GRIFFEN 2023 | 17 Sport In May, our J14 and J15 A and B crews qualified into the finals of the National Schools’ Regatta. This secured them a place within the top six schools in the country. A particular highlight was the nail-biting J15 B final, which saw Abingdon and Radley surging toward the finish line, neck and neck. At the line, Abingdon supporters were convinced they were ahead; Radley believed it was them. A joint gold medal was awarded in what was a dead heat to both worthy crews. Rowing Well done also to the J14 A crew at the Marlow Regatta who won in their category. The performances at the National Schools’ Regatta and Marlow Regatta resulted in our 1st VIII prequalifying for the Henley Royal Regatta at the end of June. Racing against a strong Hampton team on day one, 2023 was not to be their year but we look forward to this young crew returning again to race next season. In the international season, OAs Tom Digby (2016) and Connor Brown (2019) put in some excellent performances wearing the red, white and blue colours of Great Britain. Connor Brown won a silver medal in the coxed four at the Under 23 World Championships. Tom Digby was crowned World Champion for the second successive year in the Men’s VIII at the Senior World Championships in Belgrade. Mark Earnshaw, Director of Rowing It has been an honour to get to where I am in the sport of rowing. It was all set up by the opportunities available at Abingdon. Prior to the World Championships, we have been at altitude in Austria and out in the heat of rural Portugal. It has been an exceptionally long year, with two of the selected crew going down with injury and appendicitis. We raced the bulk of the season with two of the spares. We started the year unbeaten but we came second in the penultimate race before the World Championships in a tight race with Australia. Tight losses hurt the most. When the margins are bigger you don’t question what you could do differently in quite the same way. We had eight weeks to answer those questions. Two weeks away from the World Championships we were chomping at the bit to get out there and put right the mistakes of the year. I think one of the biggest developments I have had since Abingdon has been to learn to let go a little more. Like most things in life, too much effort and obsession tenses you up, takes away the freedom of movement and, psychologically, the enjoyment. A big loss tends to make you want it more - desire and effort don’t get rewarded like skill and composure. I am excited to channel these things in the right way and see what we can do! From Tom Digby (2016) GRIFFEN 2024 | 17
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