Hartpury University and Hartpury College are celebrating the achievements of their rowers at the National Schools Regatta recently.

The rowers secured Hartpury's most successful National Schools Regatta ever, building anticipation for the remaining events of the season - the Henley Women's and Henley Royal Regattas.

The National Schools Regatta was held at the prestigious London 2012 Olympic course, Eton Dorney, and showcased the talent and dedication of the Hartpury Rowing Academy.

Elliott Donovan-Davies (A Levels) backed up his BUCS championship bronze medal with a win. Elliott's outstanding performance began with setting the fastest time in the time trial. He continued to dominate the competition, leading the final from start to finish.

Elliott not only secured a victory, but also shattered Charles Cousins' record, which had stood since 2007. Elliott's achievement sets the stage for a promising future in the sport. Following in the footsteps of other rowing alumni, Elliott will head to the USA after Hartpury College, having been accepted to Stanford University.

Chloe Sheppard (A Levels and Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE)) and Millie Hurrell (Level 3 extended diploma sports and exercise science and DiSE) formed an unstoppable duo in the championship women's double.

Their teamwork and determination propelled them to victory, taking more than five seconds off the record, which was set by another Hartpury College duo in 2019. Like Elliott, Chloe will head to the USA in September to study at the University of Washington.

The Hartpury University and College Boat Club junior racers also made their mark at the Regatta. The J16 women's quad made up of Harriett Bray, Tilly Hudson-Hulls, Giulia Costagliola and Lorelei Weir won the event by more than two seconds - coming from third place at halfway to push into first, winning the event by over two seconds. The girls are about to finish their final year of secondary school and will be attending Hartpury to study A Levels if they get their predicted grades.

Katie Gardner, a first year Hartpury College student studying DiSE and A Levels, made a significant impact in the women's single event, winning a silver medal at her first National Schools Regatta.

Katie and Millie Hurrell also raced for Great Britain at the European Rowing Championships on June 1 and 2, narrowly missing out on medals after finishing in fourth position.

Ben Jackson, head coach of Hartpury Rowing Academy and GB Performance Development Academy, said: "I'm very proud of this team for coming away with two of the weekend's three records set on Sunday. Seven of the rowers are part of the British Rowing Performance Development Academy based at Hartpury University and College, which aims to identify, recruit and develop future Olympic champions.

"These results show that these athletes are certainly on the right track and that the support and training pathway we have in place, is working."

Elsewhere, Hartpury alum Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne qualified for the women's double at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with partner Becky Wilde. The duo was coached by Tom Pattichis, head coach at Hartpury until 2018.

Hartpury's Boat Club is always on the lookout to for new people to the sport. If you're aged 14-18 and are interested in finding out more, contact Ben.Jackson@Hartpury.ac.uk.