Molesey's Juniors returned from the National Schools Regatta with 6 medals, beaten in quantity of medals won by Eton, Headington and Radley, not bad company to be mixing with. The weekend had many high points and one incredible yet agonising race.
National School's starts on Friday with racing over 1000m for j14s and j15 small boat crews. For the MBC crews racing it was very much an opportunity to learn about racing on a multilane course and experience executing good rowing under the pressure of racing, all the crews that raced ended the day expressing an understanding of what had gone well and what could be learned from. This is an essential learning experience that applied correctly can only strengthen young athletes as they move through the squad.
Saturday a t NSR is raced over 2000m and features mainly 8's with some smaller boat classes too. MBC had entered crews in WJ15 8's (A and B), WChamp 8's, J17 1x (A: Paddy Graham and B: Aaron Wilkins). In the first semi-final of the day, Molesey's Championship Girls 8 stunned many at the course by beating LEH A by a length. In the semi's of Girls J15 8's Molesey's A crew was put under pressure by Sir William Perkins but held their nerve to win, while the B crew also came through to give Molesey 2 crews in a national final. In the J17 1x semi's Paddy secured a slot in the final coming second, unfortunately this was at the expense of Aaron who sculled very well to come 3rd behind Paddy. Neither of these boys have been focussing on their singles so any progress in this event was considered a bonus and useful experience for the future.
Calm but damp conditions provided fair racing for the finals, first up for MBC the two Girls J15 8's. Molesey's A crew seeded in lane 3 alongside local rivals and winners of the other semi, Kingston Grammar School. KGS shot out of the start, knowing that they would need the race of their lives to hold onto Molesey's very strong A crew, KGS took a lead that crept upto nearly a length by 1000m. Molesey, stroked by Lily Cocks never panicked, they kept putting down long hard strokes and in the 3rd quarter Molesey's length and strength started to show bringing the lead down to a canvas going into the last 500 meters. Showing good discipline and resolve Molesey then rowed through KGS winning by just under a length.
Molesey's second finalist of the day was Patrick Graham in the j17 1x, not only was this his first final in a single but also his first ever race in a single. In an outside lane Patrick started slowly sitting last at 500 meters gone, at the halfway mark Patrick had moved to 4th, 3 seconds off the lead. Then it was time for a third 500 that demonstrated just what a tough and skilful young athlete Patrick is. As the body fatigues technique suffers but in this instance Patrick stayed on top of his form and rowed through the field to lead with 500 meters to go. Patrick crossed the line 2 lengths clear of the field to be crowned National Champion, not a bad result in your first ever singles race.
Molesey's final, finalists on Saturday was the Girls Championship 8 racing in the penultimate race of the day, 7 hours after their first race, could they repeat their semi-final upset? Blasting out of the blocks LEH immediately put Molesey under pressure leading them to the first 500 meter mark. Molesey remained confident in their speed and by the midway point had turned a 3 second deficit into a 3 second lead of LEH, with Headington storming off into the distance Molesey kept their determination and speed to not only hold off LEH, but increase their margin and earn a superb silver medal. This is a fantastic result for a young crew, 8 are back next year. When one considers that there is a large squad below too, the future for the Molesey girls is very exciting.
Sunday is Championship small boat day, fours, quads and pairs inparticular and Molesey had representation in Champ boys pairs (A and B), Girls Champ pairs and Girls Champ quads. The boys' pairs came through a time trial to qualify in good lane positions for the semi-finals but found themselves racing each other none the less. In the Semi-final Molesey A, Jack Shepherd and Myles Neary took a commanding lead whilst the B crew of Patrick Graham and Aaron Wilkins established 3rd position. As the boats crossed the finish line, Jack and Myles had a lead of 13 seconds with Aaron and Patrick taking an excellent 3rd to secure a place in a championship final.
Due to the course being struck by a strong cross headwind the girls champ pair final was turned into a timetrial (a random lane draw would have been hugely unfair) so Frankie Hughes and Becky Thompson raced a 1500m timetrial. In conditions that favour the larger athlete, the light-weight Frankie and Becky rowed to a well deserved bronze. The girls champ quad event ran a similar timetrial format for their semi's and Molesey, Champions in this event in 2009 qualified well, in the final however Latymer and Sir William Borlase proved too strong for a crew that has struggled with injury and illness all year and it was to be a bronze in 2010.
The boys champ pair final was to be a cracker, not surprising when one considers the quality in the event, with the exception of Molesey's B crew every boat had experience at junior international level, including world medals. Molesey A had qualified fastest and drawn lane 6 with Maidenhead, the winners of the other semi and champions in the double on Saturday in lane 5. Tension increased when Molesey B and Maidstone clashed just moments after the start, the Umpire decided both crews were at fault and all 6 boats returned for a restart. Second time round a clean start saw Molesey A draw away from a determined Maidenhead crew, by midway the lead was nearly 4 seconds and then the wind played it's part seeming to upset the Molesey pair more than the Maidenhead pair who grabbed their chance and came back at Molesey strongly. With 500 to go the crews were just one second apart with Maidenhead gaining, with 200 meters to go Maidenhead had taken a lead of nearly a length. Jack and Myles responded brilliantly to come right back at Maidenhead, as the crews crossed the line it would take a photograph to decide the verdict. The Scoreboard flashed up, Maidenhead had it by 0.08 of a second. To miss out on a win by a verdict that small is very hard to take but some consolation must be taken from the fact that in the process of racing each other the two leading pairs beat a field of international standard athletes by 18 seconds, about 6 lengths, a huge margin.
A dissapointing end to an otherwise superb weekend for Molesey's juniors. The girls have firmly established themselves as a major force in girls rowing in Great Britain and the boys have demonstrated that following their win in a 'B' event last year they have moved on dramatically. Both squads will now move onto their respective Henley's and for some Final trials and potentially international representation.
