Tideway Scullers School Junior 16 to represent Great Britain against France

After a difficult season during which an important member of the crew was lost to injury the crew lined up for a very tense final selection race at the Junior National trials at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham over 1500m.

The line up of six crews included Henley Rowing Club who won the National Junior Sculling Head in March and Windsor Boys School who won National Schools Regatta in May and defeated the TSS crew at Marlow Regatta the previous weekend. The selectors showed confidence in the TSS crew by seeding them to be in one of the central lanes with Windsor Boys School.

Henley and TSS went out fast and at 500m were neck and neck, with Windsor Boys in close order a quarter of a length back. During the second five hundred Henley suffered for their early pace and all eyes were on Windsor who had made a decisive surge in the middle of the race the previous week at Marlow.

The TSS crew however knew what to expect and dug in using sheer determination and skill to increase their lead to half a length. Resolving not to let Windsor back into the race the crew sprinted away over the last 500 meters to win by over a length.

The crew will represent Great Britain in the GB v France match Sunday 12th July at Cardiff Bay regatta course. Each crew member has to make a contribution of over £300 and supply a blazer for their GB badge. John Lewis Partnership have very kindly supplied the Blazers shirts and made a donation towards travelling expenses. The crew is Sam Tuck, James Jarratt, Tom Eames and Aaron Shea.

Chris Shea


July 8, 2009