Eight Pangbourne College crews rowed at this year’s National Schools’ Regatta at the Olympic venue of Dorney Lake. Five crews, including the under 14 and under 16 girls’ crews, were each placed in the top six nationally, with the senior boys winning gold in the Open Championship Coxed Four category. The Sixth Form crew was the best in their time trial, semi-final, and final. 

In the final, the coxed four blasted out of the blocks, gaining a 2-second lead which they held for the rest of the race, absorbing confidently several attacks by St George’s College, Weybridge. Gold, and the Hedsor Cup, was in the College’s hands! The trophy was collected from former Master-in-Charge of Rowing at the College, Mr Tim Parker.

‘With four ‘A’ Finals, three genuine medal challenges, and a Gold, it was one of Pangbourne’s strongest performances as a club in recent years,’ said The Head, Mr Thomas Garnier, who is also a keen rowing coach himself and one of the many volunteers who help make the National Schools’ Regatta happen.

The National Schools’ Regatta is the premier junior regatta in Great Britain. With around 5,000 competitors, the 3-day event attracts crews and supporters from more than 120 schools and clubs. 

From 1953 to 1963 the Regatta was run from the Pangbourne College Boat Club. It then moved upstream to Beale Park until 1973 when it moved to Nottingham. It has been at Dorney Lake for the last eight years.