GOLD medal success at the British Junior Rowing Championships has capped a superb season for The Grange School, Hartford.
Year 11 students Charlie Goodman, Ab Farag, Gus Goode and Eamonn Timmons-Williams secured the junior 16 coxless quadruple sculls title in Scotland.
The quartet, who have just completed their GCSE’s, beat firm favourites Windsor Boys School to take the prize in gruelling conditions in Strathclyde.
There was further joy for Farag, 16, who also took silver in the single sculls.
"I am immensely proud of the whole squad who are going from strength to strength,” said the boys’ coach, Leon Langmead.
“We knew we could get a medal but to win gold at the British Rowing Championships has set the standard for The Grange School Rowing Club.
“Well done to all our rowers and here's to more in 2024!".
The success comes on the back of The Grange School’s resurgence as a rowing centre of excellence.
Langmead, who only joined the school in 2021, has produced other notable national rankings.
Farag won an international race against France just a few days before the British Championships, while the boys’ quad placed fifth in the National Schools Regatta earlier this summer.
The broader rowing programme at The Grange has developed at pace under head coach Gareth Ireland, who also only joined in 2021.
Year 10 crews from The Grange – boys and girls – were placed in the top five nationally at the British Championships in Strathclyde.
In more local competitions, The Grange have excelled ¬- taking the Victor Ludorum at Chester Regatta 2023 and qualified five crews to the prestigious Junior Interregional Regatta in Nottingham, where the north west was third nationally overall and the boys division placed second.
Ireland said: “We have a strong cohort of boys and girls coming through the ranks now.
“We will build on the success of season 2023 over the winter. Our rowers have truly put The Grange School on the map.”
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