Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club http://wisemansbridgerowingclub.co.uk/achieveresults.htm Home | About Us | Racing | Achievements/Results | News | Social Diary | Gallery | Membership | Links | Safety Info | Sponsors | Contact Achievements/Results Ar Waith Ar Daith - a Welsh journey of myth and magic. Saturday 12th May 2015 Cardiff bay was the setting for WBRC’s involvement, along with 25 other Celtic crews, for the 10 years celebration ( ar wraith ar daith ) of the Wales Millenium Centre, and being a part of the outdoor Saturday night celebration put on by 'Walk the Plank' Friday morning a crack swat team of our rowers and towers descended on the capital to begin rehearsals of no less than 5 sessions, with other members travelling up later that day & Saturday morning to join them. With Friday rehearsals complete, tired crews made their way to Nos Da hostel in the city centre to get some well earned rest, but not before liquid refreshment and a banquet of fine pizzas organised by Marja. Saturday morning saw a lie in for the crews so shopping and general sight seeing seemed to fill time before we were needed at 2 o'clock for final rehearsals !!! Saturday rehearsals proved a little trickier while trying to keep formation in the bay before rowing in for the march into the arena ,as a slight wind picked up ! But with the fine Coxswains skills of Andy, Neil and PhillyT we soon managed to hold a decent line . With a small break before we performed in the evening there was only one thing to do... Yes get the carbs in. Beer and chips and more beer. And the odd bottle of red wine! By the time the actual performance started the wind had died much to our relief and the sun shone making a fine sight of 25 or so celtics filter a long line into the bay’s pontoons to march with oars into the arena as a story teller relayed a tale with dancers doing dancy things. The crews enjoyed artists performing in the arena before retreating to the boats to row away into the darkness of the bay with bow torch lights ablaze and much relief the performance had gone smoothly. Juniors Lotti,Lowri , Grace & Ieuan experienced their first night time rows and watched in oar from the bay waters as fireworks signalled the end of the show. Saturday night saw live music and plenty of refreshments in Nos Da before travelling back to catch iron man on Sunday . Many thanks to Bunty for her superb organisation skills of many emails back and forth to make it happen and to all members for making it a jolly good laugh and to the Brains pub for keeping us lubricated throughout. Aberdyfi League Race Day Sunday 24th May 2015 Sunday 24th was the turn of Aberdovey to host their league race. Bryony, Mo, Brian (Nicky), Sian and Capt Mark setting up camp alongside our friends from Towey on Saturday evening, excitedly chatting and planning the after race party. Within a few minutes we were already in trouble, Brian refusing food and having to take to her bed with a mystery illness, it looked as though we were down to four rowers. The following morning, poor Brian was in a worse state, so sadly we left her reclined in her tent and made our way to the harbour to register and hopefully pick up some surplus rowers to make up our numbers. Luckily Helen from Llangrannog took Brian’s place in the ladies and with a stiff wind blowing with the flood tide we knew we were in for a tough race. Capt Mark positioned the boat on the start line as close to the beach on the far side of the river risking running aground but hoping to avoid the 1 of 46 28/01/2016 10:25 Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club http://wisemansbridgerowingclub.co.uk/achieveresults.htm worst of the in-coming tide and the race was underway. Rather than push too hard against wind and tide the ladies dug in at a respectable pace, in contention but towards the back of the pack. At the first buoy turn it was obvious that several of the other competitors had shot their bolt on the first leg and were already suffering, then the Wisemans team put on a massive spurt and moved away with the leading pack of boats. With a scratch team, it was unlikely we were going to win, but the team battled hard completing the race at the rear of the winning pack. The next time the team saw action was in the mixed race, with the three girls and Captain Mark rowing, Jane from Towey coxing we thought our chances of doing well were slim. Due to the rough sea conditions the race was shortened to two laps of a short rectangular course. With a short first leg and a field of twenty seven boats the first buoy turn became a mêlée after two boats got jammed together at the buoy and others ploughed into them and each other. Luckily with Helens calm instructions and a lot of pushing and shoving the boat freed itself and attempted to chase the leading teams. Several boats had avoided the clashes at the turn and were well ahead, but our team piled on the pressure, having a real ding dong over the last half mile chasing a PYC boat and resisting a strong challenge from Moby Dick of Fishguard. Although tired from a hectic days racing, the team quickly scrubbed up and headed to the Pig Roast where they were easily the best in all classes in the dance off! Thanks to Bryony for towing, Nicola from Towey for looking after us and commiserations to Brian, hope you are better soon. Also a big thank you to Helen from Llangrannog making up our numbers in the ladies and Jane from Towey for magnificent coxing in the mixed. Not forgetting Lowri and Lotti for their help with the trailers and being our slaves when we were knackered. Natalie in Oarsome's engine room joined 3 of Towy's girls to brave the worst coxing a Celtic longboat has ever seen. Nic (Towy) steered them to a spectacular grounding on the far shore sandbank. After pushing, pulling, hurdling oars and wetting her panties, Nic finally got the boat afloat once more and the girls were off, chasing down the pack. The girls rowed brilliantly and their timing was immaculate. They pulled together long and hard in tough waters. Finishing 7 overall and second in class(under 18 girls). Fantastic rowing display, shame about the coxing! Ladies race 13th out of 22 boats. Mixed 17th out of 27 boats. Ladies: Bryony, Mo, Sian, Helen (Llangrannog), Cox Capt Mark. Mixed: Bryony, Capt Mark, Mo, Sian, Cox Jane (Towy) Wiseman's Bridge Rowing Club League Race Sunday 17th May 2015 Cardigan League Race Sunday 10th May 2015 Since the turn of the year the weather has not lived up to last year’s promise, Wreck Race and Milford Marathon both cancelled due to bad weather, Castle to Castle and Return of the Cleddau both run in tough conditions. So with the 2015 season up and running so to speak the first league race was upon us and the weather continued to be an issue, by the time the towers hit the mist over the Preseli hills on route to Cardigan the wind had picked up considerably. As the tow vehicles entered the venue there was a stiff south westerly sand blasting anything and everything in its path. The shelter of the club house was a welcome break and also offered superb views out over the estuary towards Poppit Sands, also together with the customary hot drinks, bacon rolls and sugary delights. The normal race layout was not possible given the adverse weather conditions which created a wall of water over the sand bar, therefore the alternative timed challenge up stream into Cardigan Town was the only alternative for the assembled rowers. 2 of 46 28/01/2016 10:25 Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club http://wisemansbridgerowingclub.co.uk/achieveresults.htm First up the ladies and as always it’s up to them to test the course, the first leg was against the wind with only a few sheltered areas to provide rest bite Away from the wind. Once around the second buoy the boat had the freshening wind assisting all the way back to the finish line with the ladies finishing 17th. By the time the men’s race came around the combination of wind and tide meant that race officials had to shorten the race to the first bridge. The launch was a challenge which sort of prepared the rowers for a tough first leg until the bridge turn and then the boat sailed back with the wind but by this time most of the boats had also made the most of this assistance with the men finishing 11th. With the weather not improving the junior and novice race was cancelled due to safety concerns, but organisers felt that the conditions were not bad enough to cancel the mixed race. So with a short rest period for the rowers and our weathered cox there was a chance to take on some much needed fluid before the start of the race. Again the start was staggered with Wisemans just starting ahead of Llanion, this was all the motivation the crew needed to forget about the aches and blisters and put another shift in to stay in front of Llanion around the course and finishing in 14th place.