Rob Roy Boat Club recognise Grace Church’s service with boat-naming ceremony

It was a proud moment for Grace Church last week when she poured champagne over the bows of a quadruple sculling boat newly named after her at a Rob Roy Boat Club.

The 18-year-old, who joined the club’s junior squad aged 13 through their ‘Try Rowing’ outreach project on the lake at Milton Country Park, never missed a training session in five years.

She led its crews to many successes, beginning with a major win at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta, through to being the first Rob Roy women’s crew to race at Henley Royal Regatta in the summer of 2022.

Church, who is now in her first year at Nottingham University and already in their top rowing squad, attended the ceremony with her family.

Rob Roy’s director of junior rowing, Jo Burch, said: “We have been privileged to have Grace with us for the last five years.

“She has been a superb role model for the squad and we will miss her. We are delighted that all future Rob Roy girls’ crews racing in the quad will have Grace’s determination with them in spirit.”