February/March 2004
28th March - Abingdon Head
We won 7 events with the juniors at Abingdon, out of the 9 junior events we entered.
We won J162x, J152X, J142x,WJ1x, J161x, J141x and WJ141x.
6th March - Women's Head of the River
7th February - Wallingford Juniors Revival
Last week's Wallingford Herald noted that Wallingford school had succeeded in its bid to become a specialist sports school. The article quoted headteacher Jerry Owens stating that he wanted to enhance what was once the school's real specialist sport - rowing.
However, already over 30 youngsters from the Wallingford local area, over half of whom are students at Wallingford School, are on the river sculling for Wallingford Rowing Club.
The club had a very successful junior section in the late 1980's and early 1990's with considerable success at Regattas and producing no less than eight young people competing for Great Britain and England teams and gold medals at National schools and National Championships.
When numbers dropped there were still individuals who performed well, notably Helena Malanczek who won silver medals for Britain in 1997 and 1998 whilst a pupil at Wallingford school. However junior numbers were not enough to make a significant impact on club activities.
In the autumn of 2001, the club held a 'wet start' for new youngsters and followed this up in the autumns of 2002 and 2003.
Over 90 young athletes attended these three sessions although rowing in winter, training hard has reduced the number to currently around 30 regulars.
Last season brought some success with eleven wins at summer Regattas, some good Head of the River performances and three Wallingford R.C. young athletes competing for places in the Great Britain National Squad.
This revival was recognised at a presentation at the club on Saturday 7th February.
Chris Ellam, Junior of the Year 2003 (centre)and Patrick Bunting with Flywheel cup (left).
With juniors coaches (left to right), Noel Frost, Tony Wheel, Gus Gray
Firstly, the award for Junior of the Year 2003 judged on performance on the water - on ergos (Rowing machines) - and general helpfulness went to Christopher Ellam. Runner up was Sophie Delaney. Both youngsters attend Wallingford School.
The Flywheel Trophy for Best Effort at maintaining the Ergos was presented to Patrick Bunting of St. Birinus School, Didcot.
A presentation of two sets of sculling blades was made to two of the International aspirants Isobel
Drury of St Katherine's
and Robert Hares of Wallingford School.
The purchase was made possible by a generous donation of £500 from local company Infineum for which the club is very grateful.
Junior rowing is very much alive in the town today although cramped premises mean expansion of numbers further may prove difficult unless fresh funding can be found.
Isobel Drury and Robert Hares with the new blades
