Sunbury Regatta report 2010

When did Skiff Club last win 6 events at a regatta ? Dave Tappin reckons it would have been at Skiff Champs in 2007 ...

It was a typical day of August weather, veering wildly (and repeatedly) from balmy sunshine to tropical downpour - but our 20 skiffers plus gallant and very busy coxes (Heather, Lynette and Toni) stayed, drenched and shivering but triumphant, to stand and cheer as our winners collected their pots from the Mayor in full (slightly soggy) regalia and the MP for Staines.

The roll of honour was headed by our Mixed Veteran Double, Keith Shore and Fran Kenden, coxed by Amanda Leach, winning one of the last races of the day at around 5.30pm, in convincing style. A class act.

The next most venerable winning combo was Tony Gordon and Stephen Russell, coxed by Lynette Skelton, who beat Martin Black and Brind Waldron in the final of Gents Novice Restricted Doubles. Tony, a long-standing SC member, has (I believe) never won a 'status' skiffing event - and here he threw caution to the winds, cashed in his many hours of training this season, entered two skiffing events (and a punting one!), and came away with a pot for one and losing finalist for the other. Champion. And if as one of our top coaches remarked we can get him using his shoulders properly there will be no stopping him! And massive congratulations to Stephen, another glowing example of dedicated training, who has climbed from total beginner to meritorious winner in about 5 months.

And now we are into the first of two canny combinations of a seasoned skiffer with one of our crop of brilliant novices (respect to Roger Haines and Bob Downie for hours spent discussing form and status points before picking crews) :

Hamish Gaunt and Beccy Golland (coxed Amanda) were too strong for Valeria Tretyak and a creaking Tony Gordon (coxed by Heather) in the all-Skiff Club final of the Mixed Novice Restricted Doubles. Hamish, smarting from a very narrow early knock-out in the Gents Junior Doubles (with me), abandoned his resolution to do only one event per regatta and stood in for Tom Lee to partner Beccy Golland to great effect, his long powerful stroke suiting Beccy's natural style. The irrepressible Beccy, resplendent in lion face-painting in Skiff Club colours, completed her fourth race of the day over this gruelling course - and is still UNDEFEATED in competition, having entered and won 1 event at Chertsey and 2 here! 'Woman of the Match' award to Beccy; and she reckoned some of her performances were disappointing .. we look forward to more.

The second winning 'Pro-Am' combination was in the Ladies Junior Doubles, where newcomer Rachel Miller showed great potential and benefited from following the great experience, focus and solid technique of Amanda Leach - and the deft and positive coxing of Toni Weekes. Despite their disparity in physique, timing was excellent - this is a well-matched double; fitness is clearly a strength, with their final coming barely half an hour after the previous heat. We can hope for more from them.

Our fifth and sixth victories were all-novice, and very sweet. Dittons may dominate the Senior events for now (and extremely impressive they are, faultless exponents of top-flight skiffing at extraordinary speed) and Valley are very strong at JS, as are Wraysbury at Junior this year. But as our novices continue to progress this season and next, and are followed by others equally hard-working, capable and fun-loving .. who knows ?

The Ladies Novice Doubles was ANOTHER ALL-SC FINAL, with Samantha Grey-Wilson and Collen Dawson riding high after their victory at Hampton Court & Dittons, pitted against Verena Diehl and Beccy, who were victorious at Chertsey. Sam and Collen were a delight to cox, but I fear the difference between my weight and Heather's (coxing V & B) may have accounted for the 1-length margin by which they went down. A cracking race, rowed with courage, determination and good spirit to make our club proud.

And lastly ... two more of our 'new girls' win their first trophy ! The well-chosen pairing of Lesley Russell's maturity and meticulous preparation with Jana Mandakova's ferocious competitive spirit and youthful vigour (supported by a serious level of fitness training) never looked like losing to their Dittons opponents in the final of the Ladies Novice Restricted Doubles. And the cox ? Amanda again, for the 3rd time that day. Marital harmony assured, with Stephen and Lesley getting off the mark together; and Jana finally getting the win she deserves.

This very nearly added up to us wresting that extraordinary Victor Ludorum gong trophy from Dittons, who have held it for years. One or two more wins would have done it ... so many thanks to those who tried : Roger Haines, Brind Waldron, Martin Black, Nick Mattey, Valeria Tretyak, Lydia Blinston, Roger Hughes and Michael Westropp.

Also to those who gave their time in sometimes awful conditions to umpire (Roger Hughes and David Gramolt), drive launches (Martin B), transport blades (Martin B!), and judge / time-keep (John Bateman). Or give sage advice (President Gordon Dear). Who have I missed ...

I've rambled on a bit, but this was a SPECIAL DAY for Skiff Club, and bodes well. This success is credit to :

- all the winners, of course. But also ..

- the many members who have given their time, patience, knowledge and skill to coaching them. One of our novices said to me yesterday that some of the novices from other clubs clearly hadn't had the benefit of quality coaching such as they (the SC novices) had had. True and very gratifying.

- particularly, Bob Downie and Roger Haines who have combined their talent-spotting and experience and enthusiasm for the club to produce winning combinations

- and, it must be said, to the SRA (Skiff Racing Association) for their innovations to bring in new racers and bring back old ones : the Restricted Novice class, and new flexible points-related doubles statuses. We had our doubts, but Bill Taylor our SRA rep persuaded us we should give it a try and support it. How right he was.

There are still 6 scoring regattas and 2 marathons this season. Plenty to play for ...

Tom Millest (lucky captain)