SENIOR BOYS Rowing 1st viii Rowing is a strange beast in many ways but one of its oddities is that, when a rower looks back on his or her career, some of the best memories may not have been their headline achievements – the medals won or titles gained – but could just as easily come from quiet training days or achievements in defeat. The KGS 1st VIII of 2014/15 brought home some nice pieces of silverware: victory against all-comers on home water at Thames Ditton Regatta and a “pot” at Reading Regatta, having beaten the students of University College London in the final. However, two of the best memories came elsewhere. A week in the sun at Easter on training camp in Soustons, south-west France, brought some high-quality sessions on glass-like water a world away from the wind-blown and ferry-churned Thames. The squad made good progress and were confident of being able really to attack the regatta season. Marlow Regatta at the end of June was a real highlight. The eight won the C-final in the Intermediate 2 category: unremarkable in itself but achieved alongside leading schools, clubs and student crews at Dorney Lake. Despite their usual fast start, they were fifth at 500m gone but fought back to take the lead by halfway and held off a charge from an Eton College crew at the death. With Henley imminent, they also beat several of their biggest rivals in the chase for qualification for the Royal Regatta, many of whom were physically bigger than this group of lower-sixth formers.
The following Friday, though, came a season lowlight: failing to beat two of those crews and missing out by less than half a second in the Henley qualifying races. Being so close to one of the biggest events in the rowing world and to just miss out was very difficult for many of the group. Perhaps more commitment during the winter, and more focus during the busy period around major regattas and exams, would have allowed them to reap more summer rewards.
Sport
Rowing
In the Schools Head of the River Race, the major event at the end of the Spring Term, the crew of Tristan Taylor, Will Vine, Lachie Ives, Laurence Milward, Miles Seabrook, Luke Hillier, Stefan Hales, James Dyson and cox Will Burden finished eighth out of 25 in the 1st VIII category and 31st overall, slightly below expectations, after they failed to attack the first half of the race. With Sam Helm on board in place of Stefan at National Schools Regatta in May, they raced hard but could not grab a place in the final of the Child Beale Cup for 1st VIIIs, over-powered in the second half by some older and more powerful rivals. Looking back on the season they might be consoled in part by those regatta wins. Beating Canford School’s top crew in front of friends and family at in the Challenge Eights event at Thames Ditton was particularly special. Unlike most sports, home fixtures are rare in rowing. Crew coach John McArthur has talked since his arrival in autumn 2013 about the “TYP”, the three-year plan to bring out the best in this squad. Six rowers plus cox Will are back for more and are excited about what they can achieve in the final seasons of their junior careers, feeling it has all been building up to this. There are also some strong, motivated individuals coming up from the lower years who should really help push the 1st VIII up to a new level in 2016. Will Burden and MWG
Ollie Cole, Alex Cozens, cox Will Lingard, Joe Underwood and Theo Cons celebrate winning their Novice pots
KINGSTON GRA MMAR SCHOOL 2015
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