Radley College’s efforts at the National Schools Regatta paid off when, for the first time in a quarter-century, the first VIII claimed the Open Championship Eights trophy.
Their time of 5:43 is the fastest any crew has ever covered the Dorney Lake course, beating the previous record by over five seconds. The second VIII, J16B, J15A, and J15B also won golds, with the third VIII, J16A and J15C earning silvers – the J14A, B, and C also performed extremely well on the water, coming sixth, sixth, and third respectively.
“The way in which [Radley] won this final was exemplary, leading from the front and refusing to relinquish ground,” writes Tom Morgan of Junior Rowing News, who later commented concerning the variety of competing College crews: “Such depth is no surprise from a programme run inherently well by Sam Townsend, but their continued inclusion at every level of schoolboy rowing deserves accolades.
