Another brilliantly sunny day made for a perfect setting for our centenary year House Regatta on the River Stour, with over 100 pupils competing in 14 events featuring 90 races.
As ever, the coxed pairs and coxed four events provided some very close and keenly contested racing. The senior single sculls also provided some tight races in the quarter final states, with Oli capsizing inches away from the finish line, but who had sufficient momentum to just keep ahead of his rival James. The Shell quadruple coxed sculls also provided some spirited and keenly contested races.
Kudos to Eliot of Monteacute who raced his way to the final of the senior boys’ single sculls, providing worthy competition to the winner, Oli. Eliot also saw action in the coxed fours, and the coxed pairs events. All pupils raced once, most raced twice, some, like Eliot, found themselves racing several times. Coxswains found themselves in particular demand, steering many a crew.
The event featured entertainment provided by the Poole Brass Band, a Pimm’s Bar supported by the Friends of Canford Rowing, and an excellent cream tea provided by Canford’s in-house catering. Highly informative & entertaining compering was provided by Messrs Moreland and Johnson, and the entire event was ‘live streamed’ courtesy of the excellent services provided by Kevin Wilkins and his team.
The interval featured a warm & heart felt tribute to Samuel Smith, OC and oarsman, who sadly recently passed away. Fitting and appropriate words were said, a plaque in Sam’s memory unveiled, followed by a solemn and dignified row past in the coxed four, dedicated to his lasting memory.
Guest of honour and presenter of the prizes was Director of the Boat Club Company and Cambridge rower Siobhan Cassidy.
The results for the individual events are as follows:
Event 1 Girls: Senior Coxed Pairs: de Lacy (Sophia, Maddie, Imi)
Event 2 Boys: Senior Coxed Pairs: Salisbury (Rex, Oli, Mia)
Event 3 Girls: Senior 1X: Salisbury (Mia)
Event 4 Boys: Senior 1X: Salisbury (Oli)
Event 5 Shell Girls: Quad Sculls 4X+: Beaufort/de Lacy Composite
Event 6 4th Girls Single Sculls: Lancaster (Freya)
Event 7 Shell Boys: 4X+: Monteacute
Event 8 4th Boys: Single Sculls 1X: Salisbury (Oli)
Event 9 Shell Girls: Single Sculls 1X: Salisbury (Darcey)
Event 10 Shell Boys: Single Sculls 1X: Monteacute (Oliver)
Event 11 4th Girls: Coxed Fours: Lancaster
Event 12 4th Boys: Coxed Quads 4X+ Salisbury ‘A’
Event 13 Senior Girls: Coxed Fours: de Lacy
Event 14 Senior Boys: Coxed Fours: Lancaster ‘A’
The overall results by house are as follows:
Wimborne, Court and Franklin =7th with 2 points
Marriotts and School House = 6th with 4 points
Beaufort 5th with 6 points
Monteacute 4th with 11 points (including 2 wins)
Lancaster 3rd with 13 points (including 3 wins)
de Lacy 2nd with 16 points (including 3 wins)
Salisbury 1st with 26 points (including 6 wins)
Congratulations to Salisbury House, the overall winner of House Regatta 2023.
Ian Dryden, Director of Rowing, commented:
The annual House Regatta is a highlight of our school rowing calendar, bringing together rowers of all ages and abilities together for an afternoon of competitive sport mixed with a lot of fun out on the river. It was a fitting occasion to welcome Samuel Smith’s family and to unveil a plaque in his memory, as Samuel loved his time on the water and is greatly missed by all who knew him. The Boat Club dinner in the evening for rowers, parents and club supporters rounded off a wonderful day celebrating rowing at Canford. Thank you to everyone involved in making it such a success, not least Andrew Fearnley who has masterminded the logistics for 30 years and retires at the end of this term.