Northampton Head 2010

The first race of the year at a cold, cold Northampton saw us come away with four wins for the club. There were other really good races as well from other crews, so a promising start to the year. We put in a good number of crews, especially from the ladies squad, showing the growing strength in depth. This also saw another four new rowers make their MKRC début – including a winning start for Ashling.

IM3 4+
First time out for three of this crew, who only just scraped into IM3 despite having three novices in the boat. Tim provided the experience (and the points) but a good row from the new guys saw a creditable time on their racing début.

Novice 1x
Despite having eight points (regressed!), Tim has no sculling points at all and this was his first race in a single. He accomplished his primary aim (finishing upright and dry) and actually posted a good time, despite a close encounter with the bank. Plenty more to come, was his view, as he gains experience.

Novice 2x-
Josh and Paul were racing (on handicap) against junior crews in this category and had the strength to see them take the win. A few interesting moments for the spectators as they seemed to cut up another MK crew but this was a trick of the distance

Vet C 2x-
Pierre-Yves and I reprised our successful outing at Peterborough last year, winning the category. Despite an interminable delay at the start (thanks to a Women’s Eight who kept everyone waiting in the freezing cold – thanks girls!) we put in a strong row and with Pierre-Yves nailing the lines put in a very pleasing time

Vet C 4x-
Despite a strong looking opposing crew from Canterbury Pilgrims, we pulled out probably our best race to date to win this event. A nice, powerful and controlled race actually saw us post the fastest time in the division, including being faster than an eight! All credit to Simon, picking up his first win.

Womens Novice 4+
First race for Ashling and only the second event for Frances and Andi but the practise and coaching paid off as they took the win in this category, beating their opposition by over a minute! Lou made up the crew and this looks to be a promising combination for the season ahead.

Womens IM3 4+ – three crews
As there was no opposition for the top boat at IM2, it was a case of mix and match at IM3, to produce three crews. These crews managed to place 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the category, all trailing a very quick Stratford boat. Promising to see some of the novice ladies rowing in these boats and not looking at all out of place. Despite not winning, it shows the strength in depth that the ladies are getting

Overall view
Although Northampton isn’t one of the “big” events, it IS friendly and well organised and one of our “must do” races. It’s a good starter for the year with less pressure and a nice bit of river. Somehow they always conjure up the same weather as well – brilliant blue sky but bitterly cold (my toes have only just thawed out). I guess the only suggestion would be to get the eights boated first in each division as we always seem to wind up sitting for ages in the cold waiting for an eight to wend it’s way down. It was really nice to see four new faces in their first events, and all seemed to “enjoy” their first taste of racing. Personally very pleasing to come away from an event with two wins as well. A good way to spend a Saturday!

Photos on-line at the MKRC fotopic site and results up at the Northampton RC site

The big freeze

The disadvantages of training on a lake are becoming all too apparent. Given the low temperatures and heavy snow around MK, the WHOLE of Caldecotte Lake is frozen. This is playing havoc with our training – our last session on the water was well before Christmas and even circuits are off tonight as the club house is snowed in. Mind you, I’m still suffering from Monday’s session.

Photos taken this afternoon from Monellan Grove. Brrrr…

More photos now on the MKRC photo site

Christmas Party 2009

Proving that we’re not just about training and racing, our Christmas Party was a great excuse for socialising, drinking and taking the mick out of a number of people. It’s amazing how well some of your fellow rowers scrub up – it can be quite a challenge to recognise someone you know really well from the back, dressed in lycra and all how and sweaty, when they’re all smart and made up (well, the girls, anyway). Equally surprising is how the club house can be transformed into a Christmassy party venue.

Pretty well attended and many thanks to those who helped before, during and after (especially Paula for doing so much food!).

Some great memories of the last year rekindled while the Christmas Awards were handed out. I’m sure this isn’t a full list but…

Senior Moment awards to the Ladies Vet crew who carefully de-rigged a boat to re-rig it the opposite way round – only to get down to the water to find they’d put it back exactly the same way as it had been to start with

Lane Discipline award to me, based on my uncanny ability to start on one side of the river at Warwick and wind up hitting the opposite bank (not to mention a rather too close encounter with a bridge at Bedford)

Get Stuffed award for Steve, who managed to bring a packet of Paxo stuffing to Peterborough (he thought it was cake bars, allegedly)

Digging out of a hole award for Steph. Having won at Bedford Quarts she was washing out her pot (prior to having a beer…) and saw someone from another club doing the same. On asking what she’d won, the reply was that it wasn’t hers; in fact she’d been knocked out in the semi – by Steph’s crew. Ooops.

Another one for Steve was the Mr Bump award, for failing to spot the very large barge at Abingdon. The one that’s moored there. Permanently.

Little Miss Chatterbox naturally (despite her very loud protestations) also went to Steph (circuits are SO quiet when she’s not there)

The 101% award went to one of the new guys, John. At his first circuit session he desperately wanted to keep up. So much so, he went very, very white and disappeared outside, to throw up. Shows commitment though…

Owing to her total lack of co-ordination, Becks received the Spotty Dog award. You have to see her pysching up to do these to appreciate this one.

Dean was awarded the special prize of Mr Indecent. Amongst other reasons, this was for his increasingly shredded shorts that he wears to circuits.

Finally, following the saga of the “missing” Galaxy bars of Facebook, an emergency Galaxy was given to Andi, in case Tim hides the others.

Marlow Head 2009

Some great results today, despite some awful weather conditions at Dorney Lake. Top of the pile were Tim and I, winning the Vet Doubles but good showing from the other four crews as well. The First Division went off in clear, calm, sunny weather; by Division Two it was torrential rain and gusting winds. It calmed a bit for Division Three with light rain but some vicious squalls.

Womens IM2 4+
A very impressive row in Division 1 from the ladies crew saw them finish in second place in this category, losing by just 1.8 seconds to the CORC first boat. This was a great result, beating some very big names, such as Marlow, Eton Excelsior and a second CORC boat. The losing margin all the more galling as they haven’t been able to train together for several weeks!

Womens IM3 4+
Rowing in the second Division, this was a truly horrible introduction to competition for Andi and Frances with driving rain and high winds. Despite this, the crew put in a really good performance, finishing fourth of seven. A really good start for the two new girls.

Womens Novice 4+
Again, racing in the second division, the Novice crew rowed well to come fourth in the category, despite a couple of boat stopping crabs.

Senior 2-
Nick and Tim’s stated aim was to finish the course! Rowing at Senior level as this was a late entry, they achieved far more than their minimum aim (despite one crab that they thought was going to have them in) and put in a competitive row to finish a really creditable second!

Vet 2x-
Only Tim and my second race but what a cracker. We swapped around with me stroking and Tim steering and this worked much better. Despite strong cross winds and a couple of big squalls we clicked and put in a really strong race to come away with the win in the Vet 2x- category. Actually feel that rowing on Caldecotte Lake gave us an edge here, being used to dealing with seriously nasty conditions.

Overall
Despite a REALLY early start and a lot of doubt about whether the event would go ahead, this was a truly successful day for the club. Coming away from Marlow with a win, two seconds and two fourths shows the progress we are making. Maybe, just maybe, people will stop being surprised at us winning events (the guy handing out medals couldn’t believe it!) and start taking us seriously.

Pretty good event and reasonable marshalling. Just a pity that they handed out pretty tacky medals rather than proper pots to the winners (can’t drink from a medal and at £9 a seat a bit cheap!).

Just be warned – watch out if Guildford are around and hang onto your trestles!!!!!! Just joking and you were good fun, guys! Look forward to seeing you up at MKRC as we hope to be holding our first Regatta next May. Watch this space!

Finally, thanks to Karen for jumping in at the last minute to trailer as the temporary repair to my car failed on Saturday evening.

Photos on-line already at my MKRC photo site.

Results now up on the Marlow RC site

Veteran Fours Head 2009

And I thought the Pairs Head was a long way! Out on the Tideway again today, for the Veteran Fours Head in the Quad, rowing at Vet C. Really nice as we started at number 7 so didn’t have to wait around too long for the start.

In stark contrast to yesterday, the weather was clear, bright and sunny and virtually calm (the Fours Head yesterday was cancelled because of high winds and heavy rain). There was a very strong stream running (with lots of alarming sized debris) which made keeping station at the start “fun”. Although we’d had to rejig the crew yesterday, with Tim coming in for an unwell Simon, the race went very smoothly. Results now up and we came 5th of eight in Vet C, and a creditable 61st overall. Really pleased, especially as two of the crews in front of us were composites and three were Tideway clubs.

We did lose some time as two boats (London and Thames, who should know better) left us nowhere to go coming off of Hammersmith bridge, causing us to virtually stop, to avoid ramming the marshal. Otherwise, no mistakes and a clean row.

Rowing back is sheer hell though. Four and a bit miles at race pace, then the same back again, this time against the tide. Must be mad but despite this really enjoyed it (although the alcohol now is numbing the pain) and we’re already talking about the Eight’s Head!

Photos on-line at the MKRC Photo site, with race results now up at the Vet Fours Website

Upper Thames Head 2009

Yuk. The only way to describe the conditions for yesterday’s Upper Thames Head. Heavy rain and driving winds for the first division with at least the rain holding off in the second division. This made for a very hard race, with a strong, gusting head/cross wind and a fast stream running.

W.IM1 4+
Although really an IM3 level crew, the ladies put in a strong performance in the worst of the weather in Division 1. Not surprisingly finishing last in their section, it was still a good time.

W.IM2 4+
Swapping Becks and Yemin from rowing to coxing was the only change for the IM2 boat in the second division. Again, still and IM3 crew, they did well to finish sixth of eight crews. Much praise for Becks’ coxing in this one, avoiding the carnage by Temple Island

IM3 2x-
Still gaining experience in the double, Josh and Paul found the rough conditions very hard going, finishing well behind the other IM3 double. They weren’t helped of course by the coming together with another crew…

Vet D 2x-
Despite coming together with another crew (yes, we did clash with Paul and Josh, but only as we were forced over into them by an UTRC double who needed at least half of the river to pass us) Steve and I put in a good row. The rough water allowed us to overhaul Paul and Josh off the start although they then came back at us as we tired and the water calmed by Temple Island. On the final straight, we managed to push past them again as their lack of experience told – in the conditions they had been tensing their arms so much they could hardly feather at the end! We finished well off the UTRC double, although losing time because of the coming together with the other two didn’t help.

Overall, very hard racing in very poor conditions. This one is a real test of endurance and technique.

Must comment on the (lack of) organisation. Firstly, the parking arrangements had cars parked nice and close to the boating area and the trailers parked about half a kilometre away; not fun carrying boats and blades that distance, weaving in between parked cars. Then, the marshalling (especially in division one) was almost non-existent and finally, there was the game of spot the start post! Considering this is one of the most expensive heads and UTC are a “big” club, not impressed. Oh, and the marshall shouting at Paul and Josh to come in from the far bank when we were being pushed across into them; had they done so, we would have had a major collision. I guess there’s no way they are going to yell at one of their own crews…

Photos are already on-line at the MKRC photo site and results are up at the UTRC results page

Pairs Head 2009

It doesn’t sound much, just 4k but it really is a long, long way. Yesterday saw Steve and I haul ourselves down to London again for the annual Pairs (not Paris as some would have…) Head. For those that don’t know it, this is a 4,000 meter course on the Thames, starting at the Boat Race finish post and going downstream to Hammersmith.

We boated this year from Tideway Scullers, right next to the start line. Conditions were, as they say, interesting. The wind was reasonably brisk and with a strong tide running, just keeping position before the start was quite an effort. The usual mayhem and chaos took place while waiting – certain London crews obviously DO own the river and believe looking where they are going is up to the others, not themselves. One crew in particular managing to hit at least three other crews while doing a race piece into the on-coming traffic. Add to this the impatient crews determined to get in front – even though their start position is down the field – and a good afternoon’s entertainment had by the bystanders.

The race wasn’t one of our best; starting midway through the Vet D group we were pretty quickly closed down and passed by three other competing boats. After this we settled a bit and paced with the rest of the group, through some very rough water (bit like Caldecotte Lake though!). However, it was an achievement and we didn’t finish last in the Vet D category, so can’t be too disappointed. Overall, we finished 8th (of 9) in Vet D and 261st (of 374 starters).

Rowing back at the end is just sheer Hell. Having done the 4k at racing speed to turn and then go back the whole 4k against the tide isn’t funny. Especially with one double so desperate to go past us (the race is over guys!) that despite several calls to “take a look” they finally hit us. What a pair of total muppets!

Even this wasn’t enough to put a damper on the day though. Hopefully we’ll be back again next year; with any luck with both of us feeling 100% this time.

Photos on-line at the MKRC Fotopic site and race results at The Pairs Head site

Bedford Autumn Fours & Small Boats Head 2009

Bit of a funny day, really. We came away without any wins (unusual) but with most of the crews happy with their rows and no real sense of disappointment. For the Womens’ squad, it was very much a case of mixing and matching, with a total of three IM2 4+ and two IM3 4+ boats going out. It also saw the Vet Quad and Double back in action plus a début for a new pairing of Josh and Paul as a Novice double. After some time out, the Juniors were also present, putting out four boats.

W.IM2 4+
Three crews out in this category, showing the increasing standard and depth of the Womens’ squad. The top placed crew came second, beaten by the St. Neots crew they’d pushed into second the previous week by just eight seconds. The other two boats finished 9th and 10th of the ten entries but still posted very respectable times.

W.IM3 4+
Third and fifth for the two boats at this level, although the winning Cantabs crew were clearly ahead of all of the other crews.

Nov 2x-
First time out for Josh and Paul saw an encouraging performance which put them fourth overall but the highest placed club crew. They even prevented the dominance of Bedford School taking the top four places, despite a couple of close encounters with hard stuff on the edge of the river…

IM3 4x-
Rowing at IM3 rather than Vet C, a good (probably best to date) performance by the Quad put us third of four, although the winning Bedford School crew were streets ahead. The quad sat midway between the two Guildford crews, again showing progress, just three seconds behind the crew in second place. Big plus – we were the fastest MK crew of the day!

Vet D 2x-
Initially disappointed when we looked at the results as we were last of four, but then realised that no handicapping had been applied (and the category was Vet B-D), we were only eight seconds or so behind Paul and Josh AND we beat the juniors, so not so bad after all. Don’t know about Steve but I was absolutely shattered at the end of this one (my second and his third race of the day)

Mixed Vet C 2x-
Only the second outing for Steve and Clare and a reasonable time, finishing second behind St. Ives. No steering dramas today, either!

J18 2x-
Ryan and Tim still learning the ropes, so no surprise that they finished well down, especially after a couple of unscheduled stops. Much more to come from them, I’m sure

J18 1x
Three of the juniors out in this category, with John and Tim showing a big improvement, placing in the middle of the division. Ryan’s put in a good effort but his lack of race experience left him trailing the others

Results, inevitably, on-line almost immediately, are at Bedford RC

My photos from the day now loaded as well at the MKRC Fotopic site

St Neots Head 2009

The first Head race of the winter saw yet another great performance by the ladies, with the WIM2 4+ taking the honours. Despite three of the crew suffering from heavy colds and rowing at IM2 for the first time, their strength and technique was enough to take the win by five seconds over the nearest crew. Considering this was a St Neots boat on their own water that contained some GB Juniors, this was a seriously impressive result. Maybe people will finally take notice and stop being surprised at being beaten by MK?

The other two boats out didn’t fare as well, the second WIM2 4+ boat being a bit off the pace and Steve and Clare making their racing début in a double had a few steering problems that put them well down the field.

Results on line here, and photos now up at MKRC Fotopic site

No other boats today as no competition for the Quad or Steve and I. Closest I got to racing was coxing the second ladies boat; now I know why my kids get so grumpy when they’re not competing but just watching…

End of Season Awards

A great night out at Strada in the Hub in Central MK for the end of season dinner and awards. Really nice to see so many new faces there, especially from the latest “Learn to Row” course, with Tom, Thomas, Fred, Roger, Andrea and Frances all there.

The awards for the season went to:

Oarsperson of the Year: Jo Heywood
A central figure in the top ladies crew this year, winning so many events, Jo not only contributed directly to their success but also freely passed on her knowledge and experience to help drive the crew on

Most Improved: Charlene Mills
Having been pushed (unwillingly!) into Stroke for the ladies crew, Charlene has gone from strength to strength through the year, driving the crew forward and improving all aspects of her rowing through the season

Club Person of the Year: Karen Wilson
Despite several other strong contenders, Karen’s immense contribution to the “Learn to Row” programme and her utter determination to keep helping despite serious injury saw her most deservedly pick up this award

Special mention: Dean Abraham
In recognition of his huge contribution to the Ladies squad this year, taking a talented but disorganised group of women under his wing and turning them into a real force to be reckoned with, putting up with the tears and tantrums to put together a squad that just got used to winning wherever they went!