Watson’s crew row into history by securing Henley berth
GEORGE Watson’s College first crew have made history by becoming the first ever Scottish junior eight to qualify for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.
The highly prestigious event starts today and attracts the best crews from around the world so to qualify is a huge achievement.
The crew is made up of eight boys plus cox Rebecca Moore.
Three members have attained GB status – Cub Captain James Stevenson and Oliver Fenton have both had GB trials and Fergus Mainland attended the GB Under-16 sculling camp.
Steven Kerr and Jason Foster are the school coaches and the crew trains six days a week, a combination of rowing on the Union Canal and gym sessions at the school.
For the four sixth-year pupils in the crew – James, Oliver, Rebecca and Alastair Watson – Henley will be the final event before they leave school. George Watson’s Crew: James Stevenson, Oliver Fenton, Alastair Watson, Duncan Kuwall, Ben Carruthers, Alex Chisholm, Fergus Mainland, Euan Dickerson, Rebecca Moore. SWIMMING: Erskine Stewart’s Melville came out top at Brodies Scottish Schools’ Championships, winning the inaugural Sue Mcclure Memorial Trophy.
Mary Erskine girls – Hannah Ewing, Abby Orr, Niamh Ritchie and Katy Smith – won both the senior 3/4 relays, just as they had done in senior one and senior two and the Stewart’s boys won all the senior one and senior two relays. Abby, Niamh, Katy and Elizabeth Lim also won a medal in the Open 4 x 50m Open medley relay.
Anne Ewing, who swam for Scotland as Anne Reid, is Hannah’s mum and she coaches the boys. The senior one team included her son, Joe. “We have a five-lane 25m pool and all the members of the swimming club trains once a week,” she said. “I take the boys and Kirsty Mundell coaches the girls. It is a really super facility with anti-turbulence ropes, blocks and turning boards. It’s the full works. Winning the senior one was a big surprise, and the four senior three girls have done so well. They have stuck together and they will be able to defend the title next year and could end up winning the girls events for six years in a row.”