A SCHOOL in Marlow has become the top performing state school in the country in rowing after scooping eight medals at the National Schools Regatta in Nottingham last weekend.

Sir William Borlase’s Boat Club won two golds, three silvers and three bronzes – with two of their medals coming in the blue ribband championship eights races.

Fraser Russell set the standard with gold in the Junior 17 boys single scull while Katie Bruce and Ellen Roberts then teamed up to win the Junior 16 girls pairs.

Rufus Biggs then won silver in the Junior 17 boys single scull before joining Hugo Coussens, Chris Lawrie and Fraser Russell in the silver-winning quadruple sculls crew.

Simon Jones and Joel Watson then added silver in the Junior 16 boys pair, while the school also had a hat-trick of bronzes to celebrate.

Chris Lawrie made it onto the podium in the boys single scull, while the girls eight crew of Emma Barnes, Megan Barry, Grace Bolton, Ella Capel-Smith, Georgia Mulraine, Olivia Radcliffe, Ellen Roberts, Kelsey Stoddart and Akil Hashmi were also third, as was the Junior 15 girls championship eights of Ella Kennedy, Molly Brown, Ella Reike, Alex Dust, Amber Bray, Rhianna Cross, Yasmin Ryman-King, Grace Harding, Emma Brune.

Director of rowing Robin Dowell said: “An outstanding team performance with many crews hitting their targets or better – a positive attitude and sheer hard work have been the key ingredients behind such a solid performance.

“I am delighted with the medals and very happy with the outcome, especially two in championship eights as this is the first time the club has won medals in this category.”