Natasha & Xeni secure GB Rowing vests

Two Hereford Cathedral School pupils will be representing Great Britain in rowing this summer.

Year 11 pupil, Xeni C, has been selected to represent Great Britain in the J16 GB versus France match this summer, while Natasha P (Year 12) has been selected to represent Great Britain in river rowing at this summer's Coupe competition, following successful trials earlier this month.

Natasha also attended the recent GB beach sprints trials and was ranked as the fastest U19 female athlete in the UK, beating participants who have represented GB in prior years. Beach sprint is an upcoming Olympic event involving running and rowing (Natasha is pictured taking part below). Unfortunately, as the Coupe competition clashes with the GB beach sprints, Natasha will have to drop out of the beach sprints for this year.

These remarkable achievements are a testament to Xeni and Natasha’s hard work, commitment, and relentless training attitude throughout the last few years.

Xeni commented: “I’ve received expert performance coaching from Mr Wellburn and his team who went above and beyond to enable me to perform at this level. It feels amazing to represent Great Britain during my studies, proving that balancing training and school work is possible.”

Natasha has set her sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and hopes to study architecture at university alongside her training programme.

Head of Rowing, Mr Wellburn, commented: “Natasha and Xeni are incredible examples of what HCS athletes can be when our students put their mind to something. The attributes they’ve shown to training have enabled them to perform on an international stage, and earn the right to represent Great Britain. I am incredibly proud to call them HCSBC athletes.”

Xeni is pictured below (far right), along with the HCS J18 crew at Henley Royal Regatta 2023.