Hi All

 

Three crews represented The Skiff Club at Saturday's Tiny & Nancy Knight races at DSPC & did so admirably. For those that aren't aware, these races are open status to anyone, including Seniors (that have not won a race), meaning that competition would be stiff. As it turned out The Skiff Club was the only other club to offer opposition to DSPC, perhaps a reflection on how tough this race can be. It's fair to say that this didn't go unnoticed & The Skiff Club were afforded a very warm welcome at Dittons.

 

On an extremely blustery morning the crews had to face head winds gusting 37 mph on the way downstream from Dittons to Raven's Ait, which meant standing waves causing tough, choppy conditions. Racing in these stamina sapping conditions meant that they had to dig deep into their reserves on the return leg back. Now crews, aren't you glad that you did those Winter Gym circuit sessions?

 

So to help them on their way I rallied 3 doubles from our Saturday Novice coaching session to skiff up to offer encouragement as they started downstream & to cheer them in from Dittons' clubhouse. I couldn't resist however jumping into the stroke seat with Henry Roffey in bow just before we cleared Dittons Island to race to the finish line to get the finish judges scampering to their post thinking we were the first crew home.

 

Ah well, childish japes over & back to the racing ..........

 

Now our most experienced pairing by status in the race actually comprised Verena Deihl, just a Junior by a third of a point & Caroline Matthews one of this year's new novice intake. So I'm sure that they will forgive me by saying they didn't stand a hope in hell. I may have phrased this a little more subtly & put a positive spin on this before the race but realistically it was going to be a tall order to win. There was strong opposition from Hurley/Bradshaw & Chamberlin/Hall from DSPC & of course our very own Lesley Russell & Laura Goddard. Well never kick the underdogs, especially when they're a couple of gutsy Skiff Club ladies, because Verena & Caroline came within 38 seconds of coming first having overtaken 2 crews. So extremely well done for coming so very close to winning the Nancy Knight trophy.

 

Again our Gents crew of Stephen Russell & Martin Black were also up against extremely high status & experienced opposition from DSPC but in true fighting spirit this didn't daunt them & they proved very creditable adversaries. All three of our crews could not be faulted for their determination & gave a good account of themselves, ably encouraged by their coxes Hilary Shore, Heather Bateman & Nicky Painter, so big pats on the back all round.

 

So the final scores on the doors were:

 

Tiny Knight (Gents)                                Min.Sec

 

 1st    DSPC    Shipley & Lawson             29.55

2nd    DSPC    Lohmann & Jackman       30.43

3rd        SC      Black & Russell                 33.18

 

Nancy Knight (Ladies)                            Min.Sec

 

 1st    DSPC    Bradshaw & Hurley           32.41

2nd       SC      Matthews & Diehl              33.19

3rd    DSPC    Sykes & Chamberlain       37.29

4th        SC      Goddard & Russell            38.54