STUDENTS in the Ding showcased their abilities as both sportspeople and scholars by winning big at the UK’s largest university rowing competition.
Reading University Boat Club (RUBC) collected 12 medals, four gold, two silver and six bronze, at the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Regatta in April – weeks before their end of year exams.
More than 2,600 students from 72 universities took part in the national event in Nottingham.
Will Rand, RUBC’s Director of Rowing, said: “All the students and coaches have worked so hard all year to make these results possible, it’s amazing to see that dedication pay off.
“Students have to get up very early and train for long hours while working hard on their exams and coursework. It’s really tough, but these challenges develop skills which will really help shape their careers and their lives. They’re a great bunch who deserve all their success.”
The team’s success comes as Ed Fuller was selected to represent the British Rowing para mixed coxed four at the European Rowing Championships in Slovenia, which takes place from May 25-28.
RUBC received further national recognition as club members Louis Powell and Sol Hewitt were called up to represent British Rowing in Germany earlier this month.
The pair raced in the U23 Men’s Double Sculls and the U23 Men’s Quadruple Sculls at the International Wedau Regatta in Duisburg over the weekend of May 13 and 14.
Selection for the Regatta put the rowing stars on a pathway to potentially representing Team GB at future Olympic games.
Moving forward, several members of RUBC will compete at Henley Royal Regatta, which takes place from June 27-July 2.
The club is full of success stories, with Finnola Straton and Kabir Bedi being two particularly impressive individuals.
Finnola, a 19-year-old PPE student, won two gold medals and a silver medal at the BUCS Regatta. She previously rowed at Avon County Rowing Club and came to Reading because of its stellar rowing reputation.
Management School undergraduate Kabir Bedi is originally from Kenya, where he was a high-performing swimming junior. With no swimming pool at Reading, he decided to join the boat club in his second year. He has made significant development in the men’s intermediate squad.
