Junior 16 GB v France 2026

Seb Takes On France (And Wins!): From Monmouth to GB Glory 🇬🇧

If you’ve been down at the club recently, you might have noticed the river looking a little quieter. That’s probably because one of our own long-time juniors, Seb, was busy taking the French rowing scene by storm last weekend!

Seb was selected to represent Great Britain at the annual Junior 16 GB vs. France Match in Gravelines, France. Competing with his school crew from Shiplake in the J16 Quad (4x), they didn’t just participate—they won!

Seb sitting at two

But let’s be honest, we all know where he learned his best tricks. While he’s been doing great things at school, Seb has been a proud member of Monmouth Rowing Club for many years. He is also, of course, the son of our very own Simon—which means we now have to deal with Simon walking around the boat club with a grin so wide it might actually interfere with his sculling.

A Summer of "Eat, Sleep, Row, Repeat"

To say Seb and his crew have had a busy few months is a massive understatement. If you think your summer has been hectic, try balancing GCSEs/exams with a relentless racing calendar. This crew has been practically living in a boat, racing all summer at:

• National Schools Regatta

• Henley Royal Regatta

• The GB Trials

  
  

All that hard work culminated in last weekend's trip across the Channel, and what a trip it was.

Domination in Gravelines

Seb wasn’t the only one bringing home some silverware. The entire GB squad absolutely dominated the French on their home water. Out of 14 races, GB won 10, clean-sweeping all three major team trophies.

The GB vs. France match is historically seen as the crucial first stepping stone towards senior international rowing. Judging by the silverware Seb is bringing back to Wales, this is definitely not the last time we'll see him wearing GB red, white, and blue.

A massive congratulations from everyone at Monmouth Rowing Club, Seb! We are incredibly proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what you do next. (Just don't forget us when you're at the Olympics, okay?)