EVESHAM Rowing Club sent over 40 junior athletes and coaches to the South of England Indoor Rowing Championships (SEIRC) at Oxford Brookes University earlier this month.
This is a prestigious annual competition which began in 2004 and the Vale rowers returned with a staggering 35 medals between them and as a club finished third in the Victor Ludorum – a fantastic achievement.
Rowers competed on ergos (static rowing machines) against other junior clubs and schools, individually or in crews of up to four, against the clock or over a set distance.
Individual gold medals were won by Rachel Egan, Sophie Evans, Lucy Roper and coach Abi Terry and team gold medals were clinched by crew Sophie Evans, Roanne Foister, Sian Bird and Maddy Hargreaves (pictured), crew Tom Woodward, Callum McIntyre, Alex Lacey and Rob Davies and crew Sophie Evans, Olga Hall, Ellie Lewis and Lucy Roper.
Individual silver medals went to Jaymee Lucking, Olga Hall and Alex Lacey and team silver medals to crew Joe McCombie, Joe Monger and Max Pearson.
Individual bronze medals were claimed by Roanne Foister and Georgii Bragg and team bronze medals by crew Becca Parkin, Georgie Banton and Kate Ballantine, crew Issy Clarke, Jaymee Lucking, Sophie Stoddart and Immy Ledbetter and crew Becky Goodwin, Jess Ellis and Georgii Bragg.
MEANWHILE, Evesham Rowing Club is fund-raising to purchase a new and lighter eight boat, which is much-needed as many of the junior rowers have found!
The first fund-raising event is the Evesham Rowing Club Rowathon ergo (rowing machine) challenge to be held between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, March 21 at Evesham Country Park.
It is hoped that, between them, the athletes will be able to row 346km in six hours. The distance has been chosen as this is the length of the River Thames and the distances reached during the challenge will be marked by landmarks along the route.
There will be five ergos on the go at the same time, with each athlete rowing in 20-minute sessions, plus two ergos for the members of the public to have a try and compete for small prizes.
More details about the scheduled Rowathon are expected to be confirmed within the next couple of minutes.