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Bewdley Regatta 2011

rajf — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 23:36:37 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve been in a boat let alone rowed in competition. Bewdley however was easier to contemplate as rowing plus a weekend away with friends and the club. However it wasn’t long before the competitive spirit came back.

The format for weekend regattas is simple – serious and long sprints Saturday, followed by drink and camping then short and hungover sprints on the Sunday. On the Saturday I crewed in a 4 with Steve, Sandy and Martin and and 8 with a mix of juniors and seniors.

Considering the crews were scratch and I was out of practice I was worried that I’d let the guys down and we’d be knocked out early. Thankfully though once we got off the start line we had enough power, helped by 6’6 Martin, to win us the race.

As the Saturday progressed each race felt better, although keeping up with the juniors rating 47 off the start in the 8 was near impossible. In the end our 4 won IM3 and the 8 won IM3 too.

After some celebrations, drinks by the river and campsite chatter Sunday morning greeted us with the boil in the bag tent feeling. Dehydrated – yes, ready to race -no. Still Sunday followed the pattern of Saturday, in the four, and we kept winning all the way through to the end of the day to win the IM2.

We had to work for the posts on both days, with some close racing and qualifiers so I feel like we deserved the pots. It’s alsop especially satisfying to beat crews who think they’ve got it in the bag.

It wasn’t just us that did well. In fact the seniors from the club won every race they entered. This rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.

Warwick Regatta 2010

rajf — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:51:25 +0000

Warwick’s a local primary regatta (no points) and they do a good job of making sure everyone gets a race. Both of mine were straight finals.

The first was a mixed four. I was nervous as hell but we managed a flying start and powered our way through to victory.

The second race was a mens four. We bided our time before boating due to a torrential downpour. Thankfully the wait paid off and we were treated to blazing sunshine infront of the castle wier. It’s worth going to Warwick just for that view. The start wasn’t as good and I felt very army; but we pulled through the Bewdley crew to win by a length.

So, two more shinny tankards for my shelf. In fact I think I have a enough Warwick pots now for a table set.

Worcester small boats head 2009

rajf — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:18:57 +0000

We had no competition so went along to tale advantage of the long stretch of river and see how we went at race pace. We were grouped with elite sculls so had boats to mark our position against.

We started steadily but after the first pushes the rate and length increased. We strode out the middle section well and for the first time I didn’t need to concentrate on blade work. This confidence allowe me to keep check on the splits and alter the rate accordingly.

I wound for the finish a bit early and although the rate increased we didn’t get much net gain. On reflection I’d go for the middlepace all the way through.

Steve’s leg looked was a bloody mess at the end, see pics, but thankfully it was only a nic.

The great thing about the pair is the lack of faff. We were back and in the pub for Sunday lunch by 1.

Update: we finished 18th overall in a time of 16:42.74. We beat an Elite pair by over a minute. Very happy with result.

First 6k

rajf — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:12:41 +0000

Posted in Rowing

First winter 6k, 22:15. No feet, on my tod. @SRC

5k ergo test

rajf — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:35:19 +0000

Posted in Rowing

First 5k test this winter: 18:13. Feet out, on my own.

Sculling can be enjoyable

rajf — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:59:09 +0000

I never thought I’d say it but I’ve actually been enjoying sculling. I’ve been out in a single for the first time in 8 months and in that time seem to have lost all my bad habits. Combine that with the balance I’ve gained from the pair and I find my self relaxed enough to square blade for the whole outing.

I’ve been told many times before but now I think I’m starting to get it – sculling all about technique over power.

Metropolitan

rajf — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:53:53 +0000

This was the weekend where we found out if our training put us in the mix with the competition. Unfortunately it didn’t.

I fell I’ll in the morning, there was a big head wind and we blew the start. For all those factors it was not having the umph that lost it for us. Not sure where I’ll go from here with rowing.

Head or the River 2009

rajf — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:54:38 +0000

Conditions were perfect for this year’s Head of the River; the sun was out and the Thames was silky. This year’s crew consisted of Jennifer (cox), James Rowe (Stroke), James May, Mike, myself, Sandy, Gordie, Steve and Andy (bow).

Starting in position 171 we were looking for a good result. I was just pleased to be there and to get to row the whole course after the cancellation of my last entry due to bad conditions. The enormity and atmosphere of the event hit me as we rowed into our marshaling position. We formed one of several hundred crews that lined either side of the river from near Hammersmith to Kew.

At the 11.15 the tide turned and the first divistion set off and we sat and watched the best of the best fly down the middle of the river. After another half an hour of jostling for position by the bank our division moved past the start. Once there we turned and set off in number order.

We set off flat out for two minutes and kept ground on the crew ahead. Not having raced the course before I was apprehensive of how much effort was required and where to put it it. Jennifer did a superb job my calling for regulate pushed or concentration on stroke parts. Nearing Hammersmith we caught and overtook another crew; I’d have liked to have seen that from the bridge. The finish from Hammersmith was further than I’d anticipated but I got a boost as we headed past the boat houses in Putney. There’s something special about racing past there and having your crew name called out.

Our race result of 199 left us all disappointed but our time of 19.40 was respectable. Only 15 seconds covered the gap to 150 and the number of uni crew this year was huge. Whatever people thought I thought we rowed well and I enjoyed the race.

Worcester Head 2009

rajf — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:35:49 +0000

I was expecting to be spending the day in the cold and possible wet weather but instead we were treated to glorious sunshine for this year’s Worcester Head.

This year’s course was the full 6 kilometres as the river was behaving itself. I was down to race in the 8 and the 4 so that equated to 24 kilometres of rowing for the day, 12 at race pace (you row up to the start and then back down).

The 8 was first up and although we finished mid table we all felt a little dejected. We simply didn’t get the boat moving well enough and it didn’t feel like there was any drive.

By the time I got in the 4 I was feeling pretty tired and had some blister and sorer legs from the first race. In our division were Warwick, who we’d be chasing, and Evesham. With my friend being in the bow of Warwick I was keen to catch them. With this in mind we turned quickly for the start and set off in the chase. Warwick kept a good three boat lengths for 4 kilometres and took Evesham near the bridges. We settled into a good rhythm and rate, one I felt was sustainable for the bulk of the course, Jennifer did a good job of keeping our concentration and technique going. After passing the boat club we started winding it up and caught Evesham as we passed through the bridge. We nearly clashed but they eventually conceded the stream (the deep, fast flowing part of the river). Building up to the finish we really put the power down and overtook Warwick on the line. And so we retained our status as senior 4+ winners.

It was a damn good day of racing and with sore hands I gladly collected my pot from the Worcester Captain. Overall our 4 was the fastest of the day and only 12 seconds off the pace of our 8. I’m sure the 8 shall get faster as we get more practice leading up to the Head of the River.

Henley 4′s Head

rajf — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:13:38 +0000

It was a stunning crisp winter’s morning that greeted us at Henley this weekend and for all the ice and cold we were ready for some racing. The head is run over 3k into the stream, starting beyond Temple island and finishing on the Regatta stright.

My first race was in a senior 3 four with Gordie (stroke), James Roe at 2 and Andy at Bow. We rated around 30 for the course and put in some power to overtake Stains. It really started coming together after the first 1000m and a sustained effort led us to a time of 12.55. Considering this was the first time we’d rowed as a crew I was seriously impressed with our joint second place. Southampton Uin won by some distance but we were well ahead of the provincials, including Warwick who were following us.

The eights race started with a bit of bad luck at the start when one of the shoulders split. This was only the second time the crew had been together but it showed signs of coming together. We finished 4th in senior 3 but right not far behind the winner on time. Its looking promising for the Head of the River.