Stratford upon Avon Boat Club junior crews were back competing on the water this week for the second of the pinnacle events of the head racing season, the Junior Sculling Head at Dorney Lake.
On the Olympic course at Dorney Lake, the J14, J15, J16 and J17 squads took on
competition from around the UK to compete at this high profile event. The J17 squad fielded a women’s coxless quadruple scull to take on the top clubs and schools from around the country. The crew of Martha Cooke, Martha Baines, Millie Smith and Maeve Dunn put in a solid row over both 1800m legs to record fourteenth place.
The traditional junior sculling head saw a great performance by the WJ16 4x- comprising of Orla Linforth (S), Imogen de Pennington, Maria Ntoukaki and Erin Appleton (B). They came 
seventeenth out of fifty two crews rowing on the day, with their first 1800m completed in 6:59.9 and their second 1800m in 7:15.7, making a total time of 14:15.6. Stroking at twenty eight/thirty strokes per minute, the girls overtook a number of other crews, thereby earning another minute of catching their breath at the
turnaround point.
Coaches Hugo Happel and Eric Appleton commented, ”The girls really focused on rating, sitting tall, energy management and avoiding rowing in and it paid off: a fantastic result against the best of the best crews in Britain. The girls should feel very proud: well done!”
The J14s enjoyed their first outing on the national stage and laid down assured performances that belied the many hours of training afloat lost recently to the River Avon in flood. First up were the WJ14 quad of Islay Milles, Eva Cruise, Amelia Cruickshank and Mary Heenan who, under the guidance of Archie Mansfield as cox, rowed a steady outward leg then turned on the afterburners to knock thirty seconds off their time on the return. Finishing ahead of several clubs who boast much larger squads 
and decidedly lighter boats was to their great credit.
The following division saw the J14 boys’ quad of Archie Eaton, Chris Durance, Arthur Burt and Eli Ford respond superbly to a masterful display of sports psychology from cox Ethan Siwakowski. Being urged to channel their inner champion and manifest a sense of victory clearly worked a treat, they finished in a commendable eleventh from fifty crews competing. Coach Jon Francis was delighted with their efforts and commented, “To come to the biggest rowing arena in the UK and perform with such composure really highlights the maturity and promise of this young squad!”
For media coverage, see Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-boat-clubs-young-scullers-show-olympic-potential-at-junior-sculling-head and back sports page https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/editions/view/?/Stratford/2026/04/03&pages=24: also see Stratford Herald online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/high-profile-test-for-stratford-boat-club-s-junior-crews-9460248 and page thirty nine. For more pictures of Scullery, see Stuart Baines’ great selection https://onedrive.live.com/?redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL2YvYy8zZGQ4ZjZhNzBjMGNiNjI1L0lnRE1qUHoyN3BLYlRKQXp5ZDhMWVQtbUFZTDhnYl9sZ1ViSzJScW5tZ1FfSVBrP2U9TlNoRzB4&id=3DD8F6A70C0CB625%21sf6fc8ccc92ee4c9b9033c9df0b613fa6&cid=3DD8F6A70C0CB625
