The 2023 edition of the National Schools’ Regatta saw thousands of young athletes take to Dorney Lake, home of Olympic rowing in 2012, in pursuit of national glory across a range of age groups and boat classes. Filippi were on-site throughout the weekend and enjoyed a wonderful set of results, claiming 20 medals in total including six golds.
The Friday was the turn of J14 and J15 athletes to race, some for the very first time on the national stage. Filippi won three medals, the first of which came in the Junior 15 Open Coxed Fours final. Mossbourne Academy took the silver in a Filippi shell, beating out Kew House School but narrowly trailing to a crew from Great Marlow School. Shortly after, we won another silver medal in the Junior 15 Open Second Eights final, as long-time customers Radley College secured second place. Abingdon were winners on this occasion whilst Radley’s second crew were third. Our first gold of the weekend came courtesy of Radley too, as they swept home to take the prize in Junior 15 Open First Eights, defeating both St Paul’s School and Westminster School.
Saturday dawned bright and early for a cluster of time trials. The format of the regatta was shifted in 2023 so that many categories ran across both Saturday and Sunday, leaving some crews with up to four turns down the course. Our first medals of the day came in consecutive races as our crews won silver in both the Junior 16 Open Coxed Four (Westminster School) and Junior 16 Open Second Eights (Radley College). The first of our three Saturday golds followed shortly after, as Wallingford Rowing Club romped home to secure the win in the Junior 16 Girls First Eights, defeating Lady Eleanor Holles and Latymer Upper School. We won a further two gold medals in the following two races, as Radley secured both the Second and Third Open Eight titles, defeating a field containing crews from Eton College, St Paul’s School and Shiplake College. Our remaining three medals from the Saturday of racing came via Marlow Rowing Club in the Second Open Quads and then a silver and bronze in the Second Girls Quads via Shiplake College and St Georges College respectively.
Sunday was our most successful day for total medals collected (nine) and it started with a bang as Bewl Bridge, racing in a Filippi, strode away from the field to win a stunning gold in the Junior 16 Open Doubles. Our second win of the day came from George Heriots School, whose Championship Girls Pair dominated every round they featured in to secure a well-deserved gold. Filippi won a further two medals in successive events, securing silver in the Championship Girls Double (Sir William Perkins) and silver in the Championship Open Coxless Fours (Norwich School). Our final four podium placements came in quick succession; Robert Collen of Tyne Rowing Club won bronze in the Championship Open Single Sculls before Marlow Rowing Club secured silver in the Championship Girls Quads in a thrilling final contested between Wycliffe College, Henley Rowing Club, Kingston Grammar School, Shiplake College and others. Pete Chamber’s charges won another silver in the Open Quads category a race later before Surbiton High School rounded out our weekend by winning silver in the Championship Girls Eights, losing out to Headington but seeing off the keen interest of Henley Rowing Club.
