This year has been an exciting year for the Girls' VIII and in many ways an historic one. It was the first girls' crew to go Easter training in Nantes, the first girls' VIII to compete from Monkton at National Schools Regatta, and the first to be awarded their colours. However it has not been an easy season in many respects, starting with the bad flooding at the beginning of the Lent Term, and then the coach, Mr A. Gayner was sorely missed when he had to give up coaching because of his illness at the beginning of the Summer Term. In some ways, though, this was a blessing in disguise, as it gave the other coaches in the Club a chance to see what the girls were really like!
The crew was fortunate this year in that five rowers and the cox had rowed the previous year; however, this experience was not to the crew's advantage when it came to the regatta season, as two of the crew had points, and so were classed as senior III, not Novice. Due to the horrendous weather during the Lent Term, they were only able to go out on the river at home about six times, which meant rowing at Saltford as much as timetables allowed, and concentrating on fitness and light weight training.
The crew decided to do two Head Races in one weekend, the first of which was at Avon County, which was more of a trial run for the following day, as there was no one else in their category. At Bristol Head the majority of their class rowed in the morning and by the time Monkton was to start in the afternoon it was hailing and there was a horrible head wind which at one point practically stopped the boat dead. The crew was not very impressed with this performance, and so became determined to do one better at Schools' Head.
The results at Schools' Head are quite a good indicator of a school‘s standard, and we were very pleased to be placed 8th out of all the sixteen girls' crews competing, beating crews such as Canford, Bryanston, St Pauls and Westminster. To have come at the top of the Novice crews and to have beaten some senior crews was a great achievement for a crew which had had so few outings. Thanks to Mr Gayner's commitment to the crew and Mr Bewick's bravery, the crew were taken to Nantes for ten days during the Easter holidays. For the crew it was a very valuable experience not only to make up the miles lost during the previous term, but also in mental training. The crew was beginning to learn, with two outings a day the reward for commitment.
On their return to school hopes were high for Wallingford Regatta, but unfortunately they were drawn against Kingston G.S., who far outclassed them, primarily because they were far more experienced, having rowed since the age of 13. It was then that Mr Gayner had to hand over the crew to Mr Mawer's capable hands. The failure at Wallingford, exam stress• and a reluctance to adapt to a change of coach made the following two weeks unproductive. It was not until Avon County that the crew saw the error of its ways. Monkton came second, beating Canford, but failing to catch Monmouth by less than a canvas following a clash of blades due to poor steering in the Canford boat. It was a disappointment not to win, but they had proved to themselves that all was not hopeless.
Thus with renewed fervour the crew prepared for National Schools under Mr Mawer's wise guidance. The crew realised that it was probably too late for extra fitness training to make much difference, but decide to undertake early morning circuit training to boost morale and help psychologically. Undoubtedly this worked, but it did teach the crew a valuable lesson that it is imperative to put in the training consistently throughout the season. The crew knew that it was fairly unrealistic that they could win, but went with the intention to do the best they could and to show that Monkton takes girls' rowing seriously. They were drawn against Kingston G.S. and St Pauls, and having beaten St Pauls at Schools Head the crew knew they could have a good race. Indeed, it was very close between both crews all the way down the course, with Monkton almost taking them twice. Unfortunately in the last 250m the opposition had more to give and just beat Monkton. The crew was upset not to make it through to the final, but they had rowed well and to the best of their ability, and so could be proud of their performance.
After half-term, A-levels took precedence, and so the year culminated in the picnic at Henley with both the boys' and the girls' 1st VIIIs. It was a lovely event, and the inclusion of the girls hopefully signifies a new era when both crews can work together to achieve their aims. For the first time ever a Monkton girls' crew was awarded its colours, but this does not mean that girls do not have anything left to achieve. This year has only been the start to cultivating the right attitude and training for a girls' crew that is going to succeed. It can only be hoped that this year's crew has inspired younger members of the school to take up rowing at an earlier age so that Monkton girls' rowing can reach the top of the league.
It only remains to thank Mr Gayner for all the hours he put into the crew and for all his patience with their tantrums. Similarly to Mr Bewick for being brave enough to accompany the crew to France, and to Monkton Bluefriars for subsidising the trip. The Quayle family and the Jacobs family are to be thanked for chaperoning the crew in France and for letting them invade their hospitality so often. Lastly thank you Mr Mawer and Mr Bishop for coaching the crew and for being so long suffering at such short notice.