KING’S Ely Boat Club had its first competition race of 2022 on January 16th – Star Club Rowing’s New Year Head.
A total of 24 of our Rowers in Years 10-13 took on the 1,800m course on what was a crisp and calm winter’s day.
Craig Ward, Head of Rowing at King’s Ely, said: “Our Senior boys – Conall Comley, Will Buckingham, Will Biggs and Jonny Iles – won the open quad category event and both recorded 2nd place finishes when breaking off into doubles for their second races of the day (Comley/Buckingham and Biggs/Iles).
“Our Year 13 girls – Mia Gray and Annie Moore – produced another solid row to finish 3rd. Year 12 student, Robbie Allan, produced a spirited display in the J18 single sculls against some tough competition.
“The Year 11s competed well despite the pressures of their mock exams. Year 11 boys – Raphael Bisson, Hugh Chippington, Alex Keene and Aron O’Connor – produced a punchy row to finish three seconds off the winner in their category, which given that they had only rowed the quad once this term is seriously impressive!
“The Year 10s have continued on a rapid progression, now regularly placing well at local head races. The self-proclaimed “Wattage Cottage” of John Standley, Yanki Ertem, Leo Good and Cole Flatman, expertly steered by James Warren – missed out on the win by just 0.8 seconds in a competitive category, however were 29 seconds quicker than their previous race in November.
“Year 10 girls – Tara Nathan, Pippa Giles, Abigail Biggs, Mary Garrod and Anna Platt – finished 3rd out of seven crews and, like the boys, were much faster than their previous attempt. Three of the girls, joined by Erin Fitzgerald-Sutton, then took on their first race for King’s in a single scull and raced magnificently on a tricky course!”
The majority of these images were taken by Year 12 student, Jess Harding.