Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club's Juniors were a forced to be reckoned with at the 2017 National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships. The clubs junior squad came away from the event with all rowers having finished inside the top half of their events and yet another national champion!
The clubs first event of the day was the Year 12 boys. Joe Robertson and Jamie Gamble took their early morning slot on the dreaded rowing machines. Both rowing out of their skins, Joe finished third and Jamie fourth in their heat. They would both eventually finish in the top ten! Joe earning 7th and Jamie 10th! A great start to the day!
Following the boys shortly afterwards was Daisy Faithfull. Having earned a bronze medal last year, Daisy was hoping to go better in this years event. She didn't disappoint! Winning her heat in style Daisy followed in the footsteps of Ella Payne in 2009 and 2010 to earn gold at NJIRC!
Next in to the pens were Sophie Atkin and Emily Faithfull, rowing in the Year 10 girls event. Spurred on by the clubs already fantastic early results, the girls finished 1st and 3rd in their heat with amazing rows! Emily would eventually finish 13th, with Sophie not far behind in 22nd! Incredible considering the 150 Year 10 girl entries!
Then came the turn of Rachael Debenham in the Year 8 girls event. Pushing herself to the limit Rachael finished on the podium in her heat and went on to earn and unbelievable 11th out of 252!
In the Year 8 boys event, Sam Evans Murray, Owen Dennes, Ethan Walters and Riley Horrix faced 3 minutes on the ergs! All rowing incredibly well, Sam finished 43rd, Riley 50th, Ethan 55th and Owen 122nd in an event of 248!
The results showed the strength of our juniors as they raced against some of the countries best young rowers! We'd like to once again thank Sandown Bay Academy, who continue to support the clubs juniors by taking them to the event and allowing them to race under their name. Stuart Johnson and Kirsty Walker both deserve to be recognised for going the extra mile, nobody wants to be at Wighlink at 5.30 am!