By Mr McEwen (Assistant Head Rowing Coach)

Bedford Amateur Regatta is always one of the most popular events of the season, as a home event there is always lots of support for our crews and the typical good weather after a long winter of training and head races always improves the mood.

Each category in the event is drawn as an elimination bracket and each race within it is a match race between just two crews over the 1200m course from County Bridge to Suspension Bridge. 60 students from Years 9 to Upper Sixth represented BGS in 11 different categories this year, with our first race at 9am and last race at 7pm. Overall BGS crews raced in nine quarter-finals, six semi-finals, and two finals.

Some racing highlights included; The Year 9s getting their first experience of a match racing regatta on their home river. The BGS 1st 8+ executed a brave race against a strong Latymer crew, pushing them all the way to the line and closing the deficit from Wallingford last week, promising for the Henley races later in the summer. 

The J15 1st 4+ continued their good form from JIRR and won their category by beating crews from LEH, Norwich School, and Great Marlow School. And, in our last race of the day the J16 4+ won their event in a comfortable fashion over BMS.

A massive thank you to all the staff, families, friends, and dogs (!) that came down to support the crews, and offer their help in the running of the Friends of Bedford Girls' School Rowing Club (FBGSRC) and The Alumanae refreshment gazebos, which were packed with supporters all day long. A special mention to the several Year 8 and 9 students who offered their time to volunteer on the stakeboats at the start line.

Next up for BGS Rowing is the National Schools’ Regatta, where we will have 59 students from Years 9 to Upper Sixth racing in 10 categories across all three days from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th May.

View photos from the event here.