine+Laura |
| YES | J17 4X- | Zak,Sam,Ricky,Martin |
| DURHAM REGATTA June 11th 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | J18 1X | Matthew |
| YES | WJ15 1X | Fran |
| YES | WJ18 2X | Steph,Katrine |
| TALKIN TARN REGATTA July 2nd 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| POT | EVENT | CREW |
| YES | IM3 4X- | Matt,Dan,Elliott,Harry |
| YES | WJ15 4X+ | Marie,Nic,Lydia,Robyn+Laura |
| YES | J17 4+ | Zak,Sam,Ricky,Martin+Avram |
| YES | J15 4X+ | Ewan,Tom,Chris,Ben+Laura |
| YES | WN 4+ | Fran,Nicola,Lydia,Robyn+Marie |
| YES | WJ15 2X | Fran,Robyn |
| YES | J16 8+ | Matt,Dan,Elliott,Harry,Ricky,Ewan,Tom, Ben + Avram |
Queen Elizabeth Rowers Succeed at Nationals
Queen Elizabeth High School rowers have had a very successful year clocking up over 70 wins at the Heads and Regattas around the region. The final event of the summer season is the British Rowing Championships which this year was held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. Competing at National level is always daunting as crews come across opposition from the many large clubs from the south.
Three crews competed on the first day of the event. The under 15 girls coxed quad (Robyn Dodwell, Nicola Charlton, Marie McLoughlin, Lydia Vennart and Laura Mills) progressed through their heat to the repechage where they narrowly missed a place in the final.
With a large entry for the under 15 boys coxed quad the crew of Ewan Samson, Chris Cooke, Ben Walton, Tom Nixon and their cox Sarah Robinson were unlucky when they were drawn against some of the strongest opposition in the heat. The boys rowed well in the difficult conditions but did not manage to qualify for the final.
The under 16 coxless quad (Matt Robertson, Dan Humble, Elliott Mitchell and Harry Forster) have been working hard in the weeks leading up to the event and have improved considerably but they train on the calm waters of the Tyne and have little experience of rough water so they struggled in the windy conditions. They were disappointed not to make the final.
Days 2 and 3 of the event brought heats and finals for the under 18s. The girls double of Steph Charlton and Katrine Hardy have won every event locally but were aware that the opposition would be strong. They were thrilled to get through to the final and although they finished in 4th place, missing a medal by a few feet, they were satisfied that they had done their best.
Steph and Katrine were joined by Gina Lamb and Catherine Gammage (Talkin Tarn Rowing Club) to reform last years coxless four who represented England in the Home Countries Regatta. Gina has been concentrating on her rugby, gaining international honours and all four girls have had the pressures of their A level examinations so they had only managed a few practice outings. Nevertheless they qualified for the final and although they fought hard in a close race in rough water conditions never experienced at Hexham they had to be satisfied with 6th place.
The two boys from Year 12 (Zak Varty and Sam Stokoe) did not want to compete in a small boat so decided to form a coxed four with club member Ricky Graham and Martin Wilson from Talkin Tarn. Natercia Correia agreed to cox them. With such a recently formed crew and only a few practice sessions under their belt they were realistic about their prospects so were quite satisfied to make it through to the final.
Although there were no medals for the club this year everyone felt it had been an enjoyable event, even the heavy rain on Sunday could not dampen the spirits of the QEHS rowers.
Durham Regatta June 2011
Durham Regatta is known as The Henley of the North. It attracts participants from all over the country so the level of competition is always high.
Queen Elizabeth High School rowers were only able to enter a small number of events due to the regatta restrictions but they still managed three wins on the Saturday of the two day regatta.
Matthew Mole won the under 18 single scull event last year so was under a little pressure to win again this year but that was no problem for Matthew. He is training hard at the moment with the British Championships approaching so the 1800m course was good practice for the 2000m at Champs.
Also currently training for the British Championships are the women’s under 18 double scull of Steph Charlton and Katrine Hardy. They have been unbeaten in the region this year and won the event at Durham comfortably.
Fran Ronan has been part of the successful women’s under 15 quad but has also been competing in a single scull this season. She was pleased with her win but even more so when she discovered that the winner at Durham also receives The North of England Sculling Championship.
After a recent run of bad luck the under 15 boys’ quad (Ewan Samson, Chris Cooke, Tom Nixon, Ben Walton and their cox Laura Mills) got back on track, progressing through heats and semis to the final where they were beaten by a really strong crew from York. The ever improving under 14 boys’ quad (Jordan Henderson, Alex Stanford, Charlie Byron, Daniel Burn and cox Avram Benjamin) in their first season of Regatta side by side racing won their heat against a crew from Durham School but then met the event winners York City.
The QEHS coach Dave Higgins also had a successful weekend at the National Masters Championships in Nottingham winning in a Masters A Double event with Guy Clack from Tyne Rowing Club.
