National Schools' Regatta
National Schools' Regatta is the largest rowing regatta for junior rowers in Great Britain. Held annually in May, the three day regatta offers events for junior rowers between the categories J14 and J18.
National Schools' Regatta | |
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![]() National Schools' Flag | |
Frequency | Annual |
Location(s) | Dorney Lake, Holme Pierrepont. |
Years active | 1947 – present |
Previous event | 24 - 26 May 2019 |
Next event | 28 - 30 May 2021 |
Participants | approx 3,500 |
Website | nationalschoolsregatta.co.uk |
History
The regatta was first raced in 1947 as the "Colts and Third Eights Regatta", when Desmond Hill the master-in-charge of rowing at St Edward's School, Oxford, invited the third VIIIs of Shrewsbury, Bedford and Radley to race against St. Edwards in Godstow. The event was repeated annually at a number of locations in the Thames valley, and then later at Pangbourne, until in 1963 when it moved to the Child Beale Trust Estate. With the growth of the regatta and the addition of many more events for junior crews the regatta changed its name to "The National Schools' Regatta" in 1964. In 1973 the regatta moved to Holme Pierrepont, due to the frequency of unfair weather conditions at the Child Beale Estate, and the ability to hold six lane racing at Holme Pierrepont. With the possible closure of the lake announced, it was feared that the regatta would have to move location again, but the closure threats receded and the regatta remained in Nottingham. Owing to Holme Pierrepoint having organised a triathlon over the desired weekend, the organisers were forced to relocate the regatta to Dorney Lake in 2016, where it was held from 2017 onwards, with the event cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events and Recent Winners
Queen Mother Challenge Cup (Ch.8+)
The Queen Mother Challenge Cup for championship eights is the regatta's premier event, featuring the first eights of the traditional, 'championship' rowing schools of England. The event attracts approximately 12 entries each year, with smaller schools usually entering the Child Beale Cup for School eights. The Queen Mother forms part of the title known as 'The Triple', which also consists of Championship eights at the Schools' Head of the River Race and The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Due to the high level of competition, the Queen Mother Challenge Cup has only been won by nine schools and one club:
Eton College (16 wins), Abingdon School (6 wins), Hampton School (6 wins), Radley College (5 wins), Shrewsbury School (3 wins), St. Edwards School (3 wins), St Paul's School (3 wins), Westminster School (2 wins), Pangbourne College (1 win), Wallingford Schools Boat Club (1 win)[1]
Recent Winners
- 2020 - Event Cancelled
- 2019 - St Paul's School
- 2018 - St Paul's School
- 2017 - St Paul's School
- 2016 - Westminster School
- 2015 - Westminster School
- 2014 - Abingdon School
- 2013 - Abingdon School
- 2012 - Abingdon School
Non-Championship Eights
(Formerly Child Beale)
Non-Championship Eights is an event for Schoo and Club VIIIs and has traditionally been entered by smaller and less well established or funded schools. There is a similar event named First Eights at Schools' Head of the River. The Child Beale Trophy was last awarded in 2018 to Bedford School and the event is now renamed to 'Non-Championship Eights'. One month later at Henley, Championship and Non-Championship eights race together in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.
Recent Winners
- 2020 - Event Cancelled
- 2019 - Monmouth School
- 2018 - Bedford School
- 2017 - Molesey Boat Club
- 2016 - The London Oratory School
- 2015 - Shiplake College
- 2014 - Pangbourne College
- 2013 - St George's College, Weybridge
- 2012 - King's College School, Wimbledon
The Aylings Challenge Cup (ChG.8+)
The Aylings Challenge Cup for Championship Girls Eights has become the blue riband event for junior sweep women, with increasing entries in recent years to match the increase of junior womens rowing across the UK. A notable success has been that of Headington School who retained the trophy for 9 consecutive years between 2009 and 2017. The Aylings Challenge Cup makes up one of the three trophies for the Junior Women's Eights Triple, including Girls' Ch8+ at Schools' Head of the River and the Peabody Cup at Henley Women's Regatta.
Recent Winners
- 2020 - Event Cancelled
- 2019 - Lady Eleanor Holles School
- 2018 - Henley Rowing Club
- 2017 - Headington School
- 2016 - Headington School
- 2015 - Headington School
- 2014 - Headington School
- 2013 - Headington School
- 2012 - Headington School
- 2011 - Headington School
- 2010 - Headington School
- 2009 - Headington School
- 2008 - Racing Cancelled
- 2007 - Lady Eleanor Holles School
Other Championship events
2015
- Ch.1x Reading Blue Coat School A.Haynes
2014
- ChG.8+ Headington School
- Ch.4x Westminster School
- ChG.4x Marlow Rowing Club
- Ch.4- Pangbourne College
- ChG.4- St George's College
- Ch.4+ Monmouth School
- Ch.2x Westminster School
- ChG.2x Marlow Rowing Club
- Ch.2- Eton College
- ChG.2- Kingston Grammar School
- Ch.1x Norwich Rowing Club S.Parsonage
- ChG.1x Nottingham Rowing Club A.Thornton
2013
- ChG.8+ Headington School
- Ch.4x Marlow Rowing Club
- ChG.4x Gloucester Hartpury
- Ch.4- Hampton School
- ChG.4- Headington School
- Ch.4+ Abingdon School
- Ch.2x Walton Rowing Club
- ChG.2x Lea Rowing Club
- Ch.2- Walton Rowing Club
- ChG.2- Sir William Perkins's School
- Ch.1x Leander Club S.Devereux
- ChG.1x Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School/Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club J.Leyden
J17 Events
- J17.1x Sir William Borlase's Grammar School F.Russell
- J17G.1x Nottingham Rowing Club K. Edwards
2013
- J17.1x Windsor Boys' School J.White
- J17G.1x Tideway Scullers School S.Budgett
J16 Events
2013
- J16Ch.8+ Eton College
- J161st.8+ Reading Blue Coat School
- J162nd.8+ Hampton School
- J16G.8+ Marlow Rowing Club
- J16.4x Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
- J16G.4x Marlow Rowing Club
- J16.4- Latymer Upper School
- J16.4+ King's School, Chester
- J16G.4+ Lady Eleanor Holles School
- J16.2x Marlow Rowing Club
- J16G.2x Marlow Rowing Club
- J16.2- St. Paul's School
- J16G.2- Kingston Grammar School
- J16.1x Nottingham Rowing Club R.Law
- J16G.1x Nottingham Rowing Club K.Edwards
Course Records
Event results do not currently include 2017 due to no public timing results. [3]
Event Name | Club Name | Year | Time | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Championship Eight | St Paul's School | 2019 | 5:48.10 | |
Championship Girl's Eight | Henley Rowing Club | 2019 | 6:34.50 | In Heat |
Non-Championship Eight | Monmouth School | 2019 | 5:54.59 | |
Second Eight | Radley College | 2019 | 6:00.92 | |
Girl’s Second Eight | Henley Rowing Club | 2019 | 6:49.01 | |
Third Eight | Eton College | 2012 | 6:19.58 | |
Championship Quad | Henley Rowing Club | 2019 | 6:02.14 | |
Championship Girl's Quad | Henley Rowing Club | 2019 | 6:54.08 | |
Second Quad | Leander Club | 2019 | 6:10.20 | |
Second Girl’s Quad | Nottingham RC | 2016 | 6:10.20 | Event Discontinued |
Championship Coxless Four | Hampton School | 1999 | 6:13.75 | |
Championship Girl’s Coxless Four | Henley Rowing Club | 2019 | 7:07.65 | |
Championship Coxed Four | Eton College | 2016 | 6:27.70 | |
School Coxed Four | Westminster School | 2019 | 6:40.95 | In Heat |
Girl’s Coxed Four | Kingston Rowing Club | 2019 | 7:22.73 | |
Championship Pair | Radley College | 2019 | 6:50.97 | |
Championship Girl’s Pair | Kingston Rowing Club | 2019 | 7:37.25 | |
Championship Double | Leander Club | 2019 | 6:40.85 | |
Championship Girl’s Double | Gloucester Hartpury | 2019 | 7:26.8 | |
Championship Single | Rob Roy BC | 2007 | 7:10.26 | C Cousins |
Championship Girl’s Single | Corleraine Gramma, NI | 2019 | 7:54.88 | Molly Curry |
The Course
The regatta used to be held at the National Water Centre just outside Nottingham, as it is one of only a few multi-laned courses in Britain. Sometimes the weather is windy, so the regatta may have to be cancelled. This led to calls for the regatta to be moved to Dorney Lake, where the 2012 Olympics rowing events took place, although it is just as much prone to wind problems. Although the National Water Sports Centre is better placed geographically for competitors to travel to from across the country, the regatta was moved to Dorney Lake in 2016 and has been held there since.
2008 Regatta
After three 1st VIIIs, entered in the Childe Beale Cup, from The King's School, Canterbury, Bedford Modern School, and Shiplake College, swamped, it was decided by the officials to completely cancel the rest of the racing for both the Saturday and Sunday. The officials have been heavily criticised for not reacting quickly to the situation, and for not stopping racing earlier, instead placing some of the athletes in serious danger - an eight from The Oratory School ploughed straight into the swamped crew from The King's School, Canterbury, hitting some with blades and damaging their boat, moments later the Kingston Grammar School eight narrowly avoided hitting the Bedford Modern School eight, a black Resolute which was very difficult to see in the wavey conditions.[4]
References
- "Past Winners". National Schools Regatta. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
- https://www.nationalschoolsregatta.co.uk/results
- https://www.nationalschoolsregatta.co.uk/results
- Nicholas Waugh (2008-05-25), English National Schools' sinkage, retrieved 2019-03-02