JRN are delighted to announce that Sophie Wrightson of Headington School is our Cox of the Year.
Sophie’s track-record speaks for itself – a former national champion, Henley Royal Regatta winner and junior international – but her 22/23 season raised the bar. She led Headington School’s first eight to a Tideway win at the Women’s Head of the River before securing the Championship Girl’s Eight title at the National Schools’ Regatta. After winning the junior eights category at Henley Women’s Regatta, she steered her girls to the semi-finals of the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy before becoming a junior world champion to crown a stunning season.
It is hard to think of ways she could individually have improved on a near-perfect run-out and she leaves the junior circuit as one of the most decorated coxes ever.
Ryan Demaine, Performance Director & Head Coach at Headington School Boat Club, commented: “I’ve had exceptional coxes in my time at Headington. But Sophie, she’s another level. My favourite moment with Sophie was the night before her U19 worlds final. She sat down to run through her plan with me: and, without skipping a beat, said: ‘my crew can win this race. And I know exactly what to do’. She went onto say what the plan was and how she would execute it, and that there would be a window of opportunity! She wasn’t asking/discussing. She knew what was needed. As a coach, when the athlete can competently stand on their own two feet, that when you know they are the real deal. Sophie, she’s the real deal.
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