Captain of Boats, Simon Steele, fulfilled a long-held ambition of winning gold at the National Rowing Championships at Nottingham on Sunday 19th July.  He stroked a junior quadruple scull that had in it his former GB training partner and junior Olympic oarsman Jonny Walton from Leicester Rowing Club and two boys from the Sir William Borlase School in Marlow. 

The Magdalen College School Composite, using black and red blades, were convincing winners of Sunday's final, beating a strong crew from the Windsor Boys School by over four lengths in a time of 6:58, which though not a course record was two seconds faster than the men's crew from Leander Club in the Open Quadruple Sculls.

Simon has enjoyed enormous support from rowing master Stephen Spowart, who was there to watch the final, as he was when Simon won his first national medal (a silver) for MCS at the National Championships in 2006.  'This was a great race, a great win and a super end to my school boy rowing career.  I am so proud that I won my national gold in Magdalen College School colours and in front of Mr Spowart.'

Simon will go on to row for Imperial College London from October.  His rowing achievements have already been recognised by his new club as he has been awarded a room in the boathouse at Putney, an honour usually bestowed on second or third year students.