Rousing Rowing Round-up

It’s been an incredible summer for our OV Rowers this year, representing Team GB, England and Wales at the highest levels of the sport.

OV Alice Baker (K 14-22) and her Eights crew won a superb Silver Medal for Team GB in the World Rowing Championships in Italy.

Commenting on her impressive Silver, Alice said, “I am thrilled to have been selected to represent GB at the World’s after such a long and challenging trials process, and winning a silver medal was a great conclusion to my time rowing at King’s. It’s been great to work alongside and learn from such skilled athletes and coaches, which has put me in a good position for my future rowing. I’m so grateful to the boathouse community at School for supporting me through this process, especially the coaches and my crew-mates.”

OV Luke Beever (S 15-22) was selected for the Great Britain Rowing Team to race at Coupe de la Jeunesse and had an incredible heat. The final itself was nail-bitingly close!

Luke added, “‘Having spent the last school year taking part in the GB trials and testing programme, it was such an honour to be selected to row for GB at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.

“15 European nations entered a team and it was thrilling to be racing against some of the fastest crews in Europe. We won our first heat in the Quad, with an exciting finish coming from behind and eventually finished fifth in the final after an incredibly close race for second to fifth place.

“I feel so lucky to have been part of the rowing programme at King’s and owe everything to the coaching team that has supported me from my first wobbly attempts in LR to encouraging me through the final gruelling steps of the GB crew formation.”

A triumvirate of King’s Captains of Boats saw OVs Georgie Thorp (S 14-21), Rufus Tilt (Cr 10-17) and Alexandra Wenyon (Cr 07-14) on the water at the Home International Rowing Regatta at the London Docklands in July. Representing England, Georgie in her Eights crew took home a Gold. This was matched by Alex coxing Rufus at Stroke and the Senior Men’s Team, representing Wales, to their own Gold Medal.

In addition to their Gold, Alex and Rufus proved their impressive skills by winning Henley Royal Regatta, representing Molesey Boat Club – a huge moment for them both. Alex was also honoured to be selected in the Paralympic 4+ for Australia at the World Cup 1.

Alex commented, “This season has been the culmination of thirteen years of hard work and graft and I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to learn my craft of coxing during my time at King’s. I am very proud to have earnt my first GB vest with the Paralympic Rowing Team, raced at a World Cup for Australia and won Henley Royal Regatta representing Molesey Boat Club. I hope that the Boat Club will continue to thrive at King’s and support the development of its athletes both on and off the water.”

Credit: World Rowing – Detlev Seyb

Rufus added, “The races at both Henley Royal and Home International Regatta were fantastic and a perfect end to a tough season. I was lucky enough to be in the boat with my mentor from school (Alex) and share the victories with her. The wins felt unlike anything I have ever experienced and I’m glad I got to do it in such great company.”

Many congratulations to all the OV Rowers: we look forward to hearing about your future successes too!

Credit: Credit All Mark One: https://allmark.one