King’s rowers attend GB Squad Early Identification Trials
Having successfully achieved the minimum standard of 6:55s for 2km on the ergo machine, eight rowers from The King’s School went to the Early Identification Trials for the GB Junior Rowing Squad which took place in Boston, Lincs. 155 of the country’s top young scullers competed in a time trial over a distance of 5km in difficult conditions and the King’s Rowers managed a fine performance.
Three Upper Sixth Senior rowers were ranked in the top 50 – Sam Arnot (17) of Doddleston came 6th, Stephen Jones (17) of Wrexham came 15th and Mike Thorp (18) of Chester came 48th.
The three rowers along with their cox, Franz Imfeld, were selected for the Coupe de la Jeunesse in the summer and will now have their sights firmly set on the Junior World Championships next summer. Sam, Stephen and Franz have been invited to attend a GB Training Camp in Nantes, France, in December.
Just as commendable were the performances of our Lower 6th rowers – Sam Lewis (16) of Chester came 65th and Oliver Holt (16) of Kinnerton came 69th. Three other Lower Sixth students came in the top 118 -James Kinsey (16) of Tarporley, Sam Wilson (16) of Chester and Inigo Atkin (16) of Mollington.
All eight plus Frazer O’Brien, who was unfortunately too unwell to trial, will take part in the next stage of the GB trials. In February they will again race in Boston but this time in pairs.
Mr Chris Ramsey, Headmaster said, "These nine students have done incredibly well to reach such a high standard of rowing and we look forward to seeing them following in the footsteps of ex-pupils such as Tom James and Olivia Whitlam."
