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News Archive 2008This is the news archive from 2008. To return to the current news page click here. 2009 Dates for your diary
Details of the main rowing races - the heads and regattas - can be found on the calendar page. Merchandise
Hampton Small Boats Head - 6th December 2008 Sherriff Night - 15th November 2008 Here's the review of the evening from the school website: To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first performance of ‘Journey’s End’, RC Sherriff’s classic play about World War One, the KGS Boat Club put on a selection of sketches from Sherriff’s plays arranged around a quiz based on his life, books, plays and films. The Boat Club has much to thank the playwright and Old Kingstonian R C Sherriff for – it was his legacy that paid for the current boathouse and land and a share of royalties continues to support rowing at KGS. Very much in the spirit of his first four plays, which were fundraisers for Kingston Rowing Club, all the parts were taken by rowers and coaches. Despite being a truly “amateur” performance, it was clear that all the rowers had put a considerable effort into their sketches, including arranging all their own costumes and props and rehearsing at any spare moments before and after training. Everyone in the audience could appreciate that many rowers do have considerable acting talent, contrary to their reputations. Each item was skilfully and amusingly introduced and explained by Boat Club Captains Emma Baker and Toby Mumford, and the Headmaster also contributed an interview with a young RC Sheriff, brought back from the grave for the evening in alarmingly convincing fashion by Mr Smalman-Smith. Many thanks to Ms Allen and Mr Dar-Nell for their assistance, and to Mr Roland Wales who organised the whole evening with supreme efficiency and enthusiasm. To see photos from the evening and a more detailed review of the performances click here Boat Club Dinner 2009 now on Saturday January 24th Teddington Small Boats Head - 1st November 2008 Armada Cup Switzerland - 25th October 2008
The Armada Cup is a unique race for single sculls held over a 9km course on the Wohlensee near Bern in Switzerland. A team travelled from KGS this year to compete in a field of 300 entries from all over Europe. Click here to see the KGS results. Bedford Small Boats Head - October 2008 Nine girls took the trip to Bedford on Sunday for a series of time trial races over a short but tricky course. Everyone raced with exceptional determination and skill. Competition is fierce and there were no wins, but excellent results from everyone. Emma Baker and Diana Llewellyn were 2nd in the Junior doubles behind a St Neots crew that included one well known GB international. I was pleased to see how confidently and aggressively they rowed; Diana steered a superb course. They were also 6th and 4th respectively in the large field of Junior Singles, another result that shows a lot of progress from last year. Athena Loizou and Rebecca Wright were a close 2nd in the U16 doubles, behind a very good Marlow crew. That there no other crews is a pity, as this was the most gutsy performance of the day and a crew much faster than its individual components. Athena also raced a single with much ferocity: she was low down in her group, but the times are very close. The U15 quad were 3rd behind the top selected crews from Dame Alice Harpur School and Bedford High School, but well ahead of their B and C crews. Our crew rowed with ambition and good cohesion, but could have done wih better posture and so cleaner stronger finishes. As a first head race for some of the crew, this was a good result and a great learning experience. Click here to see more photos from the head.
The Great British Duck Race - Race Report! Unfortunately the weather was not as kind to us as last year, and the stream conditions were so slow that even the speediest ducks had difficulty making it all the way down the course. But despite the fog in the morning, and the thunderstorms throughout the day, the Duck Race organisers pronounced the day a great success. From the Sherriff Club perspective, too, the day was very successful – a large number of enthusiastic parents and rowers managed to raise a lot of money to support the Boat-House while also enjoying a party atmosphere on Albany Reach (thank you Radio Jackie). Click here to take a look at some photographs of the Sherriff Club volunteers in action on the day. The Great British Duck Race - Sunday 31st August
Our next big fundraising opportunity is also an opportunity to support a group of worthwhile charities. The Great British Duck Race takes place again this year on our stretch of the Thames; the organisers are hoping to set a world record this year with 250,000 sponsored(rubber)ducks. The ducks will go into the water at Molesey Lock at 12.30pm, and be released an hour later, proceeding to float gently down to our Boat-House, where they are retrieved from the river. All the ducks are numbered (go to their website: www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk for details on how to adopt a duck, and to see photos from last year), and the winners receive a range of prizes. Last year the event drew large crowds to Albany Reach where Sherriff Club parents provided all the catering (the usual fare - tea and coffee, cakes, sandwiches, BBQ, and soft and alcoholic drinks), raising a sizeable amount for our rowers and the Duck race charities. This year the opportunities for us are even greater if we can provide enough volunteers: whereas last year the crowds had to take the road from the lock to Albany Reach, this year they will walk along the river, using specially provided pontoons over the Mole. That means we may have a crowd of over 1,000 looking for refreshments all the way along the Reach. We are aiming to have a variety of catering points, open from around 11:00am to 5:00pm (including set-up and clear-up). We are looking for volunteers to offer to help in 2 hour shifts (as at the Thames Ditton Regatta), and we will need to have around a dozen people at any one time. So, if you are going to be around on Sunday 31st August (and don't forget - school starts just 2 days later), please get in touch if you (and/or your rower) can come down to help us out, while enjoying the atmosphere of Duck Day. Four medals at the National Championships - 13th July 2008 Four KGS students won medals at the National Championships at Nottingham. Ben Myers won gold while Diana Llewellyn, Anna Steinitz and Vicky Goodwin each won a bronze medal. More details to follow. Molesey Regatta - 20th July 2008 Successes in small boats at Kingston Regatta - 13th July 2008 Now in its 151st year Kingston Regatta has a long and illustrious history (read about it here, but since the regatta this year took place after the end of term KGS entered only a few crews. Nonetheless there were two wins, Vicky Goodwin in the WJ18 single sculls and Iain Mandale & Andrew Ronaldson in the J15 double sculls, and two boats which were runners up in the final of their events; Peter Wales & Jack Kenneally in the J15 double sculls and Iain Mandale in the J15 Single Scull. Cick here Click here to see more photos. J15 boys excel at Richmond Regatta - 28th June 2008 28th and 29th June marked the last two regattas of the term for the J15 boys. At Richmond we entered four events and won three. The eight (Andrew, Sam, Peter, Owen, Daniel, Iain, Matt, Jack, Alastair coxing) raced for the first time since National Schools and beat KCS in the semi final before a real battle in the final against St George’s. We had the advantage of the inside station and despite trailing for most of the race and a spectacular clash which knocked a chunk out of the bow man’s blade, we just won it on the line by two feet. The double of Peter Wales and Matt Alcock cruised serenely to an easy win in the double sculls and in the singles competition Daniel and Andrew raced hard through three rounds to meet in the final where Daniel won. On Sunday at Egham, Matt, this time with Owen, reached the final of the double sculls, beating a very good crew from Windsor Boys’ along the way, before losing to a fast Dulwich crew. The single scullers had a tough time against some top quality scullers from clubs and sculling schools, but Iain did very well to reach the semi final. Click here to see more photos from the weekend. A very good end to an excellent season – congratulations to all. Update on Girls Rowing Summer 2008 Click here to see an update of the results to date for the girls' crews this summer. Senior Boys win the Public Schools Challenge Vase at Marlow - Saturday 21st June The KGS senior boys were at Dorney for the Marlow Regatta where they won the Senior 4 competition which 30 crews had entered. Click here to see another photo. Two wins in the Marlow Town Regatta - Sunday 15th June Two KGS boys made the final of the J15B singles with Iain Mandale beating Andrew Ronaldson by a canvas. The two then teamed up to win J15B doubles by several lengths. Both the J14 boys and girls quads narrowly lost in the finals. Click here to see photos from the event (and if you have any more please send them!). Senior Boys First Eight win Eton Schools Regatta (National Schools Regatta, Mark Two)- Saturday 7th June After the abandonment of the National Schools Regatta in May because of the wind (if you weren't there to see for yourself then click here to see a short video of the conditions) crews were invited to race two weeks later at Dorney Lake in the Eton Schools Regatta. In a thrilling race the senior boys eight won the first eight division, beating Westminster by a canvas. J14 Boys - Information about Marlow and other regattas for summer 2008 Please bring race kit, food and drinks (suitable for athletes) and some pocket money. The first race is 10.12 (A Quad) and 10.24 (B Quad), if you win these races the finals are not until 16.00 and 16.03 respectively. So bring a book to while away the spare time. To get the draw and further information go to www.marlowrowingclub.org.uk For details of the crews for other regattas this summer please click here. Sponsored Row Postponed until 2009 "It is with great regret that I have to inform you that this years sponsored row is being suspended until next September. Due to numerous clashes with other school trips it has become impossible to allow all the rowers to take part in this momentous event. I have therefore spoken to the Miss Williams to protect the weekend of 19/20 September 2009 from any other trips that would involve 4th, 5th and 6th year rowers. She has kindly agreed to do this. This decision has not been taken lightly and for those in the upper 6th who may miss out due to a 5 year gap between sponsored rows, I have chosen a date that should allow them to take part as most Universities do not start back until October. My sincerest apologies goes to anyone who is desperately disappointed and trust you will all be just as excited and available for 2009". Thames Ditton Regatta - Saturday 17th May Results from the Thames Ditton Regatta are listed below. Click here to see more photos. Many many thanks to all the volunteers who helped on the day. A report will follow!
Poplar Regatta - Sunday 11th May To our surprise, it was announced at the end of the day that we had won the Victor Ludorum for women, jointly with LEH. (Subject to confirmation!)
Senior Squad Photos A very busy and successful bank holiday weekend Toby Mumford and Will Perham were representing Great Britain in preparation for this year’s Junior World Championships. On the Saturday the two of them were in the coxless four and collected a Silver medal. On Sunday Toby raced in an eight and picked up a Bronze medal (the last time a GB eight got a medal was 8 years ago) and Will stayed in the coxless four with a new line up that included two of last years Worlds Gold medallists. This four won Gold. 2. Wallingford Regatta (Sunday)
This is a very competitive event: the biggest and most important event before National Schools. The boys had a very successful day winning J18 fours, J16 fours and J15B eights, all beating the large established rowing schools. The girls had no wins but some very exciting racing and showing themselves to be up there with the best crews. The girls J18 four came 2nd, behind Headington, then jumped into an eight to come 3rd in J18 eights, beaten again by Headington, but ahead of St Pauls Girls, St Georges and American School. A crew of 4th and 5th year girls raced in Novice eights against university and college crews who got a shock as our girls led off the start: they came 4th at the end of a truly exciting race won by Cambridge University. The J15 girls quad suffered a mishap but still came 4th in their heat, just missing out on a place in the final. 3. Marlow Spring Regatta (Monday) Two J14 boys quads and one J14 girls quad raced. All three crews rose to the occasion, showing professionalism and ambition. They are not yet having the success of the U14 hockey teams but are learning fast and showing a lot of potential. One boys crew lost their heat by just a foot after a truly exciting race, the other lost by a small margin to a far more experienced crew that went on to come second in the final from a draw containing 8 crews. The girls also had a really exciting race in which they beat Kingston Rowing Club but were behind Sir William Perkins who were a far more experienced crew. MANY THANKS TO ALL THE PARENTS WHO HELPED WITH TRANSPORT AND EVEN RIGGING AND BOAT CARRYING, AND FOR SUPPORTING ENTHUSIASTICALLY. Wallingford Regatta - 4th May 2008
Proposed R C Sherriff Night New Blades funded by Sherriff Club Sponsored Row : Provisional date : 11th - 12th October 2008 (NOW POSTPONED TO 2009 - SEE ABOVE) Parents' Open Morning at the Boathouse - 3rd May 2008 Kingston Head Results - 8th March 2008
Schools Head of the River - 4th March 2008 (Provisional)
GB Junior Long Distance Pairs Trial Reading University Head Results - 23rd February 2008
Hampton Head Results - 2nd February 2008
Photo Success
Quintin Head Results - 26th January 2008
Thames Ditton Regatta : 17th May 2008 Hampton Court Flower Show : July 8th -13th 2008 E-Mail Addresses For news and news archives from other years please click below: |
