Wargrave Club Regatta report 2009

You just should have been there .........

We might have entered into Autumn but someone forgot to tell the weather as we basked in the glorious sun during a packed 67 race schedule at the last short-course regatta at Wargrave. Consequently the racing started at 9.30 am with me entered in the JS singles race against Frank Seuss from Granta, who ultimately went onto win the event after another heat. Clearly I can't blame the early start for my zig zaggy procession up the course, as Frank had to leave Cambridge at 6 am to get down on time. It just goes to show that if you don't put in the race practice you'll be found wanting .... or is that wandering!

Next up was myself & Bob Downie, coxed by Amanda in a fierce JS mens doubles heat against TVSC (Mark Mitchell & the far too fit & strong Chris Mundy), which produced a crowd pleasing 1 ft win, unfortunately by TVSC. Unfortunately despite giving it our all & a faultless performance, again the lack of race practice & race fitness on my part probably played its part. There's a theme developing here .......

However success was soon at hand as Chris 'Calvados' Coveney (ask him about it in the bar) took to the water in the Gents Novice Singles against a beast of a newcomer from Dittons (Rupert - where do they find them? Size wise I mean.) who fortunately showed his inexperience & seemed to have taken lessons from my Chertsey experience against Chris. What do you do Chris to psych your opponent into cork screwing off the start line & nearly into the opposite bank? Anyway Chris showed his mature calmness in producing one of the best tracks down the course of the day whilst his opponent mustered all his strength to no avail in charging after him as Chris crossed triumphantly across the line to ruin his plans for the day (another story to be told at the bar). Not so fortunate in his next race, but Chris still demonstrated his composure in repeating a flawless path down the course & a credit to The Skiff Club.

Next up was the United Nations event of the skiffing world, cunningly disguised as the Ladies Veterans Doubles, where Beverley Davies (WBC), Amanda (SC), coxed Imogen O'Neill (WSPC) were pitted against Lisa Adams (TVSC), Sarah Elliot (WBC), coxed ANO (WBC), don't ask me, it's a girl thing who they race with. Needless to say the best crew won, so the choice was first class as they won by 3 lengths.

By the time our Junior Senior mixed pair Amanda & Bob got to race, tension was running high as they'd been watching their opposition flogging their guts out in a number of races before theirs. That's not to take anything away from their performance as they had to lug Dave Tappin down the course as Cox, nothing personal Dave, but the opposition cox was a tad lighter. Mind you, you don't want to be sitting in front of Dave unless you're thinking of winning & this pair certainly had this in mind. Just in case though Dave could be heard from the start lets say giving our pair the encouragement they needed to bring home the first & only Ormiston point win of the day by 1/4 of a length over the TVSC crew.

So a successful day all round & as the sun sank slowly in the west we were treated to an overhead display of 5 hot air balloons as they enjoyed the setting sun as much as we did.

So as I said, you should have been their ....... perhaps next year more of you will, but don't forget that winter training first if you don't want to do home potless like I did.

Cheers,

Roger