Frances Houghton
Encyclopedia
Frances Julia P. Houghton (born September 19, 1980) is an English
female rower
, noteworthy for winning Silver Medal
s in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004
and 2008 Olympic Games
.
She was born in Oxford
, and started her rowing at the Dragon School
, before moving on to The King's School, Canterbury
. She then graduated from King's College London
with a BA in Hispanic Studies in 2003.
She won a Bronze Medal
at the 1998 World Junior championships in the Double scull
s along with partner Debbie Flood
. The following year they both won Gold
in the Double sculls at the World Under 23 Championships.
Since 2005, Houghton has sat in the 3 seat of the GB women's quadruple scull, where she has won four world championships, starting with Rebecca Romero
, Sarah Winckless
and Katherine Grainger in 2005, Debbie Flood, Winckless & Grainger in 2006 and finally in 2007 with Katherine Grainger
, Debbie Flood
, and Annie Vernon
. At the 2008 Olympics, the quartet, favourites for Gold, led for much of the race, before being overhauled by the Chinese crew in the last few hundred metres of the race, and winning Silver.
Having had a year off in 2009, she returned in 2010 to take another World Championship Gold in the women's quadruple sculls, this time with Debbie Flood
, Beth Rodford
, and Annie Vernon
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
female rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, noteworthy for winning Silver Medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
s in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and 2008 Olympic Games
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
She was born in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and started her rowing at the Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
, before moving on to The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School is a British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the historic English cathedral city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group....
. She then graduated from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
with a BA in Hispanic Studies in 2003.
She won a Bronze Medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
at the 1998 World Junior championships in the Double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
s along with partner Debbie Flood
Debbie Flood
Deborah Kirsty "Debbie" Flood is an English female rower, noteworthy for winning Silver Medals in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games....
. The following year they both won Gold
Gold Medal
Gold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
in the Double sculls at the World Under 23 Championships.
Since 2005, Houghton has sat in the 3 seat of the GB women's quadruple scull, where she has won four world championships, starting with Rebecca Romero
Rebecca Romero
Rebecca Jayne Romero MBE is an English sportsperson, a former World Champion and Olympic Games medallist at rowing, and a former World champion and reigning Olympic champion track cyclist.-Biography:...
, Sarah Winckless
Sarah Winckless
Sarah Winckless is a former British rower. She won a bronze medal in Double sculls with her partner Elise Laverick at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and was twice world champion, in 2005 and 2006....
and Katherine Grainger in 2005, Debbie Flood, Winckless & Grainger in 2006 and finally in 2007 with Katherine Grainger
Katherine Grainger
Katherine Grainger MBE is a Scottish rower.Her family moved to Netherley, Aberdeenshire and Katherine represents Edinburgh's St Andrew Boat Club in rowing events. She trained on the River Dee, which has the distinction of being the only river she has fallen into whilst rowing.She is a three time...
, Debbie Flood
Debbie Flood
Deborah Kirsty "Debbie" Flood is an English female rower, noteworthy for winning Silver Medals in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games....
, and Annie Vernon
Annie Vernon
Annabel Morwenna Vernon is an English rower.She was educated at Wadebridge School, Downing College, Cambridge and King's College London ....
. At the 2008 Olympics, the quartet, favourites for Gold, led for much of the race, before being overhauled by the Chinese crew in the last few hundred metres of the race, and winning Silver.
Having had a year off in 2009, she returned in 2010 to take another World Championship Gold in the women's quadruple sculls, this time with Debbie Flood
Debbie Flood
Deborah Kirsty "Debbie" Flood is an English female rower, noteworthy for winning Silver Medals in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games....
, Beth Rodford
Beth Rodford
Beth Rodford is a British rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com...
, and Annie Vernon
Annie Vernon
Annabel Morwenna Vernon is an English rower.She was educated at Wadebridge School, Downing College, Cambridge and King's College London ....
.