Monthly Rowing Briefing – October 2021

This is your JRN Monthly briefing covering the developments of the last month in the world of rowing. If you have a story to share, contact our news desk at juniorrowingnews@gmail.com

Following a summer of the nation eagerly watching the television hoping for Olympic glory, rowing is now back in full swing, with some new, inspired faces. Covid is hopefully a thing of the past and boat clubs are back indoor training and socialising. September and October bring a new start, a chance for rowers to get back on it and look ahead.

 With the rowing season just starting, we can look back to the main event this September which was the Vesta Scullers Head where there were significant junior entries. Windsor Boys School had seventeen entries, winning, and placing second in the J18 1x and placing second in the J17 1x. Westminster School Boat Club was victorious in the J17 1x and Tideway Scullers School won the J16 1x. There were many entries in the junior men’s events from a large variety of clubs and schools. The women’s junior races were no different. Wycliffe College Boat Club won the WJ17 1x and the WJ18.1x with Newark Rowing Club putting up a good fight, placing 4^th and 5^th in the WJ18 1x. Emanuel School Boat Club won the WJ16.1x with Team Keane Sculling School placing second. A great event to get back into the swing of things. It was a shame to see the iconic Pairs Head race cancelled due to bad weather, but it was a great opportunity to see who was coming out in force in the draw and the number of entries indicate a healthy head season to come.

The biggest rowing news at the moment is of course the story that continues to unfold with Jurgen Grobler. The prolific former British Rowing head coach recently signed a contract with the French Rowing Federation, this news comes just after a serious reshuffling in team GB after the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The jury is out as to what impact this will have on both the British team and the French, but with the preparations already beginning for Pairs 2024 one thing is for certain, the next Olympics will be very exciting.

Overall, the rowing season is off to a promising start. October brings more events to look out for such as Agecroft Head (16^th October) and Gloucester Autumn Head (31^st October) as well as many more. So, get ready, get training. The season is just beginning and after a year of not being able to train together it seems we must make the most of it.

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Franny Hunt-Davis

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