This weekend members of Trentham Boat Club juniors went to Scotland to compete in the National Junior Rowing Championships. This is the largest junior regatta in the UK and attracts teams from all round GB and further afield.
The competition started slowly with many of the members competing in preliminary the rounds and most getting through to the finals. The star of Thursdays racing was the youngest rower in the competition Jack Kidd who raced well in his time trial and went through to his heat where he narrowly missed out on a place in the final. It was the first time that Jack had raced at this level and at only 13 he is a rower to watch for the future.
Joe Anderson and Paddy Brooks set a blistering pace and finished the race in second bringing home the silver medal. The WJ15 girls team of Izabel Mycock, Emily Butler, Katy Fox and Nicole Stephens, coxed by Kyle Peddley achieved silver medals, reinforcing their place as best women’s team for their age in the Midlands and North West.
The WJ16 girls boat crewed by Lucy and Laura Cruxton, Rebecca Dell, Tammy Bloor and coxed by Jo Fox started strongly taking the lead within meters of the start and held on to the lead throughout the race. The girls were elated with their gold medal and feel that following a season blighted by injury they have vindicated the trust of their coach and the support of their parents.
On Sunday all eight girls, coxed by Kyle Peddley, took to the water in a borrowed boat for another 2000 meter race which they won. Based on emphatic victory they were also chosen, over more experienced crews, to represent England in the inter-nation regatta to be held in Ireland next weekend. Here they will be racing against teams from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire.
Coach Darren Barton said "When you consider that our girls can not train in an eight as our home lake is too short, we do not own an eight and had to borrow this boat from Chester this victory is amazing and truly wonderful."
Rebecca’s father Steve Dell said "The girls have worked so hard to get themselves to this position, we are all so very proud of them. Now the hard work begins for us parents, it’s going to cost us £450.00 each to send our crew to Ireland to take part in the race and one mum has got two daughters in the boat.
"We want our girls to go and we are doing everything we can to raise the funds necessary. We have already received the offer of help but we need so much more. There is so much to do before the weekend, even the boat is borrowed and we have to repaint our oars to have the cross of St George on them. I could not be prouder of Becky, she’s going to be representing her country, wearing England colours and hopefully bringing back a medal to show how hard she and all the team has worked. I am sure she and all the team will do herself, us, the club, the area and the nation proud".
If you would like to help this team, made up of young people from North Staffordshire, take part in this race please contact Steve for more information. Steve can be contacted via rcruk@talktalk.net or on 07879482819.