SPORT
ROWING Alex McGowan (Year 13)
W ith record numbers in the Junior 16 and Senior Squad, as well as a large cohort of new J14s, there’s no doubt that we are certainly maintaining momentum. This is reflected in what has been a stellar year thus far. Compared to previous years, the squads are both broader and deeper. In putting forward competitive 2nd and 3rd crews alongside our flagship boats, our high standard across the squad is building our reputation and is a sure-fire sign of the club heading in the right direction. The 2nd VIII’s performance at Hampton Head in February, where they came an impressive 2nd, equally ensures that the 1st VIII are highly competitive. Likewise, the National Schools Regatta in May last year saw impressive performances: the J14 quad made it into the A final, and the J16 A and B VIII came 5th in their respective categories. This healthy competition across the spectrum ensured an incredibly competitive Amsterdam
training camp this Easter, where the 1st VIII broke the school record for 2k and 1k within one race, as well as the 500m and 250m records. This year, the camp was broken up into two weeks to accommodate the largest number of boys to date. The first was an elite group of J15s, J16s and Seniors, who went through a gruelling process of selection and training; the second allowed the J14s, along with, for the first time, the Sydenham High girls rowing team, to get their first taste of camp. It’s fantastic to see the newfound dynamism this has brought to the club, and it is no doubt a milestone in our impressive growth. Aspirations and spirits remain high throughout the club with the two biggest races of the year still to come at the time of writing – the National Schools Regatta at the end of May and the Henley Royal Regatta at the end of June.
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