Shiplake College Rowers Compete for GB Selection

Shiplake College’s Senior Rowing Squad was inspired to train hard during the pupils’ half-term holiday. Not only is the Schools’ Head approaching on their Competitions Calendar, with Thursday 7^th March heavily penciled in, but six boys also had the additional incentive of GB Rowing Trials.

Daniel Barrett (Orchard), Michael Glover, Max Hearnden (Orchard), Marek Lapham, Dominic Parnell and Harry Vardigans comprised an optimistic Shiplake contingent heading for the bitterly cold waters hosting the GB Rowing Trials in Boston, Lincolnshire.

On the Saturday the top pair from Shiplake was Vardigans and Lapham as they finished 8^th out of 44 boats over the 5km course. Glover and Lapham were not far behind finishing 14^th.

The Sunday of the trials always provides a test as the boys change partners and quickly have to form an alliance with a rower from another school. Results were not quite as successful as Saturday with Lapham producing the best result coming in 20^th.With most of the Shiplake oarsmen finishing in the twenties they will still hope for an invite to the next test in the GB selection process, the Spring Assessment.