Walton Reach Regatta report 2011

Hi All Sizzling Skiff Club continue to conjure up a wealth of wins at Walton Reach Regatta.

This was another race of first time racers, first time racing for The Skiff Club, first time pairings & first wins, one in particular after a long time coming. Sweet !!

Once again our summer weather decided to tantalise us with a lovely start to the morning before turning the seasons back as the clouds rolled in to bring heavy rain for a couple of hours or so. Clearly however the sun shone on the righteous as this downpour came between my races leaving our battling crews to endure the elements. Nothing could dampen their spirits though as the squad successfully progressed through to 14 Finals to bring the sun out once more.

Having progressed up to play with the big girls in Juniors, no one was going to pull the pigtails of our seasoned pairing, even if they had some. There's no messing with our trio of beauties bringing home the first win of the day in the Ladies Junior Doubles:

Caroline Matthews & Lesley Russell, coxed Hilary Shore Winning by 1 length in a cracking time of 3.01

The next win was the real surprise & delight of the day for me as I had to introduce these two ladies on the afternoon of the race ...... true Skiff Club stuff. So this is the boat that resulted in most of the firsts & a double delight as they annihilated their opposition (names withheld to protect embarrassment) to win 'Easily' in 3 min 45 sec. Many congratulations to:

Jennie Jurianz & Laura Staunton, coxed Toni Weekes Ladies Novice Restricted Doubles

Whilst the whole crew is to be commended, especially as it was Laura's first win, the accolade has to go to Jennie Jurianz in sticking with it over 14 years to achieve her first win.

Now that's dedication & persistence. Inspirational !

Now I make no apologies for these long winded reports, firstly it's not my fault we win so much & secondly these guys & girls have flogged their guts out for these wins so I'm going to provide them the acknowledgement that they deserve.

Names that by now you'll be coming only too familiar with continued to swell the Ormiston Points pot:

Stretch & Caroline Matthews, coxed Amanda Leach Mixed Junior Doubles 3.02 by 3.5 lengths

Caroline (I'll take 3 Pots again) Matthews in Ladies Novice Singles Another 'Easily' verdict in 3.23

Stretch (I'll take 2) & Henry (Me too, this one 1st) Roffey , coxed Lesley Russell in Gents Novice Doubles, by sorry someone missed recording it whilst I was racing, or should I say loosing! Never mind, buy an Almanac next year, it'll be worth it.

Again second win in succession for:

Markus Widmer & Sangeetha Iengar, coxed Laura Staunton Winning Mixed Novice Doubles by 3 length, No Time Taken (NTT)

First Singles win -

Again winning your first Singles event is always special, even when you've been pushed into it by a bossy Captain, Remember, have faith, your Captain knows what's good for you. You have to see the photos to appreciate the weather that this gutsy girl went out in to pull this off & she did it in style. Congratulations for winning Ladies Novice Restricted Singles goes to:

Sangeetha (2 for me please too) Iengar winning by 3.5 lengths in 3.51

Last but by no means least we have our Gents Novice Singles winner:

Henry Roffey & this time my apologies, no distance or time recorded. Anyone having the result, please redeem my failure.

So if you haven't worked it out already our final tally was 8 wins against 9 for DSPC, leaving us still in touch at the top, behind by only 2 points. What all racers & coxes should take great pride in is that we've now surpassed our 2009 end of season total of 46 points.

Onwards & upwards to the Skiff Championships next week at Henley.

Cheers

Roger