Home International Rowing Regatta and St Neots Regatta

By Sarah Watson

Peterborough scullers Harriet Drake-Lee and Ellie Cooke won Gold for England at the Home International Rowing Regatta on Saturday. The event took place over 2000 metres at the London Regatta Centre where crews from England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland competed at the historical event.

Drake-Lee and Cooke raced in the Women’s double sculls event and led from the very start of the race, crossing the line 4 seconds ahead of Scotland with a time of 08:31.56. They also joined Katie Mole (Leeds Rowing Club) and Gemma King (Cambridge University Boat Club) to place second in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls final, just 3 seconds behind a Scottish crew with an impressive time of 07:28.41.

Also at the weekend was St Neots regatta where Peterborough scullers took home a total of 15 wins and 8 second places. The event took place on the River ouse over a 1000 metre course on the Saturday, then a 500 metre course on the Sunday.

There were a few Peterborough scullers that won on both days of the event, starting with Emma Calver who raced up 3 age categories to win the Women’s J18 double along with last minute doubles partner Lucy Ralfs. They won their semi-final by 5 lengths, followed by their final by 4 lengths ahead of Doncaster Schools Rowing Association. Calver then joined Emily FItzjohn on the Sunday to win their Women’s J15 double by 3 lengths ahead of Nottingham Rowing club.

Erin Ansell-Crook and Wiktoria Szubzda also had success in their double on both days in the J16 doubles event. On the Saturday they progressed through 3 rounds to reach the final, where they beat Bedford rowing club by 4 1/2 lengths. On the Sunday they won by 4 lengths ahead of Leicester rowing club.

Another sculler that won on both days was Sarah Watson in the Women’s singles event. On the Saturday she had a nail-biting final against Norwich Rowing Club where she took the win by just 2/3 of a boat length. On the Sunday she won by 3 lengths ahead of St Neots Rowing Club. Watson also joined Bianca Manganiello to finish second in the Women’s Band 1 doubles event on the Saturday.

Alice Dovey took home 2 wins on the Sunday after winning the Women’s J16 single by 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Isle of Ely boat club, then raced up 2 age categories to win the Women’s J18 double along with Devonne Piccaver. 

Oliver Barber and Sergio Read Moreira Lima were also double winners, winning their J15 double by 1 1/2 lengths on the Sunday, then later joining crew mates Huw Ballard, James Goodchild and cox Hannah Fitzjohn to win the J15 coxed quad by 1 1/4 lengths against Doncaster.

On the Saturday, the Band 1 Open quad of Chris Elder, Damen Sanderson, James Marshall and Alex Hughes won their semi-final by 3/4 length ahead of Lincoln, then in the final they won by 1 length ahead of Doncaster Schools Rowing Association.

On the Sunday, Ella Darrington won the Women’s J18 single in a Peterborough vs Peterborough final against club mate Devonne Piccaver.

Also successful in their single sculls were Anouk Bosma who won the Women’s J14 single by 2 lengths, and Will Tee won the Open J14 singles by 4 lengths ahead of Broxbourne rowing club. 

James Garfield won the J16 singles event by 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Norwich rowing club. He also came second in the J16 double on both days of the regatta, along with crew mate Nick Bosma.

There were a few more crews that reached the final and finished in second position, these were: Steve Akerman, David Wells, Paul Kutia, David Gray, Marcus Harrison, James Baile, Barry McCann, Kenny Low and cox John Canton (Open Eight); James Garfield and Nick Bosma (J16 double); Anita Carter and Joan Heath (Women’s Masters F double); Matt Hand (Band 2 Open single); Alice Dovey (Women’s J16 single) and Lucy Smith, Shirlyn Gathoni, Suzie Warwick, Ilektra Apostolidou and cox Ericha Knowles Pardoe (Women’s coxed four).