Rowing: King’s athletes compete on an international stage

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The summer is always a busy and exciting time in the rowing calendar and this year was no exception as King’s athletes past and present took their place on the international rowing stage.

Before our attention turned to Harry Brightmore (OKS 2012) in the Paris Olympics, our focus was on a competition closer to home.

On Saturday, 27 July, seven members of the 2023-24 boys’ and girls’ first VIIIs gained international vests and joined four recent alumni at the Home International Rowing Regatta held at Strathclyde Park in Scotland.

Finlay Noble (L6FOX) and Ben Whittlestone (L6GRO) qualified for Team Scotland, racing in both the Junior Men’s VIII and Coxed Fours.

Nora Brazaityte (5FOX) and Sinead O’Mahoney (U6WAL) qualified for Team Wales, racing in the Coxless and Coxed Fours, and the Junior Women’s VIII.

Matthew Burman (L6GLA) and Pabishan Ketheswaran (L6GLA) qualified for the Team Wales Junior Men’s VIII and Coxed Four, racing in their first international event.

Finlay Thomson (U6FOX), having trialed in the GB trials system throughout the 2023-2024 season, qualified in the Team Wales Junior Men’s VIII and Coxless Fours. The coxless four produced one of the races of the day, pushing the Irish Coxless Four into 3rd place and consolidating an excellent second place.

In addition to the 2023-24 athletes, four recent alumni also represented Team Wales at the regatta: Lucy Thomson (OKS 2022), Mica Hird (OKS 2022), Lily Wood (OKS 2022), and Luke Dillon (OKS 2023).

Director of Rowing, David Blackham, congratulated the athletes on their selection and on their international performance.

He said: “These athletes have enjoyed a superb season; the girls qualified for the last 16 at the Women’s Henley Regatta, and the boys were only narrowly beaten in the round of 16 in the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley.

“To turn their focus so quickly to international duties at this year’s Home International Rowing Regatta is commendable. I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them who qualified to row for Wales and Scotland; their selection is testament to the dedication and hard work that we see every week at the King’s School Rowing Club.”