Hampton School
HMC Independent School for boys, founded 1557
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Hampton School
Pangbourne Junior Sculls, 8th November 2008
The J15s were beginning to think they were jinxed when they turned up to a Pangbourne every bit as soggy as Reading. However, they are never ones to let inclement weather get the better of their spirits – so on went the waterproofs and wellies and on with the job in hand. They raced in two divisions in mixed combinations, achieving some very pleasing results including an excellent 5th place in J15 singles for Sebastian Gordon-Smith, only beaten by some of the very best scullers in the age group, and a win in the J16 quads for Jethro Hansell, Luke Walker, Ollie Dent, Oscar Allan and Dan Harcombe. Fingers crossed the weather will be better for the next race!
Reading Small Boats Head, 5th October 2008
The J15s kick started their season on a miserable day in Reading. By the time the boats were rigged everyone was soaked to the skin and it might as well have been a swimming race as a rowing one. However, the squad acquitted themselves well across two divisions, coming away with victory in the J15 coxed quads. Congratulations to Seb Gordon-Smith, Ben Rossington, James Trevithick, Jethro Hansell and Will McDermott.
Schools’ Head
The J15s were triumphant at the Schools’ Head of the river, with two outstanding rows by the A and B eights securing a double victory. Two J15 fours also raced well in their catgory.
The first eight attacked the course unfazed by the last minute shortening, and passed last year’s winners KCS before Hammersmith. They then found themselves racing alone, but powered home to a thumping joint victory with Westminster.
The second eight dominated their event, overtaking three crews and romping home to a twelve-second victory over their closest rivals, Abingdon, and even beating all of the J15 first eights to win the short course by a second from Canford and Bedford.
Two J15 fours also produced very solid performances, the top one coming home fourth in the J15 fours.
Burway HeadTwo J15 eights went to Burway on the 16th February and once again came away with tankards, this time in the Novice eights category.
Disappointingly, there were no other J15 eights competing at Burway, but the Hampton boys were content to enter the senior ranks and successfully took on an eight from the Royal Holloway College. They finished with victory in their category and an extremely creditable eighth and tenth position overall.
Some exciting racing on the Schools’ Head course saw Hampton produce a commanding display to win the J15 eights. The B crew rowed an outstanding race and were unlucky to just miss second place.
Emanuel and Westminster provided the competition for this race, the latter crew having separated the Hampton A and B eights at the Hampton Head. The A crew swept past several women’s crews in front of them to seal a 17 second victory over Westminster. The B crew, not to be outdone, stormed past Westminster’s A crew and were a canvas up at the Bandstand. Unfortunately, the advantage of home water told, and as Westminster bagged the inside of the Surrey bend, the B crew saw their lead gradually diminish until at the end, Westminster were half a second ahead. Nevertheless, an encouraging display ahead of the Schools’ Head.
Hampton show early promise by dominating the J15 eights event, coming first and third in their category.
The A eight did not have to produce their best rowing to win their home event by four seconds. While not giving their most impressive technical display, they rowed with determination and strength to take the honours. The B eight joined in the action, beating the first eights of several schools to come home in an impressive third position.
The J15 fours meanwhile had a mixed afternoon, with the first four battling off competition from Latymer and King’s Canterbury to come home third.
The J15s kicked off the season with a very strong showing at the Reading Small Boats Head on Sunday 14th October.
In the quads, HSBC romped home in 1st, 2nd and 3rd ahead of Tiffin, RGS and Reading boats.
The singles also went Hampton’s way, with Jack Walker sculling very strongly past his quad crew-mate Sam Budgett to win the event with Budgett in second.
However there was to be no hat-trick of victories, as despite some good sculling in the doubles, Hampton could only finish a very respectable 2nd and 3rd.
J15 Squad 2006 with their pots and trophies won over the year