FANTASTIC FOUR OUT OF FIVE AT HAMPTON!

Hampton Junior Small Boats Head had a massive 820 entries on the start list, and many more were turned away as it was oversubscribed. Walton entered 13 crews, but only five could be accommodated in the race. However those five did us proud, winning 4 Gold Medals to be the most successful club there. Angus Groom won the Blue Riband event, Junior Singles, by 0.5 secs from a field of 65 scullers. He received the massive Hampton Shield for his victory. Sam Knight had an even bigger field of 80 scullers in J17, but convincingly beat them all with a very strong scull. Possibly our most impressive performance came from Holly Jones and Sam Ball, racing their J16 pair for only the second time. Their winning time also made them the fourth fastest women's pair overall, and beat half the J16 boys pairs too - definitely a crew to watch for the future. The WJ17 pair of Hannah Traylen and Julia Clarke had to recover from clashes with several slower pairs who would not get out of their way, but they still posted the winning time in their class to complete an amazing afternoon for Walton Juniors. Top clubs and schools like KCS, Emanuel, KGS, Marlow, Molesey, Monmouth, Borlase, St Pauls, Star Club, Thames, Tideway Scullers, Upper Thames, Westminster, didn't get a single Gold Medal and we got FOUR!!

FOURS HEAD AND GB JUNIOR TRIALS CANCELLED

High hopes of winning the Junior Quads title at the Fours Head were dashed when the event was cancelled after our crew had already boated and sculled up to the start. The very high winds also caused the cancellation of the first GB Junior 5km trial at Boston.

However, the Veteran Fours Head the next day, saw calm conditions and blue skies. The VetD quad of Mike Everington, Mike Bishop, Glyn Groom and Dave Clarke finished well up the field in 8th place overall, but just missed out on the VetD pennant by 4 seconds. Neil West, making a rare appearance in a coxed four, won the VetC pennant in a Walton/Crabtree composite. Ian Robinson won the VetD coxed fours, also with Crabtree.

GYM TRAINING AT HALLIFORD

Winter circuits have got off to a great start. Meeting every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm during term-time, there have been over 40 people for some sessions, despite chief slave-driver Nick desperately trying to think of ever-more ingenious ways to make people hobble and ache the next day! Everyone from 10 years to over-60's comes along, so if you want to have fun and get fit at the same time, come to Halliford School gym!

NEW BOATHOUSE DEVELOPMENT HAS STARTED

Less than a week after we moved out, most of the old boathouse has been demolished, and work will shortly be starting on laying the foundations and slab for the new two-storey boathouse. Full rowing operations will continue as normal over the Winter, with all boats being stored outside in the compound, and all blades and other equipment in the sculling shed. Temporary changing rooms and a club-room have been installed behind the sculling shed.

22/11/09

OLI KNIGHT IS BRITISH INDOOR CHAMPION

In an incredibly close finish, Oli Knight hung on to win the J14 title at the British Indoor Rowing Champonships in Birmingham by 1m! The J14's have to achieve the most distance in 4 minutes, and Oli managed 1199m at an average split of 1.40 per 500m. Angus Groom came 4th in J18 with a time of 6.20, and Sam Knight was 13th in 6.42.

Our 9 crews entered at Teddington on Sunday 8th November achieved 6 wins and 3 second places. The Junior quad of Matt Wade, Rupert Adams, Angus Groom and Sam Knight posted the fastest time in the First Division. The Veteran quad of Mike Everington, Neil West, Glyn Groom and Dave Clarke followed up by winning their class too. Adam Shire was the fastest single of the day, winning IM3. Andrew Cook and Oli Knight won Novice and J14 singles comfortably. In the afternoon division, the Veteran coxless four of Neil West, Chris Barrs, Ed Ball and Duncan Graham also won.

The girls crews did well too. In the WJ quad, Fiona Thiemann, Sam Ball, Annie Withers and Joanna Fish did a quick time, but were second to a very fast Oxford crew - this was Annie's first ever race and the future looks very bright for her. The girls four had to move up to Senior as there were no other juniors, and came second to Twickenham. Ali Douglass and Callum Gathercole also came a close second in J15 doubles