In July, Ella, Lower V, raced for Henley Rowing Club in the WJ14 single scull category at the British Junior Rowing Championships in Strathclyde. Pitched against a forty strong field including recent winners and medalists in Junior Inter-regionals, Ella had a fair Time Trial qualifying for the A semi-final. Once in her comfort zone of side-by-side racing, Ella started very well in the A Semi, leading for the first 500m before competitors from Agecroft and Glasgow pulled ahead. However, she secured 3rd place and a spot in the A final.

Picture credit: AllMarkOne

As conditions deteriorated with strong gusts of wind and rain showers, Ella again led from the start in the 1km final, this time holding the lead despite a big mid-race push from the Agecroft sculler. The Exeter and Glasgow scullers closed in the last 100m and managed to take advantage of a last minute ‘crab’ from Ella in the choppy conditions. 

Picture credit: AllMarkOne

The Exeter rower won by 1.5 seconds, with a photo finish for silver and bronze. It was determined the Glasgow sculler just pipped Ella, who took away a very well deserved Bronze medal – her second national rowing medal after winning Gold in the J13 Indoor Rowing Championships.