LEANDERNEWS the Official Newsletter of Leander Club Is Published Twice Yearly, in Late Spring and Autumn
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LEANDER NEWS AUTUMN 2016 LS Final.indd 1 14/11/2016 14:26 LEANDERNEWS The official newsletter of Leander Club is published twice yearly, in late spring and autumn. Articles, photographs and ideas, as well as news of our Members, are always welcome and should be addressed to: The Press Office, Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2LP E: [email protected] Cover photo: Great Britain, with four Leander athletes on board, on track Editor: Robert Treharne Jones for GB’s first-ever Olympic medal in women’s eights Contributors : Photograph: Alex Gregory Mark Banks Peter Spurrier Andy Trotman Mike Willoughby Chris Dalley Peter Spurrier Hugh Richardson Philippa Gutteridge Karen Bennett Sara du Luart WINGFIELD SCULLS Leander vice-captain Nick Middleton took an unexpected dip during his attempt to win this year’s Wingfield Sculls, the Amateur Championship of the Thames. As the five scullers passed the Mile Post with just three second separating the leaders, Middleton’s blade clipped those of Imperial College’s Tim Richards and he promptly capsized, allowing lightweight Jamie Kirkwood to slip away unchallenged. Kirkwood, who has now called time on his international career, has recently taken up the position as Assistant Coach at Oxford University Women’s Boat Club. The Tideway episode had no long- lasting effect on Middleton, who went on to take second place at the recent GB trials in Boston behind GB U23 ne Jones sculler Tom Barras. rehar T In the women’s race for the Wingfields Leander U23 world champion Jess Leyden tok top honours after a close Credit: Robert battle with Georgia Francis of Imperial College. was reversed to a five second margin presented with their trophies by Racing in near-perfect conditions on the for Leyden at Hammersmith and the former winners of the race. The women’s flood tide the two scullers tussled for the former junior world champion then trophy was presented by three-times lead, with Imperial’s Pippa Whitaker moved away to cross the line 13 winner Greg Searle, who had also having her own private battle for third seconds clear of her nearest rival. acted as race umpire for the day, while with Amelia Carlton of Tideway Scullers. In keeping with the tradition of the Kirkwood was presented with his trophy Francis’ four second lead at the Mile race, Leyden and Kirkwood were by 1976 champion Graeme Mulcahy. PAGE 2 LS Final.indd 2 14/11/2016 14:26 MY OLYMPIC DIARY In her personal diary, completed during the last few weeks before the Olympics, Karen Bennett, who rowed at 7 in the GB women’s eight, gives an excellent account of the tensions and excitement leading up to her silver medal in Rio. Credit: Peter Spurrier/Intersport Image Karen (7th from left) celebrates with her crew after winning GB’s first-ever Olympic medal in women’s eights 6 JUNE 68 DAYS TO THE OLYMPIC FINAL: Seat racing – probably the most stressful 15 JUNE Leave Poznan with a disheartening silver thing in my rowing career. It all came medal and a toy goat. down to that race to book my Olympic 59 DAYS TO GO: 59 days to go: Flew to Poznan for seat. I knew I had raced with my heart 25 JUNE and could hold my head high. Felt so the World Cup regatta, and our last nervous when I got the phone call. chance to make a statement before 49 DAYS TO GO: I was in! I couldn’t wait to tell my family the Olympics. Long tiring day with all So we’re going to Varese in Italy for our – my dream was coming true. the travelling – had a walk and took training camp, as our usual venue in some selfies when we arrived. I’m Breisach is currently flooded. Everyone 9 JUNE sharing with Dr Mel, my wonderful loves Varese anyway so that means a lot 65 DAYS TO GO: pairs partner. Ready to take on the of happy athletes. Moved house today – weekend. surprisingly unstressful!. Team announcement today at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley. 19 JUNE 28 JUNE Very exciting – we could finally let the world know we had been 55 DAYS TO GO: 46 DAYS TO GO: selected to represent GB at the Today didn’t go entirely to plan. We My boyfriend John left for the men’s OLYMPIC GAMES! Press conference, let the 2nd 500m get away from us training camp in Silvretta today – time for team photos, interviews – an and couldn’t bring it back at the end. me to get packing. I’m being organised unforgettable day but still feels so Everyone was exhausted and I think the for once! He is away for a month which surreal. seat racing last week has taken its toll. is a very long time. PAGE 3 LS Final.indd 3 14/11/2016 14:26 30 JUNE last of our camps tomorrow – the Crowne 12 AUGUST Plaza in Reading! Can’t believe we head 44 DAYS TO GO: 1 DAY TO GO: off to Rio soon – I’m very excited! Arrived in Italy for our first pre-Olympic Looking back on the last few days we camp. I’m sharing with OCB [Olivia 28 JULY were pleased to have won our heat. The Carnegie-Brown] which is awesome 16 DAYS TO GO: repechage was rescheduled due to the because we get on so well. She is also weather so we had the best preparation, Last session at Caversham today, and Queen of Snacks, so I won’t be short doing a longer piece two days ago, with some of the eight retiring after Rio of a crisp or two. Rigged the eight and and taking it easy yesterday and today. it’s all pretty emotional. This is where the went for a paddle. So nice to be in Meeting earlier which was simple and special unit was formed, where all the Varese where the weather, and especially to the point – we know what we need to blood, sweat and tears are shed over the the coffee, are absolutely fantastic. do, and how we need to do it. years. Off to Rio tomorrow and feeling 9 JULY really excited. I’ll probably be packing 13 AUGUST 35 DAYS TO GO: al night as I always leave things to the last minute. THE OLYMPIC FINAL A half-day of pieces. Didn’t think I was rowing very well in my pre-paddle, but 29 JULY made an effort to go out and turn it 14 AUGUST 15 DAYS TO GO: around. Sure enough, anything we put No time to write my diary yesterday as The flight was great – so much easier our minds to, we did it. Meeting later, I won an Olympic silver medal! It doesn’t to sleep in business class, a whole new with a debrief looking at our video. It feel real – I was so nervous yet couldn’t world for me. Looked around to see how was really good and exactly how I want make any mistakes. My legs felt like jelly all the gadgets worked, and watched to row at the Olympics. Group outing in the warm-up but OCB felt the same, three films. Arrived late at our lovely to our favourite pizza place later – four and it helped that I wasn’t the only one. hotel – basic but clean, with good food. cheese and Parma ham pizza for me, Sitting at the start I felt sick but as soon Lots of nice surprises in our rooms, we with a cup of special tomato sauce and as the buzzer went all that disappeared are all next to each other on the same mozzarella. Incredible! and I focussed on the job in hand, one floor. Lots of fun trying on the Team GB stroke at a time. Two and a half minutes 11 JULY dressing gowns and taking crew selfies in I realise that we are on our own, before bed. 33 DAYS TO GO: sitting last, but I never panicked or Today has been tough – weather very 30 JULY worried as we made our way through the hot, workload taking its toll, the ergo nations, sitting in third with 500m to go, 14 DAYS TO GO: is hard, I’m really tired and the work is but were outclassed by the USA. The Two sessions on the lake today and we getting to me. Went out in a coxless four belief, determination and bravery of our were allowed to look around and enjoy which was fun and a change of scenery. crew got us that medal. We were doing the scenery on the first. Saw a favela in Zoe, our cox, walked around the whole it for each other, our families, our friends the distance which reminded me of City lake – 28km in 5hrs 48 mins! While we and all the sacrifice we had made. My of God, a film I watched on the flight all suffer through these days we help cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Being yesterday. Realise I’m now completely each other to survive them. on the podium was incredible and a obsessed by favelas – I’m desperate to feeling I will take with me forever – go to one even though they are so 13 JULY nothing can prepare you for how you dangerous. Got to the start and saw 31 DAYS TO GO: feel afterwards. When I gave my Dad Christ the Redeemer looking down on us Left Varese for Breisach, where the water a hug and seeing my Mum after the – it was so cool that I completely zoned level has gone down.