A small novice contingent of five boats from Ross Rowing Club’s Junior Squad attended Blenheim Palace Junior Regatta on Saturday.

As well as several personal achievements there were also gold medal winners at this successful day. These included Grace Farnell who only started rowing in April and was in the winning WJ14 coxed quad.

The Blenheim Palace Junior Regatta is an exciting event, attended by over 20 clubs, and 150 crews, from across the south of England and Wales, and is specifically aimed at juniors aged 10-14. It offers them the chance to compete in a series of 600 metre, multi-lane races on the Great Lake within the picturesque parkland of Blenheim Palace.

It was a day of firsts for the young Ross rowers. Oliver Leach (12) rowed competitively in a single scull for the first time, giving a strong performance but just missing out on his heat by a boat length. For Islay Brevit (13) and Grace Farnell (14), it was their first ever regatta having only started rowing in April. Islay (doubling with Jessie Punn in the WJ13 event) put in a strong confident performance giving no indication that she was a beginner to the sport.

First place gold medals were won by the J13 double crewed by Tom Clatworthy and Charlie Pope, and the WJ14 coxed quad (with Niamh Gabb, Yasmin Howe, Lucy Billington, Grace Farnell and coxed by Katie Hermon) gave a particularly strong performance to win their event convincingly and with style.

Grace told the Ross Gazette: “To have competed at the Blenheim Palace Regatta was a fantastic experience. My coaches and team mates were so encouraging and full of support. I had butterflies the whole time, but was really excited for my first race.

"To have won a gold medal after three months rowing is crazy and I never thought I would have achieved this so soon.”

So far, it’s been a great regatta season for the Ross Juniors, with more to come at Marlow and Egham later this month.

Whatever your age, if you are interested in giving rowing a try please get in touch via emailing: [email protected]