LONDON ROWING CLUB Newsletter October 2010 Delayed gratification In some hard fought racing at the climax of the domestic season, LRC came tantalisingly close to two Henley trophies, but had to settle for a clutch of National Championship titles instead. LRC ‘A’ in the final of the Wyfold in which they were overhauled by Nottingham & finalists... Union at the death LRC ‘A’ in the final of the finalists... Britannia in which they fought to the line against Tideway Scullers LRC’s winning crew in Open Eights finally! at the Naional Championships at Strathclyde Nation1al Champions racing gallantly. Racing results In the Grand, James Clarke in the GB eight went out to th th the New Zealanders who were themselves beaten by the Henley Royal Regatta, 30 June-4 July Germans in the final; whilst Stephen Feeney, occupying the LRC was represented in three finals – our respective “A” 7 seat in what was otherwise the Cambridge blue boat crews in the Britannia and the Wyfold topped and tailed went down to the same opposition by a similar margin. the last day’s racing; whilst Annie Vernon in the formidable And Remco de Keizer once again not only qualified for GB quad, making her debut at the Royal Regatta, was set to the Diamonds, but got though a round, coming from behind brighten the middle of the day. LRC coaches’ customary to row through the American lightweight Tom Paulett, prayers for lightweight-friendly conditions were, however, before going out to Brendan Crean who has occupied GB’s disappointed with a strong cross head wind blowing all day. second sculling spot at World Cup regattas this year. Our Britannia “A” crew, formed relatively late, was up against a powerful Tideway Scullers crew which had dominated coxed fours events all season and were longstanding favourites. Scullers got out to an early lead of a half length by the top of the island, then stretched it to Henley Results about a length, but could get no further away. The rest of Grand Challenge Cup the race was a war of attrition with London attacking, CUBC & LRC - S. Feeney Scullers hanging on, and never clear water between the lost to Waiariki (NZ) 1.5L 1.47 3.00 6.20 boats. LRC’s final assault along the enclosures saw them LC & Molesey BC - J.Clarke close to a mere half length at the line. lost to Waiariki (NZ) 1.25L 1.43‡ 2.55 6.01 Our Wyfold “A” crew, on the other hand, had been Diamond Challenge Sculls together much longer, had won nearly everything they had R. de Keizer entered, and came to Henley as favourites. They were hardly troubled in the earlier rounds and did not have a bt. T. Paulett (USA) 3.5L 2.22* 4.00* 8.30 really close race before the final. They had been faster in lost to B. Crean 2L 2.19 4.01 8.41 every round than their opponents from Nottingham & Princess Grace Challenge Cup Union. Theirs was the last race of the day, and the wind LRC & Clyde RC - L. Greenhalgh (S. Cullen injured, sub. J. was still making life difficult. Nevertheless, true to form Hall, LC) they swept into a lead which they proceeded to build until, lost to Hollandia RC (Ned).5L 2.06 3.30 7.14 passing Remenham, they had a margin of a couple of Gloucester RC & LC - A. Vernon lengths. At this point, virtually every LRC member and bt. Belfast /Carrick 2.25L 2.06 3.36 7.36 supporter must have thought that the win was in the bag; bt. Western RC (Can) 3.5L 2.00† 3.26 7.20 but we should have known better than to count our bt. Waiakiri (NZ) 5L 2.10 3.39 7.42 chickens. For Nottingham started to attack, and began to creep back. Stroke by stroke they closed the gap, and Prince of Wales Challenge Cup London, buffeted somewhat by wind and water on the LRC & LC - O. Mahony more exposed Bucks station, seemed unable to find an bt. UWE 2L 2.04 3.33 7.30 effective response. Nottingham’s brave and relentless bt. Newcastle U comp. .75L 1.58 3.19 6.51 attack, overhauling LRC shortly before the line, provided lost to TSS “A” 1L 1.55 3.14 6.42 one of the most exciting races of the whole regatta for all who saw it - apart from LRC. We can only sympathise with Ladies’ Challenge Plate a crew who, up to that moment, had been enjoying a ICBC & Berliner - I.Weir highly successful season - but these things happen. bt. Leander “A” 1L 1.51 3.08 6.35 lost to OBU & OUBC .75L 1.49 3.06 6.21 Meanwhile, Annie Vernon had taken her first Henley medal in the final of the Princess Grace, demolishing the Thames Challenge Cup opposition from New Zealand - many congratulations to LRC “A” her. Earlier in the same event, Laura Greenhalgh in the GB bt. Broxbourne RC 2.25L 1.54 3.14 6.50 lightweight quad (with Jane Hall subbing for an injured lost to West End RC (NZ) .5L 1.56* 3.17* 6.52 Steph Cullen) had gone out to the Dutch heavyweights by LRC “B” half a length. lost to 1829 BC 2.75L 1.50 3.08 6.47 Overall, LRC had a good Henley. Everyone came away with something to smile about - Iain Weir was especially Wyfold Challenge Cup happy to have beaten Leander in the Ladies’, whilst Oli LRC “A” Mahony got through a couple of rounds of the Prince of bt. Ortner BC 5L 1.58 3.20 7.13 Wales, going out to finalists TSS. The Thames Cup crews bt. Radley Mariners 3L 2.02 3.30 7.27 bt. Muckross RC (Ire) 2.25L 1.57 3.21 7.06 both performed creditably, the “B” crew being unlucky to bt. Star Club 2.75L 1.57 3.19 6.57 encounter eventual winners 1829 in the first round; whilst lost to Nott’m & Union 1.25L 2.06* 3.33* 7.25 the “A” crew led finalists Waiakiri for much of a very tight LRC “B” race, going down by a mere half length. bt. Gloucester RC 2.5L 2.04 3.31 7.25 The Wyfold “B” crew deserve special mention. Never bt. Nottingham RC “A” 1L 2.07 3.41 7.57 quite as quick as the “A” crew, they nevertheless rowed bt. TSS 1L 2.05 3.31 7.16 beautifully to reach the semi finals where they were lost to Nott’m & Union 3L 1.58 3.20 7.03 beaten by Nottingham & Union. And in the same event, LRC “C” both “C” and “D” crews will have derived valuable bt. Lea RC 3.75L 2.11 3.42 7.43 experience from winning a round before going out, both lost to Henley RC 1.25L 2.06 3.36 7.47 2 LRC “D” result in the Lwt 2- event in Strathclyde.) bt. City of Bristol “B” 1.5L 2.04 3.30 7.30 In the last race of the day, both pairs teamed up wi th t he lost to TSS 2.5L 2.06* 3.37* 7.42 under 23 coxless four from Star Club, to form the m en’s eight. LRC “E” Despite being a scratch crew racing against a field of did not qualify better practiced eights, they led the field through the first Britannia Challenge Cup three markers; unfortunately they were unable to keep the LRC “A” pace in the sprint for the line, losing out by ¾ of a length. bt. LRC “B” 3.75L 2.06 3.33 7.25 Even without wins in their individual events, all of the bt. Agecroft RC 1.5L 2.07* 3.36* 7.32 men from LRC should be proud of their results as they bt. Power House RC (Aus)2L 2.05 3.30 7.11 helped England to retain the Senior Men’s Trophy. lost to TSS .5L 2.10 3.40 7.40 th LRC “B” Wingfield Sculls, 24 August lost to LRC “A” 3.75L 2.06 3.33 7.25 LRC’s Sophie Hosking was competing to retain her title having won both the 2008 & 2009 races. th In a ferocious start to the race, three of the four National Championships, Strathclyde, 16 - entries in the women’s race were inside the record at both th 18 July the mile post and Hammersmith Bridge but it was Anna In past years, we have usually targeted the lightweight Watkins who led the trio and who continued to victory with events - this being one of very few events to offer them. Sophie coming home third. This year, having come so close to glory at Henley, LRC had The mens race was won by GB sculler Alan Campbell. decided to make a serious assault on the wider It is a tradition of the Wingfield Sculls that every ten Championships. A group of seventeen athletes which years they hold a dinner to celebrate winners’ included the bulk of the Thames Cup “B” crew, reinforced achievements. The 2010 dinner was held in the Members by survivors from the HRR “A” crews, made the long trip up Room. Winners were able to enjoy each other’s company north. They can hardly have expected to return with quite and take in some of the history of their event courtesy of a so many medals. In admittedly thin competition, LRC’s slideshow and various historical documents that had been results were: brought out from the archives.