Last week, the Gordons Boat Club members took part in the 2021 National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships; an ergo-machine based rowing competition spread over three days during which nearly 3,500 junior rowers from schools and rowing clubs competed over fixed time periods or distances depending upon year group. Scores were recorded at the Gordons Ergo suite and submitted for scrutiny.

This is the first major competition for the Gordons rowers since the early day of covid lockdown and was an opportunity to put to good effect the discipline and hard work they have put in during long hours of tough training throughout Covid.

Nineteen Gordons’ rowers took part and some stand-out individual performances are worthy of mention. Placings are still subject to final confirmation and results can be seen at NJIRC (webflow.io).

In a field of 200 entrants, Gordons Y9 girls who made their mark are Adeline Murrell (Y9 China) who put in a strong performance to finish 7^th ably followed by Immie Spink (Kensington) who was 38^th. whilst in the equivalent Y9 boys’ event, Tom Bray (Gravesend) finished 26^th out of a group of 400 rowers. These are creditable performances and set the tone for the future of Gordons rowing.

In the girls’ senior section Lily Gray (Y11 Girls SEND) produced the highest placing of any Gordons rower finishing 4^th in her event whilst our lone entrant in the girls Y12 race Grace Carr put in a strong performance to finish 25^th.

The Gordons Y10 girls rowing cohort was well represented and Sophie Bodell (12^th), Tierney Kerr (16^th), Francesca Bruzas (28^th) and Mimi Hewetson (34^th) all of Victoria House performed well.

In the Y10 boys’ competition and with a field of 230 competitors, James Gibson (Khartoum) was tantalisingly close to the medals finishing in 5^th position whilst James David (Gravesend) at 42^nd was placed well up the field.

Alan Inns, the Gordons Boat Club Coach and Ex Olympian commented that “despite all the problems with lockdown training and COVID restrictions it is extremely pleasing to get such good performances across the board with all our year groups. Now we must look forward to honing our boat moving skills on the water and getting amongst the medals at the Summer Regattas that are still taking place.”

Many congratulations to all of the Gordons rowers who took part.

The NJIRC event is a precursor to the forthcoming National Schools and Scullery Regattas to be held over May Bank Holiday weekend and which takes place over the full 2000m Olympic course at Dorney. A select group of senior rowers will compete on the water for the first time for almost two years so watch this space.