Report 2007
There was a report, by Mr Greg Gregory-Jones, printed in the 13th June 2007 edition of the Surrey Herald. Below is Greg's unedited version.
ST GEORGE'S COLLEGE DEFEAT LOCAL RIVALS
Last Saturday Walton & Weybridge Regatta enjoyed a near perfect day with a record entry of 250 crews and windfree, sunny conditions. Hundreds of spectators crowded the riverbank between Walton Marina and Walton Rowing Club to watch a full day of exciting racing which began at 8.30am and continued, with a race every three minutes, until 7.30pm.
University and school crews from as far afield as Liverpool, Bournemouth & Oxford vied for honours with local clubs and schools in the 33 event regatta that had racing for every class of boat from eight man octuples to single sculls.
In the blue ribbon event of the day Liverpool University justified their long journey by beating Canford School, from near Bournemouth, in the final of Senior 3 Eights. The University crew , which has been training at Walton Rowing Club for the past week, now begin their build up to Henley Royal Regatta where they will compete in the Temple Cup.
The Regatta had made a special effort to attract more women's crews this year, this being an area of growth within British rowing, the decision proved fully justified with an excellent entry across the board. Tideway Scullers School sent a particularly strong womens squad and had a successful day winning the Senior 3 quad sculls, Senior 3 Double Sculls, and Junior 14 Quad Sculls in addition to Men's Veteran Fours and Junior 15 single sculls, they promised to return next year.
Local clubs however were not left in the shade with Weybridge Rowing Club winning Junior 15 Double Sculls and Novice Sculls, and Walton Rowing Club taking the Junior and Junior 16 coxed fours, the Junior 14 Double Sculls, and the Junior single sculls.
For local interest two races had the crowd on their feet, both involving St George's College. In the Junior 14 Octuple Sculls an enhusiastic College crew whose every stroke was cheered by equally enthusiastic parents, dominated from the start to defeat arch rivals Hampton School by some two lengths. If that was not enough to raise parental blood pressure then the final of Junior Eights saw the College take on their immediate boathouse neighbours Walton Rowing Club in a stroke for stroke battle which lasted almost the entire course with the College just managing to find that extra ounce of effort over the last 30 metres to secure a well deserved win.
The Regatta was fully supported not just by the spectators but by the local business community who sponsored 28 of the 33 events. Many individuals also chose to become Patrons of the Regatta and along with the Sponsors enjoyed the benefit of a Patrons enclosure based at the Thames Valley Skiff Club half way down the course. The Patrons draw for six bottles of champagne was won by Weybridge Rowing Club President, Derek Holmes, who said that the bottles would be a welcome addition to his 50th wedding anniversary celebrations later in the year.
For 2008 the Regatta Committee has managed to retain the same date in the ARA Rowing Calendar, a date which proved very popular with the schools, thus the immediate future looks rosy for this first class event which has been part of the Walton river scene since 1862.
| Event | Winner | Event | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior 3 Eights | Liverpool University | Novice Eights | Canford School | |
| Junior Eights | St George's College | Senior 3 Fours | Kingston RC | |
| Novice Fours | British Airways | Women's Novice Fours | Molesey BC | |
| Junior Fours | Walton RC | Junior 16 Fours | Walton RC | |
| Veteran Fours | Tideway Scullers School | Women's Senior 3 Quad Sculls | Tideway Scullers School | |
| Junior 15 Quad Sculls | Molesey | Women's Senior 3 Double Sculls | Tideway Scullers School | |
| Junior Double Sculls | Windsor Boys School | Women's Junior 16 Double Sculls | Burway | |
| Junior 15 Double Sculls | Weybridge | Veteran B/C Double Sculls | Guildford | |
| Veteran D/E Double Sculls | Bewl Bridge | Women's Senior 4 Single Sculls | Guildford | |
| Novice Sculls | Weybridge | Junior Sculls | Walton | |
| Junior 15 Sculls | Tideway Scullers School | Veteran C/D Single Sculls | Guildford | |
| Veteran F/G Single Sculls | Bewl Bridge | Junior Octuple Sculls | St George's College | |
| Junior 14 Quad Sculls | Molesey | Junior 14 Double Sculls | Walton | |
| Junior 14 Single Sculls | Tideway Scullers School | Women's Junior 14 Quad Sculls | Tideway Scullers School | |
| Women's Junior 14 Double Sculls | Maidenhead | Women's Junior 14 Single Sculls | Molesey | |
| Junior 13 Double Sculls | Molesey | Women's Junior 13 Double Sculls | Dragon School | |
| Mixed Junior 12 Quad Sculls | Molesey |