Maidenhead Juniors continue to impress and 3 girls and 1 boy made it through squad/selection trials for the J16 GB v France match held in Abbeville, France on Sunday 9th July.

Maidenhead RC saw yet again two more junior athletes achieve their first GB vests. Katie Lion who has been stroking a winning Maidenhead WJ15 quad all season won the club doubles time trials with Sophie Delaney and they both went on to race-off against 11 other doubles to win their GB vests.

Phil Clapp won his first cap by attending the boys J18 final trials and on day 1, he finished in 1st place. As a result Phil was duly awarded the single sculler slot for both the GB France match on 9th July, and the J18 Coupe De La Jeunesse match, scheduled to take place in Groningen, Holland on 29th & 30th July. Tom Jost was appointed coach to Phil for both matches.

This is the second cap for Sophie Delaney as earlier in the month she won her first GB place in the J18 team for the Coupe De La Jeunesse match.

Ally Brooks also J16 was pre-selected as the fastest WJ16 sculler for girls. Ally like Sophie made it through the final rounds of J18 trials and was awarded the stroke seat in the Coupe quad that will be competing at Groningen on 29th and 30th July.

At GB France trials Maidenhead entered a coxless four made up of 3, J15 athletes and one J16. Racing in this rowing event was competitive and the Maidenhead girls impressed as this was a new boat type to compete in.

The coxless four of Aimee Campbell, Rebecca Kerns, Alice Ancora and Katie Lion raced hard over the 1500m course and finished overall in about 5th place and only just outside selection. The first 3 crews were given seats in the coxless 4 and the 8.

At the GB France match in Abbeville, The GB team won the match 8 – 4 and came away with best overall girls, boys and the team prize for GB.

Racing took place over 1500m on a two-lane canal and the Maidenhead athletes assisted the GB team to win this overall event. Phil Clapp won his single scull by 8 seconds, Katie Lion and Sophie Delaney won their double sculls race by 6 seconds and Ally Brooks lost her race by 4 seconds. This was a very enjoyable experience for these young athletes who were supported in Abbeville France by Maidenhead coaches Sean Kerns and Tom Jost.

Whilst this match was taking place the boys final trials in Nottingham for selection of the boys team for the Worlds and the Coupe continued. At the end of the boys trials it was excellent news to hear that David Jones once again wins a GB vest to compete in a 2x at the Coupe alongside his other club mates.

Maidenhead RC will have 5 junior athletes competing in the Coupe De La Jeunesse team in Groningen on 29th and 30th July. 2 boys and 3 girls.


Billy Brooks
Captain Juniors