Rowing: Chester Regatta 2023

On Saturday, 10 June, a glorious morning in Chester awaited 33 racing crews from the King’s School Rowing Club (KSRC) where the short course along the Dee was the venue for Chester Regatta, the oldest regatta in the world.

Thanks to Mr Gray, Assistant Director of Rowing, for providing us with this report from the day, and to Andy Brown for the photographs. 

In the morning division, five singles and one double, plus eight fours and four eights from KSRC raced in near-perfect conditions against regional competition and, over the course of the day, the team secured six category wins.  

In the morning, the J14 boys took to the water in what was only their second experience of river regatta racing. 

J14 boys octuples narrowly lost to The Grange School.

However, both J15 boys coxed fours were able to beat The Grange School and make it an all-King’s final in the J15 boys coxed four category. The crew of Henry Harrison, Ben Cooper, Alex Milton and Tom Dawson, coxed by Misho Dragnev, came away victorious.

Isabel Turner made it through to the final of J15 girls singles sculls, beating scullers from North Staffordshire and The Grange, however lost in the final by one length.  

In open eights, the senior boy’s second VIII beat Liverpool University by half a length to put them into the final against the boy’s first VIII who went on to win the category.  

In the afternoon division, three singles, four doubles, five fours and three eights represented KSRC. Two senior women’s eights raced in a match up against Liverpool University and Royal Chester.

Both eights were triumphant in beating Liverpool University and Royal Chester’s B crew. The girl’s first VIII then raced against Royal Chester’s A crew and lost by one and a half-length. The girl’s second VIII then raced in the final against Royal Chester’s A crew. Despite losing, they fought well to make it a hard race for Royal Chester. 

The senior boys’ coxless four of Joe Drewett, Frankie Williams, Eric Hughes and Louis Roberts beat Liverpool University to secure their win in open coxless fours.  

KSRC J15 girls coxed four were victorious over The Grange meaning another all KSRC final. This time the crew of Emily Cunnah-Palframan, Georgia Worsnop, Emily Taylor and Caitlin Harding, coxed by Milan Kustos, were victorious. Another all KSRC final occurred in the boys J15 double sculls which saw Henry Parker and Mark Jones race against Iestyn Evans and Javier Arechega. Evans and Arechega wone by three lengths.  

To finish off a great day, Fin Thomson and Fraser Brown were victorious in open double sculls, securing the category win against Trentham Boat Club.  

In total, 27 athletes left the regatta with medals. Mr Gray was proud of everyone who took part. 

He commented: “It was a brilliant day of racing, which could not have happened without the hard work from Chester Regatta committee and the many volunteers from the Chester clubs. A big thank you to all, and to our KSRCPA for their amazing efforts throughout the day.”

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