On the 2nd of December 2006, the Whitchurch Wasps Rowing Club entered the Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships. The event was a relay and the four fastest rowers from each year group were selected to represent the school.

The Pupils from Yr 7 were Ed Bowden 7H, Jack Maguire 7J, Matthew Welton 7H and Adam Williams 7J. The pupils from Yr 8 were Ben Simmons 8W, Lewis George 8W, Max Shillabeer 8L and Tom Francis 8L. The pupils from Yr 9 were Nye Campbell 9L, JB Bruzulier 9N, Josh Smith 9W and George Greig 9N. The pupils from Yr 11 were Lee Evans 11M, Tom Popek 11L, Craig Bickford 11L and Adam Jones 11M.

The Yr 11’s had to do a distance of 3000m racing against Duffryn Taff School and City of Swansea Rowing Club. They won Silver with a time of 9 mins 53.2 secs. Beating there personal best time by 22 seconds and even beating some of the Men’s times!

The Yr 9’s had to do a distance of 2500m and were racing against Llandaff Rowing club. In one of the closest races of the day the Wasps were in the lead until up to 1000m were it was neck and neck, fighting for the gold. In the last 400m Llandaff crept up to take the win. The Wasps time was 8.59.1. Just 3 seconds behind taking the Silver medal. It was a new personal best and the first time they broke the 9 minute barrier.
 

The Yr 8’s were also racing Llandaff RC. Both their A team and B team entered the championships. The Yr 8 relay was 2000m and although Llandaff A team blasted off the start it was a neck and neck fight for Silver the whole 2000m between the Wasps and Llandaff B. In the end, the Wasps held on to take the Silver with another new personal best time of 7.58.1. The first time they broke the 8 min barrier as well.

One of the most exciting races to watch was the Yr 7’s relay which was also 2000m. The Wasps were racing Bishop of Llandaff A and B teams, Duffryn Taff School and Cathedral School.

For the first 400m the Whitchurch Wasps were in 4th place until a serge of strength upped them into 3rd place behind Bishop of Llandaff B who were 2nd and Duffryn Taff who were 1st. Buy the 800m marker the Wasps had fought and fought and had managed to move into 2nd place, putting Bishop of Llandaff B in 3rd. The Wasps were now chasing for Gold. When the half way mark was past it was neck and neck between all the top 3 teams but when 1200m had gone the Wasps had nudged Duffryn Taff off 1st place and were going for the win! With 500m left to go Duffryn Taff had moved to 3rd and Bishop of Llandaff B were chasing the Wasps for the Gold.

But there was no way that the Whitchurch Wasps were going to let go of that 1st place. With 150m left in the race, the Wasps put a massive sprint on and flew over the finish line leaving all the other teams in their wake! The Wasps took the Gold with a time of 8.36.5. A full 11.4 seconds faster than Bishop of Llandaff B who took the Silver. If that was not enough the Yr 7 Wasps beat their personal best time by an incredible 45 seconds!!

Mr M Williams said, “It was fantastic day and I’m really very proud of everyone who took part in the race all the members of the Whitchurch Wasps Rowing Club”. Well done to all the pupils who took part in the Welsh Indoor Rowing Champs and congratulations on all your medals!