Race Results
YARE RACE AT THE LEA
Catharina and Ariane took part in their first double sculling race at the Lea Spring Regatta on Easter Sunday, travelling with the Norwich Rowing Club, whose juniors were taking part in their first side-by-side racing of the season.
It was all about gaining their first experience of racing from the stake boat on a two-lane course. Although our ladies didn’t win their straight final they learned a lot and really enjoyed the day. The sunny, warm and still conditions added to the enjoyment.
If you know the Lea, you will be familiar with the great atmosphere there, with cheering supporters all along the bank, and the slightly tricky course with its deceptive bend and the narrow boats moored on the Essex (reservoir) bank! (Not to mention the traditional-style cafe at the finish line.)
So a big well done to our Women’s Novice double, who are being coached by Kim (and got some briefing on regatta starts and on the Lea course from David). We won’t dwell on David’s race in the Masters “D” singles – excuse: they didn’t give me any handicap start despite being “E” category!
Catharina and Ariane definitely want to try again. Who else is up for some racing this summer?
David W
Norwich Head 2011
The first division went off more or less on time and included several Yare boats. The vet quad surpassed most of its training runs and posted a good enough time to suggest that more speed is possible- 1 second behind a boat 2 vet categories younger. Unfortunately no handicapping in this event and not enough boats to make it a pot. Ian, Lou and James singled and Andy/Mandy also rowed a double on the long course. The very vocal support and the pictures are much appreciated- the acoustics under the viaduct are excellent!
In the afternoon, in similar mild conditions, Richard and Arthur posted a decent time in spite of having to stop twice, once to avoid a drifting fishing boat and the second to remonstrate (a little rudely) with a youthful four with a headless cox. Anthony and Joy were also nippy in their mixed double. Ian is obviously not a morning person because he got our only pot in the afternoon.
Andy Cocks and Catharina singled the short course and both posted creditable times.
Yare Cup 2010
A rainy, squally day turned into a rainer and squallier day with the only calm sunny bits appearing between divisions. In spite of the weather and a low turn out there was plenty of effort and skill to be seen on the river.
The Yare Cup was again claimed by NRC although Yare did manage to earn a few pots.
Well done and thanks to all those competing, organising, officiating and fortifying persons.
Boston Marathon
Anthony and Roger (or as it says on the results page, “Rog and his mate”) completed the 31 mile course in 3 hours and 56 minutes. and won their division.
In fact they came 17th out of over 300 competitors!
Fantastic result and well done.
Sudbury Regatta 2010
A last minute redraw meant an extra half hour in bed- this was a good result. Ali Sursham, Kim and John Wilkinson and three regatta virgins (Arthur, Guy and Richard) all went down to Sudbury Regatta.
We left on time and after about 20 miles stopped worrying about the trailer and the boats: we reckoned that everything that was going to fall off had done so. The weather on the trip pre-figured the rest of the day- sudden showers and sunny spells.
We were carrying a boat for a Norwich crew and arrived just in time for them to assemble it and boat for their race. The car arrived before the tractor and trailer and was organised and ready to untie boats and start assembling them. Norwich raced and hit nothing in spite of having forgotten to cross the steering wires so John steered ‘backwards’. They did not make the final but merited a coiffure comment during the race. They derigged, loaded the boat and went to savour the delights of the various food and drink tents. Thereafter John took the photographs and most of the hog roast.
The Yare four beat a younger Lea crew, building on their 4 second handicap throughout, to get to the final. The double, distracted by the opposition not waiting for their handicap, caught the weeds and lost too much time to make up but pulled to the finish. The commentator started to run out of new ways of describing crews hitting the bank or catching the weeds. At least a quarter of the races were decided by steering. Kim also fell victim to the vegetation in her single and finished strongly- but in second place.
The pair, perversely, hit the bank on the way to the start but not during the race that we could see although both crews were struggling to stay on line as they swapped stations several times. The four was trundled out again and made a good start but a Stour crab grabbed an oar and held on to it for a vital second. In our attempt to catch the other boat the four produced some of its fastest and smoothest work of the day but couldn’t make up the lost ground. The last race of our day was a very close event in which David Wynne was pipped at the post by a Lea sculler.
Sudbury has a strange ‘J’ shaped course with the start on the curve. It is unforgiving and steering errors are generally critical. In spite of our lack of pots the Yare troop (apart from David) had enjoyed the day and enthusiasm for persisting with the four grew.
See Gallery for pictures
Yare win at British Rowing Masters Championships
Yare members, Nick Cooper, Anthony Meynell and David Wynne joined with Norwich veteran stalwart, David Bolton, to form a composite crew and contest the British Rowing Masters Championships on Sunday 13th June. This annual regatta for veterans takes place at Nottingham’s National Water Sports Centre and attracts crews from as far away as Devon, Northumberland and Belfast. Competing in the restricted points IM3 (age category “F”) quad event, the Yare/Norwich composite crew were nervously wondering whether they could do as well as last year’s entrants, a similar YBC/NRC composite, and beat the Upton RC crew comfortably into second place. The weather was warm and calm, quite unusual for the Nottingham course, which is exposed and can be quite difficult to race at. The first 500 metres of the 1k race was hard fought against Upton although the Norfolk boat pulled away with a smooth and powerful start. Upton weren’t going down without a fight and the crews went through the half way mark with little more than a length separating them. The composite, stroked by David Wynne, didn’t panic but found a good rhythm and gradually built a bigger lead. Even on this calm day there were a some gusts and umpire launch washes that could have upset the boat but Nick concentrated on steering the lane and our crew eased past the finish line and turned to the winner’s pontoon to get their gold medal. The Masters championships had a record entry of 539 crews this year. Hopefully some more of YBC’s competitive but less youthful racers will have a go next year and swell the Norfolk contingent of over twenty rowers that went with Norwich RC this time.
See Gallery for pictures
Click on the event name to download the results file. Norwich Head 27th February 2010
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