THE Oratory School crews gained success in their first competition of the year, the Wycliffe Big Head over a 4.5km course of the Gloucester Berkeley canal.

In the morning division there was an encouraging performance from the senior eight who finished second in their category. The only event available for the J16 eight in the morning was the men’s novice category and, competing against much older and experienced opposition, the Oratory crew finished fourth.

The highlight of the division was a win for the J16 coxed four. They won their event by 23 seconds, pushing Radley College into second place. The crew consisted of Adam Ridzuan-Allan, Monty Norman, Callum James and Harry Goode, coxed by Rhuari Cormack.

In the afternoon division the senior squad split into two coxed fours. Both fours rose to the occasion and won their events. The intermediate three coxed four consisted of Nick Lannguth, Ollie Butt, Ed Hiscox, Freddie Gordon and coxed by Guy Barribal while the men’s novice coxed four was made up of Noah Cape, Edd Lord, Jacob Von Mentzingen and Freddie Woodward, coxed by Hamish Bowie.

The J16s raced in the eight once again but added the winning four from the morning division. In a highly competitive field they finished second out of 11, defeating crews from Pangbourne, King’s School Chester, Radley, St George’s and Cheltenham College.

Published 11/02/13