St Neots Summer Regatta

Saturday

Distance: 1000m

Started the day racing in a single, for the first time. The condition were perfect but I still found myself with serious butterflies.

The start wasn’t good but enough to keep me in contact. Not long after the start the course bend to the left; this caused me a few problems as I can’t turn a scull to save my life. Rounding the corner I was behind but it was all straight to the finish. I engaged the legs and drove hard. I caught and passed my opposition until 20 meters from the finish where I hit a buoy. I lost by half a length.

Next up was the pair, late in the afternoon. This was to be a straight final. The start wasn’t good but enough to put us ahead by the corner. We went wide and by the straight we were behind. With a strong final drive we made up the gap and won by a meter. After the finish we headed up stream for a warm down. Its a beautiful stretch of river and I enjoyed rowing somewhere new.

The day’s racing drew to a close with presentations and the traditional beer in the pot. Sandy, Steve and I then went for a swim in the river. It felt good to cool off after a days racing in the sun.

In the evening we headed into town for fish and chips and a few drinks.

Sunday

Distance: 500m

Just the one race, in a single, for me on the Sunday. It went a little better than the Saturday race in that I lost some of the red mist and raggedness. Unfortunately the pace I found was perfect for 1000m but not 500m and I lost by half a length.

See the pictures