Orchard Oarsmen Win Wallingford

Orchard house rowers enjoyed success at the weekend as the J15 squad came
away from Wallingford Regatta with some well-earned silverware in the form
of the Chris Bomford Challenge cup for winning the J15B VIIIs. The crew
contained Orchard boys Sebastian Newman, Cosmo Hearnden and cox Angus
Munro. It was no easy task, however, and the boys from Shiplake had to see
off some prestigious challengers.
In the heat it was Hampton (coached by none other than Miss Condon!) who
proved to be the toughest crew to beat. Shiplake were slow out of the blocks
but quickly settled into their characteristically long, relaxed rhytmn. KCS had an
early lead but quickly faded leaving only Shiplake out in front, with Hampton
closing in fast. The challengers were rating higher and were rowing
aggressively, at one point Shiplake, stuck on the bouys, looked as though they
would be overtaken but they hung on and on the very last stroke managed to
steal victory by barely a foot.
The final was just as dramatic. This time Emanuel School were the early
challengers, sparring with Shiplake (who had a much quicker start) for the first
thousand metres. But as Shiplake and Emanuel battled, Eton College were
slowly moving through the field, the only crew that could match Shiplake for
strength and flow. As Emmanuel fell back, exhausted by their attempts to
overhaul Shiplake, Eton began to come through and reduced Shiplakes lead to
a canvas. But Angus Munro had spotted their charge and called for a final push
from Shiplake who, in the last hundred metres, moved away to win by half a
length.
The boys were rewarded with Pewter Goblets and a very fine trophy to take
back to Shiplake. Special mention should also go to Felix Hearnden who agreed
to sub in to the Hampton C VIII in their hour of need. Having been knocked out
he then turned his impressive camera skills to the Shiplake crew and put
together the fantastic photo montage below.

Mr Rendell.