Nottingham hosted the 2009 National Schools Regatta, with conditions slightly rough on Friday 22nd May but improving during the weekend for a fantastic day on Sunday 24th May.
The Maidstone Invicta juniors attended and did not disappoint, competing against the best schools and clubs across the country. The J14 double of Nick Penny and Pierre Flasse rowed well narrowly missing out a medal, coming 4th. The girls J14 double of Sally McConchie and Bella Fish came in 11th having produced a great row. The day ended with a silver medal in the J15 double sculls with Ryan Mitchell and Lewis Giles.
Success continued throughout the weekend with the girls coxed four of Emily Dow, Polly Bass, Abi Delderfield and Sarah Judd coxed by Sally McConchie racing in two events achieving 9th and 17th. The coxed J15 quad of Charlie Talbot, Lewis Giles, Ryan Mitchell, Rob Ledniczky and coxed by Ross Porter narrowly missed out on reaching the final by 0.03 seconds coming 7th overall. The weekend finished with Morgan Hellen and Tim Grant winning the J16 coxless pairs adding to a great season. Hopefully more success to come for the squad through the summer regatta season.
Thanks to all the coaches and parents who helped the juniors achieve great success and made the weekend thoroughly enjoyable.
More success for Maidstone was achieved by the Senior Men at Monmouth regatta. The Maidstone Invicta Senior Men also had a weekend away from the club, heading off to Monmouth in Wales.
Saturday was a 750 metre sprint course with 2 crews racing at anyone time in a knockout formation; Maidstone entered 7 crews into different races they came away with 2 wins in the Final. Richard Nichols and Richard Wood won the IM3 Double, giving them points to move up to the next status, beating Evesham Rowing Club. James Knight, back on his home waters, chose to race his single scull in his old club colours for Old Monmothians Boat Club (OMBC) - alumni club for those who went to Monmouth School. He won in the final of IM3 1x and he also moves up IM2 status. The men's eight had a disappointing row and lost to Swansea university in the heat.
On the Sunday, the course was 1,500 metres, this was also 2 crews racing side by side. Maidstone entered 7 crews again. This time winning the Mens IM2 Coxed 4 – Mark Tomkins, Geraint Evans, Richard Ridgway, James Knight and coxed by Alastair Cooper beat Monmouth School with clear water between them, in a straight final. Richard Nichols and Richard Wood raced their double again, this time they raced at IM2, their new Status and gave a good race, narrowly loosing in the heat. The eight that had a disappointing row the day before, had a bit of a change around, and were up against the same components 'Swansea University' as the previous day. Despite having a better row and giving Swansea University a good race, they took the race right to the end.
Next regatta for Maidstone Invicta is the Metropolitan, at Dorney Lake on Sunday 31st May.
Kate Beaumont and Laura Johnson
