a stalwart of early regatta season competition
takes place this weekend at the fantastic championship course at Dorney Lake
Whilst BUCS is well underway in Nottingham
Wallingford attracts Britain’s finest club competition
Wallingford draws some of the Isles’ finest competitors to battle it out for glory across Dorney’s incredible 2km course
The Open Challenge Coxed Fours feature some of our nation’s most amazing clubs and performance programs
so this year’s hotly contested race will be a spectacle to behold this weekend
One of the UK’s finest institutions of rowing, Marlow RC
enters this Wallingford Regatta keen to make their mark and set themselves up as ones to beat for the remainder of the season
The senior men’s squad at Marlow has been lucky enough to be under the coaching of Head Coach Jamie Axon
Marlow has jumped from strength to strength
Having had a strong finish at Head of the River Race
as well as continued success throughout the rest of their winter campaign
this outer-London Thames Club will bring the heat to the Dorney Lake this weekend and want to continue their momentum into regatta season
Combing their strong finish last year and sustained growth as both a club and no doubt as athletes
Marlow should be ones to watch in this race
best rowing clubs, Thames RC consistently deliver on the local
The squads at Thames have had the honour of being coached by Sander Smulders for the last few seasons
back-to-back wins at Henley Royal Regatta and has helped coach team GB at a European level
Smulders is also helped by the great Jack Stoddart
helping Thames achieve incredible Head of the River finishes in the last few years
including winning the Vernon Trophy in 2025
This squad are certainly ones to beat this year
and as they’ll be coming into Wallingford as frequent winners
and even in many events as reigning champions
they will want to keep the good times rolling
Opting to enter the prestigious Wallingford regatta over trying their hand at BUCS, OBUBC will be travelling to Eton Dorney with the hopes that they can put their best foot forward this weekend and deliver yet another performance becoming of one of Britain’s best university squads
Expert and valued Head Coach Henry Bailhache-Webb has steered OBUBC toward multiple successes in his over 15 years at the club
athletes at the club have had a string of top-tier successes at Henley Royal Regatta
Head of the River Race and everything in-between
very much last year it is difficult to accurately predict how they will do
OBUBC will be at the forefront of this competition
Once again going head-to-head with their Thames rivals, London RC will want to establish themselves at the top of regatta season early on
and this Wallingford endeavour will be the place to do so
Under the careful tutelage of Stuart Heap
LRC has continued to establish itself as one of our nation’s premier rowing institutions
Just barely missing out on the Vernon Trophy at Head of the River Race to their Thames RC rivals
the boys from London RC will be out for revenge and will be keen to defeat their rivals
prevailing over some of Britain’s finest – including their same competition this year
the boys from the Thames will want to keep their reign going and replicate that performance this weekend
Arguably one of the UK’s most famous rowing clubs, OUBC will want to dismiss any ideas and concepts that their program and athletes are not up to scratch following yet another Boat Race loss
the men’s squad at OUBC have been trying to reform their program to take on the highest level of rowing
OUBC continue to be one of Britain’s strongest and most consistent rowing clubs
With this coming weekend being their first major appearance since they took on the championship Thames Course in their head-to-head
the boys from Oxford will be coming out of the gates strong and keen to show what they’re truly made of over the 2km straight
This race will expose some of the greatest rowers
rowing and athletes in our sport in the UK
and with such a high density of worthy winners its difficult to predict
But when the umpire at the Dorney Tower sets these crews off
I predict that Thames RC will be the first to cross that finish line
closely followed by an incredible duel for second between London RC and Oxford Brookes University BC
I encourage you all to keep an eye on this as it has the potential to be one of the races of the year
I wish the very best of luck to all crews racing
Dom McGrory is currently studying for an MA(hons) in Politics & Spanish at the University of Glasgow
Having rowed for 7 years he has been Masters Coach at Strathclyde Park Rowing Club since 2024
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In preparation for their historic showdown on the tideway
Oxford and Cambridge have been taking on top competition from across the country
I was both excited and a little sad about her recent announcement to leave rowing behind
Following a successful first series in 2024
JRN is delighted to announce the second season of Sharing the Podium
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As the summer regatta season begins to build momentum
the Women’s Junior 15 Eights category at Wallingford Regatta promises to deliver an anticipated matchup
Held on the iconic multi-lane stretch of Dorney Lake
this event offers a key mid-season indicator of squad development and tactical execution
With several top clubs and schools entering formidable crews
Putney High School Boat Club enters with a proven ability to compete at both sculling and sweep events
Their fourth-place finish at the Schools’ Head of the River in the Junior 15 eights category
just 13 seconds behind the winning crew over 6.8km
places them firmly within the top competitive bracket
Putney’s result is especially noteworthy given the scale and technical demand of the Tideway course
their silver medal at the Junior Sculling Head in the octuples adds another layer to their credentials
The squad has also sustained its training intensity with internal race simulations
If Putney can successfully transfer their head race fitness and technical consistency into sprint format
they may very well disrupt more established favourites and threaten for a medal
Headington School Oxford Boat Club clinched gold at the Schools’ Head in the WJ15 eight category with a decisive three-second margin
Known for their fiercely competitive squads across junior categories
Headington has established itself as one of the premier institutions for junior women’s rowing
Their eight at Wallingford is expected to feature the core of their Tideway-winning lineup
now racing just 2,000m on a course that suits punchy
The entry of two eights from Headington highlights impressive squad depth
further supported by years of sustained dominance at the National Schools’ Regatta and beyond
Though relatively quiet on the regatta circuit so far this season
their track record and reputation suggest they are holding form
Surbiton High School Boat Club has quietly built a reputation as one of the strongest up-and-coming junior programmes
with recent results suggesting they’re ready to contest the top tier
Last season’s victory in the J14 octuples at the National Schools’ Regatta
finishing four seconds ahead of Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club
While the transition from sculling to sweep can vary by athlete and programme
Surbiton’s recent second-place finish at Kingston Head – ten seconds behind LEH – offers encouraging signs of adaptation
Though Surbiton has yet to post a headline-grabbing win this season
their consistency and continued upward trajectory indicate that they could mount a serious challenge at Dorney
Sir William Perkins’ School Boat Club
Sir William Perkins’ School Boat Club has laid firm foundations this season
marked by an ambitious and productive training camp in Sabaudia
Ten days of intensive water time – culminating in appearances at the Italian Federation’s Inter-Regional Regatta – has surely boosted technical refinements and added to the excitement of the approaching regatta season
Their bronze medal at the Schools’ Head places them among the early front-runners
with additional depth shown through multiple top-10 finishes at Kingston Head in the Junior 15 eights category
Their preparation and exposure to high-quality racing conditions
Henley Rowing Club arrives with pedigree and quiet confidence
A dominant performance in the Junior 15 octuples at the Junior Sculling Head – claiming gold – is the latest in a long line of strong age-group results
While sculling success does not always correlate directly with sweep performance
it offers an insight into the club’s technical rigour
Henley’s well-established junior system frequently sees scullers transition effectively into sweep lineups
and it’s plausible that some of the athletes from their winning octuple will feature in the eight at Wallingford
Henley boasts one of the strongest junior women’s coaching teams in the country
reflected in their high number of GB trialists and national-level athletes across age groups
Despite not racing at the recent Schools’ Head in this particular category
their competitive history and development strategy suggest they should be considered strong podium contenders
Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club (LEH) combines historic success and recent momentum
Their second-place finish at Quintin Head too ( just 1.5 seconds behind Headington ) positions them as one of the dominant crews in the field
Many of these athletes also formed part of last year’s second-place J14 octuple at National Schools
reflecting continuity and strong development
The strength of the wider programme is difficult to ignore
With consistent results across multiple junior categories and a Victor Ludorum title at Quintin Head
LEH will be aiming not just to make the A final
Wallingford Rowing Club’s recent surge into the spotlight has come off the back of a highly encouraging performance at the Schools’ Head
where they finished second to Headington – by only three seconds – despite having only recently transitioned into sweep
Their J15s had previously focused heavily on sculling
yet made an immediate impression once they shifted focus
displaying impressive cohesion and composure over the long Tideway course
With five crews qualified for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta from the J15 and J16 squads – though not in the eight itself – Wallingford continues to showcase programme-wide depth and versatility
they may also benefit from the advantage of familiarity and local support
A top-three finish is well within reach for this squad
With my final prediction suggesting certainty
it is important to mention that the margins between crews are expected to be narrow – especially given how many clubs are still transitioning from long-distance winter racing into sprint format
Headington leads the field based on past performance
but Wallingford’s rapid progress and home advantage could make them serious challengers
Putney and Lady Eleanor Holles still remain strong medal threats
while Henley’s sculling dominance and Surbiton’s consistency position them as wildcard contenders
Wallingford Regatta will give us a glimpse of early season speed and who are the crews to watch this summer
The Women’s Challenge Pairs event welcomes a variety of entries
ranging from school crews and small clubs to powerhouses of British rowing
hopefully all crews can get to experience some close racing
With Wallingford Regatta taking place on the same day as BUCS Regatta
I would expect this crew to be composed of Brookes’ non-student athletes
Brookes are one of the premier clubs in the country for sweep rowing
they won both the Island and Remenham Challenge Cups
their top boat placed fifth at Women’s Head with their top three crews all placing within the top 25
Brookes will certainly be going for the win this weekend
While Brookes is viewed as the pinnacle of university rowing
Thames is viewed as the pinnacle of club rowing
Thames won the Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta last year and their top boat was runner up at Women’s Head
As well as the strength of their top boats
the depth at Thames is truly to be admired with four boats qualifying for the Wargrave and five placing within the top 25 at Women’s Head
Thames will likely be the main opposition for Brookes this weekend
Headington is the one of three schools to have entered a crew in this event
Headington School are at the forefront of junior rowing and have been for many years
they placed second in the School/Junior category and ranked 29th overall
They also won the championship eights at Schools’ Head
With numerous athletes competing for GB each year
this crew may be composed of their GB triallists who would be aiming to be the fastest junior crew in this event as well as trying to take on some of the senior boats
Another school crew entered comes from the King’s School
Although they lack the reputation of Headington
placing 11th in the Girls Schools first eight event at School’s Head
one of their athletes competed at GB trials placing in the top ten sweep rowers
the women’s squad at Westminster School have prioritised the quad
They placed in the middle of the pack at the major events coming 16th at Oarsport Junior Sculling Head and 15th at Schools’ Head
they’ll need to have found a lot more speed to be competitive
Warwick were the third fastest medium club
They have quickly made the change from the eight to small boats winning the women’s pair category at Abingdon Head
Warwick Boat Club came seventh in the club pairs event at Pairs Head
This should prepare them well although they will likely lack the speed of the high performance clubs of Thames and Oxford Brookes
Maidstone Invicta placed fourth in the Medium Club category at Women’s Head
With only six seconds separating them from Warwick over the 6.7km course
there should be some close racing between these two clubs and Maidstone will be looking to come out on top this time
Maidstone Invicta came second in the development eights so will likely be off the pace of the top crews but will be looking to come out ahead of Warwick after a close result at Women’s Head
This will likely be a two horse race between Oxford Brookes and Thames but with most of the Brookes athletes at BUCS this weekend I’d expect Thames to come out on top
Among the school crews Headington seem set to top the rankings
Warwick and Maidstone Invicta should have some close racing between them despite potentially being off the winning pace
and marquees are beginning to be erected in a small town in South Oxfordshire
The first in a series of annual pre-Henley royal Regatta contests
Wallingford Regatta is run on the familiar site of Eton Dorney
The Head of the River Race 2025 arguably saw the first test of strong regional players against each other
where the might of the London Putney elite battled the finest from Cambridge
A good performance here could not just give a mental uplift
but it could catch the eye of the Henley Royal Regatta Stewards and make a berth in The Thames Challenge Cup that much more assured
Go through 2000m faster than the other boats
When your club’s third crew can beat most clubs’ first eights
boats are filled with the best and brightest oarsmen and gap year students with fast ergs and big dreams that make the Thames RC armada a force to be reckoned with
Three wins at Henley Royal Regatta 2024 was followed by an impressive head season
culminating in five eights finishing inside the top 40 at the 2025 Head of the River Race and two eights inside the top ten
Thames have raised the bar in club rowing significantly over their period of dominance
with the gap between the black and red of Thames and the chasing pack looking slimmer with every passing year
Sander Smulders has entered two eights in this event
each of which will want to avenge the silver medal in last year’s event and maintain Thames’ status as the best club in the country
A club that has fought its way back from the relative wilderness to become a ferocious challenge to Thames hegemony
the rise of London RC back to the top of club rowing has been one of the most exciting narratives of the last half-decade
A win at Henley Royal Regatta two years ago
the rebuild of the women’s squad to make the final of the Wargrave Challenge Cup (an occurrence that would have been unthinkable a few short years ago) and a Thames Challenge Cup campaign that many thought was a virtual cert to win
as the red and black of Thames felled the blue and white
placing two crews in the top ten at the Head of the River Race and picking up the headship at Quintin Head in January
the club have oscillated in recent years between the eight and the four as their top boats for Henley Royal Regatta
should prove for an exciting spectacle further down the line
Dominant in schoolboy rowing throughout the last decade
Eton started this decade well and have continued to perform at or above their high standards over the past couple of years
With no Henley Royal Regatta win since 2021
the longest streak without the most cherished schoolboy silverware since 2009
Eton are still amongst the pack but have slightly slipped behind St Paul’s
Radley and Shiplake in the last couple of seasons
With the tenure of Olympic gold medallist Will Satch now truly underway
Eton were third at the Schools’ Head of the River
bested only by Shiplake and holders St Paul’s School
Eton tends to develop speed late on in the season
making any results here a decent predictor of where they will end up at Henley Royal Regatta and National Schools’ Regatta 2025
given the quality of the other crews in this event
but Eton should feel confident in the work they’ve put in this season and should place well in this event
With no athletes due to compete at the Munich Junior International Regatta
this may well be very close to St Paul’s fastest crew
After another exemplary winter – where they took both the Schools’ Head of the River and Hammersmith Head headships plus placed several athletes at the top end of GBRT U19 trials – Bobby Thatcher will have his sights firmly set on retaining both the boy’s championship eight title at the National Schools’ Regatta and then The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
with athletes like Alp Karadogan and Patrick Wild
who won the U19 Trials April Regatta in the pair
If St Paul’s have found more speed over the long Easter break
we could be in for another breathtaking summer run
Another rapidly-emerging contender in the ever-shifting club landscape
Their win in The Wyfold Challenge Cup was followed up by a string of impressive performances in the eight throughout the winter
and they rounded it out with a 17th-place finish and the Page Trophy at the Head of the River Race in March
Depending on which boat they prioritise in the summer
I can’t see anyone other than Thames or London winning this event
and based on current form in the head season
I would say Thames will just edge out London for the win
I would expect the junior crews of St Paul’s
Hampton and possibly Bedford to be in the mix with Marlow and perhaps TSS joining them in the A-final
This bank holiday weekend is a significant undertaking for juniors across the country and the continent – many rowers will race both Wallingford Regatta and Junior Sculling Regatta
while the crème de la crème are earning GB colours racing in Germany at Munich International Regatta
Not only is there a manic schedule over these three days
but this will be the season’s first regatta for most of the field
Wallingford’s commitment to side-by-side racing
will throw these quads straight into the deep end of summer racing
as they gear up to take on the nation at National Schools’ Regatta
A mysterious Tideway Scullers entry could be the crew to watch – their top quad snatched the pink flag at the Schools’ Head by a margin of ten seconds over Marlow Rowing Club
before scratching from the quads event at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head
leaving their speed on the lake yet to be known
with key players Jess Kerbiriou and Charlotte Van der Wiele stealing away to Munich International Regatta
Tideway’s eight – Women’s Head of the River Race victors
who are also entered in the morning division
As no quad is entered on Monday’s Junior Sculling Regatta
yet the historic strength of Tideway’s quad means this entry will always be a threat
the strength of Sir William Perkins’s quad is little-known but much-feared
With Emily Nicholas away on international duties
the remaining mainstays of the quad – Daniya Al-Qahef
and Annabelle Thornton – have swapped into small boats for Monday’s JSR
Their top boat had a flying start to the season with a win in junior quads at Wycliffe Big Head and silver in the same category at Junior Sculling Head: if Sunday’s crew includes their top athletes
A B boat would likely include a mixture of J16s and J17s
who this season placed 28th in the same quad event at JSH and fourth in women’s quads at Wycliffe Big Head – albeit one minute behind this weekend’s opposition
With so many stellar crews disrupted by the Munich International Regatta
an unchanged Marlow may be the strongest boat in the field
This crew will likely be the same lineup that placed second at SHORR
but just over ten seconds behind a Tideway Scullers crew on their home stretch
Marlow’s top quad have not missed a podium this season
Last year’s regatta season saw a series of silver medals behind an undefeated Wycliffe crew: in a new year
this could be the race that sets off a string of victories for the Marlow girls
Standing behind a strong tradition of success
Henley’s quad were third at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head after scratching from the larger stage of Schools’ Head of the River
where they had entered a championship quad – given their speed at Dorney
there’s little doubt that they would have challenged much of the field on the Tideway
Earlier sculling results include victory for the quad at Henley Long Distance Sculls in November
as well as strong results in the single at GB U19 trials for many of their rowers
Stints in the eight also yielded great results for these girls
a recent uninterrupted training block as a quad will allow them to display their maximum speed on Sunday
The ladies of Shannon Rowing Club are skilled in small boats
and come to Dorney with the hopes of honing their craft in quads
A win in the double at Commercial Regatta for crew members Aoife Laffan and Hannah Balfe suggested a strong start to regatta season
backed up by the experience of Balfe and crewmate Isabella Collins in beach sprints
demanding the aggression and raw speed that will lend them an advantage in the quad
Top ten finishes for Lauren Forde in the WJ18 1k and Aoife Laffan in the Junior 16 2k at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships imply a wealth of strength to be transferred into bigger boats; however
the recent Limerick Regatta saw these girls place third in their heat and therefore miss out on the final
and race hard against local clubs to earn a spot in Sunday’s final
Last year’s silver medallists Claires Court are known to build their speed throughout the season – long-time fans will remember their momentous Henley campaign three years ago
bowed by a then-J15 Jemimah Donn who sits in the boat once again this weekend
the quad seems to have a more solid baseline than previous seasons: ninth place in girls’ championship quads at Schools’ Head 2024 improved to sixth place this year
setting this crew up to campaign for the podium at National Schools’ in just a few weeks
Shrewsbury School was last seen at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head
where they came away with eighth place in WJ18 quads
their blistering first run would’ve put them firmly in the top six crews
suggesting this powerful crew may be better suited to shorter summer racing – no surprise
given their historic success in the coxless four last year
This crew is notably missing from the draw for JSR on Monday
so they’ll be all-in on Sunday to make their mark on the sculling circuit as they gear up for National Schools’
where they’ll aim to replicate last year’s success
Lady Eleanor Holles’ School have a strong tradition in sweeping
but have put out strong scullers over the years
most recently placing 12th in girls’ championship quads at the Schools’ Head
South African Schools RU will not make a wasted trip – while little is known about this crew’s strength
they did notably win the Junior 16 quads event last year
Sir William Borlase are a less prolific squad and have fewer results to assess
but their girls will be building on the momentum of Amy Clarke’s top ten finish at GB April Trials
Racing Junior Head of the North in January
the Borlase quad placed fourth behind Tideway Scullers and The Grange School
who themselves have seen a strong step on this season with a notable sixth place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head – the strength of this crew could see them through to this weekend’s final if they play their cards right
Marlow are on paper probably the strongest quad
but Henley’s bronze medal at Junior Sculling Head and their absence from Schools’ Head makes it difficult to predict how the two compare
Sir William Perkins’ School and Tideway Scullers are also tricky to assess – I suspect they may have entered B crews due to the weekend’s many demands
I’m anticipating Marlow to edge out Henley for the top spot
followed by Claires Court in bronze – but watch out for the South African quad
who will seek to replicate their J16’s success from last year
Wallingford Regatta is the first sign of summer for British rowers
It’s an opportunity to come together with crews from across the country
it’s an opportunity to see just how fast your crew is
you never see your opponents up close and personal
but this is different; they’re with you from that first stroke
We all know that London Rowing Club competes at the front of the field
but it’s hard to always predict how deep that quality runs
Having entered two of their eights into the challenge category
but that’s unlikely given they’ve entered both fours categories
The Head of the River is perhaps the best example of London’s depth and their slowest entry was in 68th position
even the lowest rung of London crews should compete at the front of this field
had a somewhat disappointing Head of the River by their lofty standards
With their top crew only just breaking into the top 20
the change from Head to Regatta racing is a true test of their intentions for the summer
Even if this is a combination of Molesey athletes
their slowest boat was faster than London’s
It’s not very often that you face a field without the best of Putney – that should give them the best chance at retaining their silverware
Winners of the Page Trophy at the Head of the River
all the momentum should be with this Marlow Rowing Club crew
Dispatching Molesey on their way to the title
this club has transformed in the space of a few short years
Whilst they might not have expected to win a Henley title last year
the expectation is that they now perform to this high level consistently
Finishing the Head season in 17th position isn’t a bad place to start
but winning the Wallingford Regatta would be even better
Vesta Rowing Club have been slowly building under James Cracknell and it could be time for them to make their statement
it’s a crew that has more to give and this is the perfect platform for them to start their journey to Henley Royal Regatta
Whether they choose to persevere with the eight or switch to a four remains to be seen; they’ve put their eggs in both baskets across their Wallingford campaign
They have a lot to prove and a statement to make
The change to shorter format racing is something that will benefit them with their power and tenacity
but the other crews will still be within touching distance
Wallingford Regatta marks the first major UK regatta for the 2025 season
setting the stage for crews to display the speed they have found over the winter season
Similar numbers of crews to last year’s event are entered this time into the open school quads
but now is the time for crews to start showing their strength in the lead up to some of the largest regattas in the world
An article on junior sculling cannot be complete without a mention of the powerhouse of junior boys’ sculling
Mark Wilkinson leads the phenomenal athletes from Windsor to undisputed glory year upon year
they have once again shown utter dominance amongst some top-class crews
Munich International Junior Regatta occurs this weekend
taking away at least two of Mark’s top scullers to represent GB
Could this affect the speed of Windsor’s top quad
The Windsor Boys’ School have already taken first place in the junior quads event at Hammersmith Head
where they also took home gold in Junior 15 and Junior 16 quad sculls
They also won at the Head of the Heineken in Amsterdam and the Head of the Charles in Boston
These results only scratch the surface of Windsor’s dominance
which is why I can already envision them lifting the Tankard on Sunday evening
Typically known as a school that competes in the junior eights event
Shiplake College has now decided to challenge some of the world’s fastest junior sculling boats too
After an extremely successful Henley Royal Regatta campaign in both The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and The Fawley Challenge Cup
Shiplake is on the rise once again to become the top rowing schol in the country
January of this year was a successful month for Shiplake
Having taken the headship home in both junior boys and junior girls eights
the boys’ quad fell just short at Hammersmith
taking in a respectable third-place finish
Shiplake’s only appearance of a sculling boat this season appeared at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head
Shiplake has their top boat entered into the junior eights
so I am unsure who this quad will be built up from
but if their previous results are anything to go off
Marlow Rowing Club were runners-up in The Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta 2024 but haven’t had the same success in 2025
picking up fifth place at the Schools’ Head of the River out of 32 crews
Although this result isn’t what they hoped for
they were not far away from Leander and Molesey
finished in the B-final at the U19 April Trials regatta
which is a fantastic result and will leave him in contention for a GB vest later this season
Will Max be able to bring his trials experience to the forefront of this boat and lead them to a medal position
will again be in the running to claim a medal on Sunday
Finalists in 2023 and semifinalists in 2024 at Henley Royal Regatta and bronze medallists at the National Schools’ Regatta 2024
Hinksey are competitive in whatever event they enter
and this will almost certainly be the case at Wallingford
recently finished up the April Trials Regatta in third place but does not appear to be attending the Munich International Regatta
Can they steal a march on their competition in the first duel of the season
Great Marlow have been extremely impressive in this high-standard event for numerous years; however
they still struggle to get the attention they deserve
has a robust coaching team and helped to produce an incredible second-place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head
defeating Shiplake in their strive for silver
GMS didn’t qualify for the final at Wallingford last year
but I believe they will take that as fuel for Sunday and attempt to defeat Windsor
not every crew that enters can have a full preview; however
there are some crews that are not mentioned as candidates for the A-final on Sunday
Maidenhead are in the first heat with Great Marlow School and Molesey
It wouldn’t shock me to see a battle for the top two between Molesey and Maidenhead
as both crews will be fairly evenly matched
Claire’s Court have consistently produced a good quad since they won The Fawley Challenge Cup in 2016
but this year they haven’t shown as much potential as the three other powerhouses in their heat on Saturday
and Bewl Bridge will likely take a berth in the A-final after their seventh-place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head
Windsor ‘B’ or Norwich could be the last crew to make it to the final
but it is all to play for in the final heat of the event
I believe the final will be an interesting battle given the various contextual elements at play
I cannot see past the Windsor ‘A’ crew for the win
I think the strength lies with Great Marlow School to dominate second place
with Shiplake and Hinksey battling for the remaining medal
Packing out the final seats in the A-final
I think Bewl Bridge and Windsor ‘B’ will be the remaining two crews to race on Sunday
2nd – Great Marlow School
5th – Bewl Bridge
I am a 17 year old rower from Stirling Rowing club
currently studying at Edinburgh Uni and rowing for the senior men’s squad
I rowed for The Glasgow Academy since 2022 before beginning at Edinburgh in 2024
As we begin the eagerly awaited run up into Henley Royal Regatta
Wallingford never fails to deliver a strong opener to each Regatta season
This championship level group of coxless fours could very well provide some of the most exciting racing of the day on Sunday
Multiple entries from most of the clubs in this event raises the question of intersquad competition
which this early on in the season could be a vital opportunity for each athlete to stake their claim as we charge forward into the summer
Leander are looking like the hot favourites to retain the title
after Leander’s only entry last year beat Thames by less than a second to claim the win
at Henley Women’s Regatta last summer they fought through the rounds and emerged victorious in The Avril Vellacott Cup for championship coxless fours
More recently at the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race
Leander ‘A’ managed to open up a margin of 7.9 seconds and take the win over Thames ‘A’
while also placing all four of their racing crews in the top ten
This incredible accomplishment will fuel them well this Sunday as they aim to further push all three boats to perform
Thames are the only other club entering three crews into this event this weekend
They also competed at HWR last year in the championship coxless fours but were unfortunately knocked out in the penultimate round
and also achieved an astonishing placement of six crews in the top 38
further highlighting the strength and breadth of the programme year on year
All of the three Thames crews will be preparing to fight to the line this Sunday and could produce one of the closest and most exhilarating finals all day
London could be signalling an early intention to target The Lester Trophy for aspirational club coxless fours at HWR
After a historic win in the event last year
London will be eager to prove their emerging women’s squad can deliver a similar result this year and perhaps push up into the championship category
And after placing 13th and 22nd at WEHORR plus winning the senior pennant
they are already biting at the heels of both Leader and Thames this season
I would love to see this crew progress into the final on Sunday
Nottingham have two crews ready to race this event on Sunday
And could very well be a club aiming for the club coxless fours at HWR again this year
their ‘A’ boat finished 34th at WEHORR and claimed the provincial club pennant
a promising result for the club that rewards their hard work
with extremely tough competition this year from highly dominating clubs
both Nottingham crews are going to have to bring something special on Sunday to progress into the final
Another Tideway based crew fielding two crews is Vesta
The pride and determination of Vesta’s athletes always lends well into rooting for Vesta as the underdogs on the Tideway scene
With a strong placing of 46th and 58th for their top two crews at WEHORR
Vesta have ended their winter Head season strong
This weekend will soon reveal if the transition into Regatta season has been successful
as they will surely be aiming to produce some solid times heading into the summer
Kingston Grammar are the only school crew entered into this event and could likely be using this event to gain race experience before the larger summer Regattas
For a clear comparison we can look to WEHORR
where they placed a highly respectable 83rd and will therefore well and truly be the underdogs of this event on Sunday
I can’t wait for them to bring the fight this weekend
and hopefully produce close racing across the entirety of this category
I expect a battle for the win to be primarily between Leander and Thames
with all crews fighting to take both the top spot and place as many of their own club’s crews in the top three
I would also not be surprised for London to stay in an amongst this fight
And so here it is: summer racing is upon us
The customary tradition of going on training camps during the Easter break will likely have been upheld by most clubs competing here
providing them with an opportunity to hone their speed away from their home water and the prying eyes of their competition
Twelve eights are entered into the first of the 2000m ‘Dorney Regattas’
and after decently tight racing at the Schools’ Head of the River Race only a month ago
it is almost certain this race will form some good indicators about who will be the frontrunners at the National Schools’ Regatta in May
After a win at the Schools’ Head of the River Race that was likely too close for comfort
with King’s College School Boat Club only 1.1 seconds behind
these boys have likely been straight back to work attempting to refine their 2k speed ahead of the National Schools’ Regatta
They’ve clearly got the power on board; they sent six of their crew to GB April Trials
It’s pretty much unheard of to have a Junior 16 eight with six triallists on board
but it seems like they have a problem converting it to actual boat speed
something not usually seen from St Paul’s School Boat Club
With a crew from King’s College School Boat Club chasing
eager to take trophies off of St Paul’s School Boat Club
will they able to demonstrate a newfound level of speed this weekend
this crew were able to gas away from the rest of the field at the Schools’ Head of the River
putting some thirty seconds into third place and finishing only 1.1 seconds behind a substantially stronger St Paul’s School Boat Club crew
they took the win by a length over Abingdon School Boat Club
a crew much further down the pecking order at Schools’ Head of the River Race
at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in Nottingham
Having returned to Cerlac for their Easter training camp
these boys have likely returned in better shape
Wallingford Regatta will be their first opportunity to demonstrate their speed over a 2k course
and I’m sure they’ll be eager to take the fight right to the boys from Barnes
third at the Schools’ Head of the River
and eager to try and push into those top-level placements and hopefully snatch a medal at the National Schools’ Regatta
I can’t help but think that they might have a repeat of last year’s results
with an early peak at the Schools’ Head of the River
before trailing off into regatta season with them just making the A-final at National Schools’ Regatta
I predicted they would take the bronze at the National Schools’ Regatta before they trailed into a sixth-place finish
but I feel like this year might be different for them
With a promising third place at the Schools’ Head of the River Race
managing to beat crews that bested them only weeks before at Hammersmith Head
I think Radley is in a good position to be in medal contention this weekend
The boys in blue and white seem to have come out of nowhere and positioned themselves in the top-level pack in Junior 16 rowing
With their season looking rather ‘wraps’ after losing 3-0 to the St Paul’s Junior 16 second eight in a Tideway fixture
managing to secure a fourth place finish on their home water at the Schools’ Head of the River
With a rematch supposedly taking place earlier this week against Pauls’ 2nds
it will be interesting to see how they’ve transitioned from the longer head racing to the shorter
these boys should be ready to make a statement that positions themselves high in the pecking order for the rest of the season
Also attired in blue and located on the Tideway
Dulwich College Boat Club has clearly gone from strength to strength from their C-final victory at the National Schools’ Regatta last year
They came fifth at the Schools’ Head of the River Race
demonstrating their ability to come out ahead in close races
they went to Seville and engaged in some close racing against their second senior eight
which will have prepared them well for side-by-side racing
Dulwich are a bit of a wild card this weekend
so it will be interesting to see if they’re able to continue moving up
It seems to be a pretty fierce battle out the front of the pecking order between St Paul’s School Boat Club and King’s College School Boat Club
St Paul’s School Boat Club would have been an easy prediction to take the win
but with King’s College School Boat Club’s impressive result at Schools’ Head of the River Race
and I won’t even call it because of how close it will probably be
Third place seems to be a battle between Radley College Boat Club and Latymer Upper School Boat Club
with the possibility of Dulwich College Boat Club or Hampton School Boat Club being able to try something to put themselves in a better position to steal a medal
The May bank holiday weekend brings with it the first piece of summer racing down at Dorney Lake
With 18 club women’s eights entered and last year’s winners (Thames) absent from the start order
The strength and depth of Molesey Boat Club‘s women’s squad has been ever-increasing over the past couple of seasons
as well as inspired by Holly Dunford’s Olympic successes
I suspect the crew entered here will resemble the eight that placed 43rd at Women’s Head of the River Race
a few places below some of their competitors this weekend
however they will want to be pushing for the win here
and it would not be surprising if they have found the speed to do so
London Rowing Club‘s women’s squad is another that has been growing exponentially in depth in recent years
They have two boats entered in club eights this weekend
Whilst there is a chance they may have athletes racing in both
it is likely the crews here are their third and fourth boats
but they are unlikely to be in the mix for the win in this category
Marlow Rowing Club is another club with two crews entered in this category at the weekend
who placed 37th and 56th at Women’s Head of the River Race
These women will be no stranger to tight racing
winning their heat and placing fourth in the final at Wallingford last year
where the gap from second to sixth place only spanned a boat length
Having two crews that are relatively close in speed
and be hoping to put down a solid showing on Sunday to kick off regatta season
It is rare to see crews make the trek over the sea this early in regatta season
so I am curious to see how the crew from Shannon Boat Club fares on Sunday
gain some valuable side-by-side race experience
which will stand them in good stead for later in the season
the potentially more likely scenario is that they have a fast crew looking to chase a win
I would not be surprised to see them in the final
Placing second behind Thames in this category last year
Upper Thames Rowing Club will be glad that their Tideway challengers do not feature in their opposition on Sunday
Upper Thames have two eights entered in the club category; they placed 17th and 64th at Women’s Head of the River Race
however had the likes of Imogen Grant racing in their top crew there
Whilst Upper Thames eventually spent a lot of their regatta season last year in fours
they did qualify two eights into The Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta
They will be a force to be reckoned with here
City of Cambridge Rowing Club look to be having a particularly strong head season this year
and will be training hard to ensure this speed continues into the summer
They placed 35th at Women’s Head of the River Race
one of the highest-ranked crews racing in this category at the weekend
and narrowly missed out on winning the Provincial pennant by 0.3 seconds
The motivation from losing out by such a small amount at the end of their head season will certainly have fired up these women not to be on the wrong side of such a margin again
I suspect they will compete in the final this weekend and potentially push to win
With last year’s winners not returning to defend the title
the path looks clear for Upper Thames Rowing Club to take the win in this event this weekend
The entries from Molesey Boat Club and City of Cambridge Rowing Club are also likely to contend for the other podium positions
Wallingford kicks off summer racing this weekend as clubs across the country get their first run down a 2km track this year
The one day event manages to cram racing in from dawn to dusk and is an important marker for many crews
The Women’s Challenge Eights features 10 entries
all of whom will want to get some solid racing under their belts this weekend
The introduction of The Bridge Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal later this season makes women’s eights rowing all the more exciting; filling the gap between the Wargrave and Remenham a number of clubs will have their eyes on this prize in it’s inaugural year
In Leander’s continued bid to regain the Wargrave
this will be the first 2km test for the project this year
In a winter season where their top athletes and triallists have often had all the plaudits
culminating in a 7th place finish at WEHORR
and will want to build on this in regatta racing
Leander have often had a slow start to their summer in recent years and will want to ensure this is not the case this weekend
Thames have three boats entered into the Challenge Eights; no surprise for a club who never fail to deliver a fleet of eights year on year
The introduction of The Bridge will undoubtedly give those athletes at Thames ineligible for the Wargrave a renewed challenge and focus
Their A boat will be determined to get the win this weekend and by some margin
whilst their B and C boats are likely to be fighting with the rest of the field
just ahead of the aforementioned Leander crew
so will want to ensure they keep ahead of them on Sunday
Molesey have found some fine form this season and seem to be developing a formidable women’s squad
It’s been a while since we have seen Molesey eights competing for the top spot
but it’s a welcome return for a club of its history and prestige
this crew is likely to be mix of their A and B boats that competed at WHEORR
This should lead to a tight tussle with Leander and Thames B and some exciting racing to look out for
London continue to look to be building a challenge on their bigger rivals
Although 10 seconds behind the likes of Leander
they should not be written off over the shorter distance this weekend
It may be too early in their journey to cause an upset
but they are certainly ones to look out for in the future
Lady Eleanor Holles School; Godolphin and Latymer School
Two schools are entered into the Challenge Eights
LEH and Godolphin and Latymer are close rivals
placing 5th and 6th at Schools Head this year
Both will be building towards National Schools Regatta later this month and Wallingford will be an important opportunity to learn some lessons
Getting in amongst some tight racing with older and more experienced club crews can only be of benefit to them both
Expect Thames A to be out ahead of the rest of the field
Leander and Molesey to all be battling it out for the top placing thereafter
All three will be in a tight contest and it may come down to who has that little bit more racing sharpness at this point in the season
Wallingford Regatta is the opening regatta of summer campaigns
crews will look to break records throughout Sunday’s racing
The Cooperative Funeral Care Trophy for Junior 15 eights is always a lively event
with only 12 seconds separating the six crews in last year’s final
The previous winners of the Wallingford Open Junior 15 Eight event will be aiming to replicate last year’s regatta
where they won both the final and their heat
Hampton School Boat Club finished third at the Schools’ Head of the River
under three seconds behind opponents King’s College School Boat Club
and were only a second slower to the Harrods mark point
hinting at the fact they may be a crew more suited to the shorter 2k distance
Placing second at the Schools’ Head of the River 40 days prior will fill this crew with confidence going into their first regatta of the season
Returning from an early April camp to Cerlac
King’s College School Boat Club find themselves in heat A
where they will go head to head with local opponents Westminster School Boat Club
A school that always performs at the top end of junior rowing
Radley College Boat Club finished third at Wallingford in this event last year
Fifth place at the School’s Head shows strength in this Radley cohort
but a boat club of this standard will want more
finishing ahead of Hampton, and will look to return to these heights
A very strong junior crew, Westminster School Boat Club ended the Schools’ Head of the River in a competitive fourth place
A Westminster octo also made an appearance in the J15 octos at the Junior Sculling Head
suggesting that these athletes may be taking a hybrid sculling-sweep approach to their racing this year
Could some speed found in sculling be brought over to their sweep racing
The two-kilometre racing season is upon us once again
Wallingford Regatta is a significant event in that it is the first major spring season regatta
so the podium in the fiercely competitive Open Junior Eights category will likely decide which of the crews can hold their composure the best in the windy conditions
It will be rousing to see the best schoolboy crews in the country face each other head-to-head and get an idea of how they may rank as we head inevitably closer to the National School’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta
As winners of the School’s Head of the River Race
St Paul’s School Boat Club are heading into this weekend as favourites for the gold medal
They have brought in strong J17 talent since last year to bolster the ranks
who was the fastest sweep athlete in the country at the Early ID GB trials
the boat has several returning members from last year
both of whom were in the GB U19 men’s coxless four last summer at the World Rowing Championships in Canada
Despite their strong performance at the School’s Head of the River
it will be crucial for the older athletes in this crew to develop the composure and calmness of the younger athletes if the gold medal is to be theirs on Sunday
both St Paul’s and several of the other eights in this category will have already raced in the Challenge 8s category in the morning
The third-place finishers from the School’s Head of the River Race are always contenders for medal position when the summer racing arrives
with five of their nine athletes having competed for GB at the World Rowing Championships or at Coupe de la Jeunesse
They additionally have the advantage of having rowed together for almost two seasons
as only two of the athletes in this eight are newcomers from last year
Eton are sure to want to prove themselves at Wallingford
and I think that their experience and depth will allow them to do so
Eton will also race the Challenge Eights in the morning
so they will have the added difficulty of managing their effort and fatigue
Completing the School’s Head of the River Race podium
Shiplake College Boat Club will also be racing on Sunday
They finished seven seconds behind St Paul’s
so they are likely to be well in the mix on race day
Shiplake has struggled to hold their winning speed at School’s Head into the later stages of the season
they developed a final five hundred that allowed them much success
They sprinted into third place at the National Schools’ Regatta and kicked past Radley and Eton to secure their spot in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup final last year
Shiplake will not be racing in the morning
so will enter the Junior Eights races with fresh legs
This very possibly may give them the edge going into the final
Hampton School Boat Club and St Edward’s School Boat Club are the two honourable mentions in this category
They were very close behind Eton at the School’s Head of the River Race
With so many crews so close together over 6.8km
they are likely to be tightly packed for the shorter two-kilometre race
the Junior Eights category at Wallingford Regatta is brimming with top-level talent and speed
The racing on Sunday will be explosive and very entertaining
I think it will be St Paul’s heading the podium
the bronze and even silver medals will be hugely contested
with the margins likely to be fractions of a second
It would not be inconceivable for both Radley College Boat Club and King’s College School Boat Club to have a chance at that bronze medal
The highly anticipated regatta season is finally upon us
side-by-side battle highlighting the crews to watch
Wallingford Regatta is set to prove a tough fight and give crews and their spectators an insight into how their seasons could play out
Following an impressive and consistent winter calendar
the Surbiton High School Boat Club crews will be looking to maintain their position at the top of the field
two of the junior 16 squad’s eights collected medals
with a win in the Girls’ Junior 16 Champion Eights
and a silver in the Girls’ Junior 16 First School Eights category
earned a second-place finish in the Women’s Junior 16 Eights at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta
sharing the podium with many of the competitors they will face again this weekend
these crews consist of determined and skilful rowers who are not unfamiliar with fighting at the front
Close competitors to Surbiton High School Boat Club
Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club are no strangers to the eight boat class as their recent efforts have produced an impressive set of results
Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club took a fourth place finish at Schools’ Head in the Girl’s Junior 16 Championship Eights
and another fourth position at Hammersmith Head
There is no doubt in saying here that although recent results tell us that mere seconds could make or break one of these crews’ event
these two crews are strong and clear contenders in the running for the win this weekend
predicting a thrilling display of junior rowing and an exciting spectacle for all
The athletes at Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club are sure to be familiar now with the fellow crews hot on their heels
as proved by their successful sweep at Schools’ Head
cruising to a win in the Girls’ First Junior 16 School Eight
and a third in the second eights’ category
it becomes clear how competitive and close these rival crews are
furthermore building the excitement and uncertainty surrounding the fastest eight
The close-knit bond between these rowers has produced multiple national champions and dominant performances from the school
identifying the potential that these juniors have to start their regatta season with a golden finish
the crew of Wallingford Rowing Club rowers will surely have their eyes on the win this weekend
hoping to maintain their streak following on from the Junior Interregional Regatta where they stormed to the front to take a win in the Women’s Junior 16 eights
They were not the only successful crew from Wallingford Rowing Club that day as their Women’s Junior 16 pair collected a bronze medal
and the Women’s Junior 16 coxless four fought their way to fourth place
It is clear that these rowers are more than capable of delivering an inspiring row to set them ahead of their rivals
provided they once fought to bring their determined and fiery mindset to Dorney Lake
Considering the mentioned crews and the others who are not likely to be left in their wake
I can predict that the fastest crew will be Surbiton High School Boat Club
with Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club mere seconds behind
followed by Wallingford Rowing Club and Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club
however it is highly likely that we will see a six-boat battle to the finish line
With Wallingford Regatta marking the start of the junior regatta season
the Junior Women’s Eights category has 16 entries from across the country
With the crews looking to place a marker down before the National Schools’ Regatta
It wouldn’t be a Junior Women’s rowing event without the formidable Headington School Oxford Boat Club
that several of their top athletes are racing for GB at the Munich Regatta this weekend
meaning it may not be their full first eight
after their second eight had a dominant win at the National Schools’ Regatta 2023
the Headington crew will still be fighting for a podium finish
After coming third at the Schools’ Head of the River Race earlier in the season
St Edward’s School Boat Club (Teddies) will be looking to establish a marker on Sunday
Teddies is a boat club that is rapidly improving their female rowers
racing at Coupe De La Jeunesse for GB last summer
After coming third at Wallingford Regatta last year and later progressing to second at the National Schools’ Regatta last season
Teddies will be looking to deliver a similar and perhaps an even better performance
I predict Teddies to be challenging for the win on Sunday
Shiplake College Boat Club are showing the true depth of their squad
A strong second place finish at the Schools’ Head of the River Race places them in a good position
especially given it won’t be Headington’s top crew
It will be interesting to see the gaps between St Edward’s and Shiplake
given it was only 0.2 seconds separating them during the Schools’ Head
Wallingford Rowing Club is another programme that continues to develop year on year and has reached a point where they are now challenging for podiums in the Junior Women’s eights
After coming second in the coxed four at National Schools’ Regatta last year
the Wallingford girls have now entered an even more competitive category and will be hoping to continue on their upwards trajectory
After their National Schools’ Regatta win in 2021
the Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club (LEH) Senior squad have been missing from podium positions at national events
This cohort of girls seems to be learning from race-to-race and are delivering results that place them at the front of the pack
It won’t be an easy task for these girls to fight for a win
but it is one that I believe is possible – and this weekend could prove pivotal in the National Schools’ Regatta campaign
After a perhaps disappointing Schools’ Head of The River Race
these girls will be back with a vengeance and aiming to hunt down the pack
these girls will go out fighting and I suspect will be an improvement on their Schools’ Head of the River result
Wycliffe Sculling Centre have entered an eight into this event
Whilst there is limited knowledge of this crew
so it’ll be interesting to see how they do
There is also Surbiton High School Boat Club
who will be looking to step on from their promising result from the School’s Head of the River Race
as well as Godolphin and Latymer Boat Club
I predict it will be a close battle for first place between Shiplake and Teddies
I imagine Wallingford and Headington will be hot on their heels
Sania was undertaking an urgent visit to assess the mobility of a patient on the 25th October 2023
On arrival the gentleman was unconscious and slipping out of his chair
Sania called 999 and they guided her to start performing CPR
Sania continued to perform CPR for 5 minutes then the paramedics arrived and continued with them conveying the patient to ED
The patient stayed in the hospital until the 17th November and was discharged home
The Community Therapy service received a referral for mobility assessment and provision of equipment
Assorted members of the CTS team have seen the patient and ensured he and his wife had a suitable bed
stair rails and carer support also identified and requested
All these measures assisted the patient to be able to be comfortable and to achieve the goal of being able to undertake the stairs safely
While the whole of the CTS team have made a difference to this gentleman and his wife by providing excellent bespoke interventions
this nomination is specifically for Sania Aslam
Without Sania responding to the situation she found herself in and taking immediate action the outcome for the patient may have been very different
the patient and his wife sent some flowers to Sania to say thank you for what she did
The patient is now doing very well and is back driving
This incident is not an isolated one for all community teams who visit patients in their own homes
as we often do not know what is awaiting us behind the front door
however on this occasion I can say honestly that Sania saved this gentleman’s life
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The Wallingford Therapy Team based at St Leonard’s Ward win October’s Exceptional People Team Award – for their life changing care
St Leonard’s Ward is part of Wallingford Community Hospital – providing rehabilitation and palliative care for people who no longer require the services of an acute hospital but require greater support than currently provided in their home environment
the team provided care for a patient named Roger
who has lived with Parkinsons for over 11 years
have pledged to live an active life amongst the challenges of the disease
Both Roger and Pam were worried a recent stay at Wallingford Hospital may restrict their active lifestyle – but the Wallingford Therapy Team gave the couple hope with their excellent care to support Roger’s recovery
Just 11 days after Roger’s discharge he was able to enjoy his home and venture out in the car again – this would not have been possible without the team
They have great ambition for their patients and are never short of providing them with motivation and self-belief in their recovery
The team employ strategy and procedures to test and develop individual capacity to ensure patients can return home
They engage with both the patient and their loved ones to make decisions and help the experience be less daunting – Pam praised the team for their interactions
and suggested it helped the productivity of care
The happy and positive atmosphere gives the team a united front
all committed to the goal of patient recovery
doing everything they can to support patients to live their life to the full
“I am delighted to read the fantastic patient feedback the Wallingford Therapy Team received – it demonstrates the real difference this service makes to people’s lives
This award recognises the great level of care the team show to their patients
helping them to recover the best they can”
Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist Claire Austen commented:
“The kind words and recognition for the therapy staff involved in this particular patients’ care are a welcome boost in these challenging times and all too often we can hear more about the things we don’t do well rather than the things we do
“It has been wonderful to see the positive ripple effect this feedback and award has had on the whole team
For a patient’s loved one to take the time to thank the team in this way means so much and is a wonderful reflection of the service they deliver every day to our patients
“As clinical lead I am very proud of this team and how they facilitate engagement and positive outcomes with our patients and work together with our wider MDT to ensure patients receive the highest standard of rehabilitative care
“We are fortunate to have a diverse and broad skill mix within this team who blend together seamlessly to support each other’s learning and workload and there is a shared sense of camaraderie and sense of fun that translates beautifully into making our patients admissions a positive experience.”
The Wallingford Therapy Team were nominated by Pam for their exemplary care
has lived well with Parkinsons for over 11 years but a recent illness in August/September 2024 meant a prolonged hospital stay
“From the outset we were warmly welcomed to St Leonard’s Ward and immediately the team approach across the medical disciplines to ensure patients are cared for and speedily become well enough to return home was so apparent
the physical therapy team worked regularly and effectively with Roger to help him regain his strength and manage the mobility challenges that Parkinson’s presents
“The team were always monitoring his movements and activity to ensure he worked safely but at the same time presented well designed physical challenge to build his strength and physical capacity
Parallel to that outcome the atmosphere intrinsic to this team is so positive
it helps patients to commit to their rehabilitation activity
“My husband also enjoyed the shared ‘banter’ and good humour
Parkinson’s is a disease that can adversely affect mood
the physical activity improved his mood every day
She visited our home and subsequently organised specific aids including a bed to be delivered to ensure Roger can live more easily back at home
Her advice was so insightful and significantly helped Roger to return to a safer home
“The care shown to select activity to assist Roger’s recovery was thoughtful; for example
I was asked to measure the height of steps at home
The team subsequently set up appropriate step challenges
They even went the extra mile to ensure Roger could safely transition from his four-wheel walker to his car seat
“The team also committed to an obviously well used procedure to record activity and progress
Over the weeks this provided a record of achievements and indicator of success
got positive feedback from these records and it was motivating
“As an observer it was also obvious that the intensity and degree of the challenges were adjusted to test and help Roger increase his capabilities
This team are quietly efficient and beyond our specific experience I witnessed their interactions with other patients
The degree of care and attention they give towards their work and personal interactions is second to none.”