Ross Junior Academy was inspired by a direct invitation from Beijing Olympic gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge to compete at his Club' Mosley Junior Regatta. They achieved incredible levels of performance notching up 9 wins and being crowned Victor Ludorum for the most successful club at the event.

Andy had compared notes on developing juniors with Ross Club Captain, Ian Howell, during the winter, and the Olympic star offered the invitation to attend Mosely's annual Junior Regatta held on the Thames just down from Hampton Court Palace.

The winning performances started with the WJ15 single Ellie Blackwood who worked through 2 rounds and won her final in convincing fashion. Other victories in singles included, Nick Burden in J11 singles, Alice Reynolds in WJ11 singles, Johan Lai in J12 singles, Joel Bullock after capsizing went out and won his J13 singles. The doubles events, George Probert and Sam Taylor won in J12, In WJ11, Alice Reynolds and Christina Stephenson after they too were capsized by a passing pleasure boat returned to the water to win their semi final and then the final. In the Quads racing, Olivia Baynham Williams, Charlotte Westley, Megan Jephcote, Jess Crossman, with George Probert coxing, won convincingly in the WJ12 quads, Johan Lai, Scot Morris, Sam Taylor and George Probert with Rhodri Morris still won their heat even though Sam snapped his blade in half. They then went on to win their final in the boys J12 event.

This was the first time the Squad had attended in any great numbers and the quality of performances by the Ross Academy scullers was the talk of the river bank. John Lewis, the junior captain, said: "This was a day when everyone delivered wonderful performances, despite kit failures and capsizes the squad rose to the occasion inspired the quality of competition to deliver the best team performance of the season". The icing on the cake was the surprise announcement that the Ross squad was the most successful competing club even out-pointing the hosts who had over 43 entries. Club captain Ian Howell said: "It was a sublime day, even those who might not have won an event contributed to the success of the day with their wonderful team spirit. It was indeed a very proud day for our Club competing in such illustrious surroundings".

National Championships

Amy Surman and Ellie Grindle rowing a year above their age group in WJ14 double sculls rowed very well to win through to the semi final in which they were beaten into third place and did not proceed to the final. They rowed very well gaining valuable experience over the 2000-metre national championship course. This performance ranked them 7th overall in the UK in J14 double sculls.

Gold for Robin

Ross coach Robin Fletcher who is currently head of the Welsh Junior squad was also making waves at the National championships. His welsh junior coxed four, which included Junior Academy support coach, Gareth Morgan, won a gold. This is a tremendous result for Robin and his crew and bodes well for the Home International event which happens this weekend.