Students compete at iconic rowing event in Boston

King’s Rowing Club Captain of Boats, Ewan Weetch (U6GRO), has put together a summary of the rowers’ time in Boston over the October half term:

A select team of nine athletes from both the girls’ and boys’ squads travelled to Boston, Massachusetts to represent The King’s School Rowing Club at the Head of the Charles Regatta. This event is one of the highlights of the American rowing calendar with 11,320 rowers coming together to race in 2,295 boats across the 4,800 meter course. Jack Ramsbottom (U6WAL), Max Wood KS (U6DUT), Gregor Montgomery (U6GRO) and myself represented the senior boys squad with Eve Jawara (U6DUT), Helena Barker (U6FOX), Eleanor Heritage (U6FOX) and Cecilia Varbiro (U6GRO) representing the senior girls squad. Both fours were coxed by Issy Donnachie (5DUT).

The girls finished 69th out of 85 crews beating a number of strong crews including Dublin and Boston Latin Schools. The girls felt that their piece was strong and consistent with an excellent line being taken by Issy who steered the four past two crews. The boys finished 57th out of 85 crews with an impressive performance finishing three seconds behind the crew representing Sir William Borlase from Marlow Buckinghamshire. The boys beat crews from Long Island Rowing Club and St Johns Prep amongst others. Both crews produced brilliant results for the club representing the school against a highly competitive field of clubs and schools from across the world. The event also featured OKS Harry Brightmore who coxed the Oxford Brookes eight to a 4th place in the men’s championship eight category.  

As well as racing, the squad also took part in a number of other activities. These included taking part in a park run in Jamaica pond park and also completing the Harvard football stadium steps challenge which I can safely say is not for the faint hearted. The club also took part in a rowing match against Brookline High School in two mixed eights. This provided a great teambuilding exercise with friends being made and kit swapped to create lasting memories between the two clubs. A tour of Historic Concord and the Minute Men National Park gave the group an insight into the American War of Independence with a trip to the ice hockey at Boston University also providing an exhilarating experience for the athletes. The trip concluded with a tour of the Fenway Park baseball stadium which is home the Infamous Boston Red Sox.

I would like to say a special thanks to all involved in the trip including David Blackham, Matt Jump and Val Edwards who provided excellent support whilst supervising us on our trip. I would also like to thank Cornell University, New York, for lending us the boat and blades to race in and finally the coaches and rowers at Brookline High School who were welcoming during our rowing match against them. We are all grateful of this trip of a lifetime being given to us and I am excited to see it being offered to more athletes in the coming years.  

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