Masters National Championships - May 2014

Maidstone Veterans achieved their best results to date in the Masters National Championships with a tally of 2 Golds and 2 Silvers.

All medals came from the young vets, while the older vets put up strong performances in the face of some of the sternest competition we have seen in this event.

We were greeted for the second year in a row by a Holme Pierrepont course bathed in sunshine and with fairly placid conditions; although a continual crosswind plagued the boats in lanes 4, 5 and 6, and it was noticeable that a lot more wins came from lanes 1, 2 and 3 over the course of the day.

Brian Humphris and Richard Ridgway got gold in the Novice B2x Final with a comfortable 7 second victory.

Brian then went on to get silver in the Novice C1x event.

Lewin Hynes dominated his B1x event going through the heats easily and wining the final by 6 seconds.

Finally Lewin continued his longstanding doubles partnership with James Knight, winning silver in the B2x event, missing out on gold by just 1.5 seconds.

The rest of the 16 man squad put in some sterling performances, notably the G4x and B4x just missing out on medals.

Yet again, a very long and very tiring, but very satisfying day for the Vets.

Bedford Small Boats Head - April 2014

MIRC achieved it's first victory of 2014 at the Bedford Small Boats Head this year with the Vet G4x (lovingly known as the "OAPs" with an average age c65) just winning a handicapped race by 1 second in a field of 5 crews, with an actual time of 7.32 over the 2k course.

However, note, this was in the Vet DEF4x category, so there was plenty spare in the tank if they actually had G competition.  Well done lads, and the bladework looks pretty good too.  Great start to the year.

MIRC fielded 4 other crews.  The Vet D 4+ took a break from their hectic weight training schedule to actually race and did superbly, only just coming second in their field of 5 with an actual time of 7.36, losing to a C crew from St. Neots by just 2 seconds. 

The Vet E4+ (who have yet to acquire a nickname) came 4th out of 5 in 7.52 in the E/F competition.

The Women's Novice 4+ (universally known as the "Harem") are showing slow but sure improvement, finishing 11th out of 15 with a time of 8.37.  Nice bladework ladies.

Finally Helen Taylor came 5th out of 6 with a time of 9.39 in the Women's masters A single sculls.  No picture yet.

Head of the River & Veterans Head of the River - 2014

A weekend of disappointments for MIRC, due to the full range of reasons: poor weather, poor race organisation and poor results.

The Head of the River was abandoned mid race this year due to extreme wind over tide conditions around Hammersmith, leading to multiple sinkings.

Our IM2 crew did get some racing in before the abandonment.

The next day, the Vets Head was held in much calmer conditions, however, and I am not totally sure what happened here, the race was badly mistimed.  The lead boats went off while the stream was still ebbing - ie INTO the stream.  It turned at some point around the setting off of the D category boats.

The impact on results was stunning; with clear discrepancies in timing as the tide got faster and faster with the older male Vets and ladies categories getting the most benefit. The consequence in times, made analysis of the results difficult: for example, a ladies 8 came 2nd overall!, and our F crew beat the C crew by a minute (compared to the Quintin Head, where the timings were correctly reversed). Consequently times and positions for the crew are not very credible.

That said, it was a very pleasant day, with good hard racing, so all was not lost.

 The Vet C crew.

The Vet F crew.

Thanks to our ever suffering coxes, Jo, Liz and Tui, and our small but very vocal band of supporters.

Quintin Head - Jan 2014

There has barely been any rowing at the club so far this year due to the ongoing flooding and continual fast stream warnings.  So, most of us have been in the guym, and grabbing what water time we can on foreign waters - Rochester, Bewl Reservoir and even 500m of Mote Park for the desperate!

Our thanks go to our friends at Medway RC and Bewl Bridge RC for being so accommodating.

Despite all this, two very rusty Veteran crews went to the Tideway and were lucky that the rains held off just long enough for them to race on a stream that was just raceable.

I don't think we have done the Quintin Head before, but we really should seriously consider it as a standing engagement at this time of the season.  It is 4,600m long, from Chiswick to Harrods Despository, so can be viewed as an excellent training ground for the Eights Heads in March.  The quality of the opposition was exceptional, and some of us old 'uns looked on in awe as the first elite crews took off at 36, and looked blindingly fast (although the fast stream probably helped that illusion).

Our Vet C eight (avg age 45) has had a very difficult birth to say the least, with an inconsistent crew line up and no permanent cox.  They came 3rd in a small field of 3.  Their time was 12.40.2 and was about 30 seconds off the pace.  Not disgraceful, it was a strong row at a steady 30-32.  The competition, Tyrian/Thames and London/Elizabethan were clearly well drilled and presumably Open compared to our chaps IM3 status. There is immense power sitting in that crew.  It needs to be harnessed properly and above all it needs water time, which we are not getting.

The Vet F eight (avg age 61) is far more settled, and almost always a balanced platform with real beef in the middle and technically capable guys at both ends.  All have been doing decent amounts of land training, but the lack of water time resulted in a very tentative start.  The crew led off a field of 5 rating 27, and it took time to (ever so slowly) crank it up over the course.  By Barnes they were at 28 - by Hammersmith 30, and the last 500 hundred was at 32. However it was too little too late, though, as a Tideway Scullers crew with some pedigree fought it's way through the field to win by 19 seconds.  The 'F's' came second with 13.10.0, comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack.  A good start to the campaign.

Thanks to the coxes: Tui and Jo.  Next stop for the Veterans: Molesey Veterans Head - that is if the weather gives us a break.

Acknowledgement - rowingphotography.co.uk

Floods

Water training has been postponed for a while over the Xmas holidays due to the worst floods since 2000.  Check out the Facebook site for piccies.

Post by Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club.

Post by Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club.

Fours Head and Vet Fours Head - 2013

3 senior and junior crews entered the Fours Head (about 450 crews) on Saturday.

The IM1 4x came 181st in a time of 21.16

The IM1 4- came 255th in a time of 21.51

The Junior 4+ came 415th with 24.10


On Sunday 2 MIRC Vet crews were entered on a shorter course this year.  About 230 crews were entered in all.

The D4x came 27th in a time of 19.10

The G4x came 114th in a time of 21.12

Special mention goes to James Knight who (rowing in Old Monmouthian colours), came 1st in category and 4th overall in a B4x composite crew with Poplar and Medway.

Vet G crew (that's an average age over 65 folks) doing a photo call opposite Fulham Football Club.

Kingston Small Boats Head - 2013

Maidstone entered 8 crews for the Kingston Small Boats Head.  Our results were:

IM2 4x-    15.38.7 (10th fastest out of a field of 362)
Mas C4x-  17.17.1
J16 4+      17.50.0
J16 4-       18.33.1
WIM3 4x- 18.54.4
Mas D1x   19.41.9
J18 4x-     19.45.3
WJ16 2x    20.59.0

 Mas C4x-

 WIM3 4x-

 WJ16 2x

 WIM3 4x-

 J16 4+

 IM2 4x-

Pairs Head - 2013

The day of the Pairs Head (Sunday 13th October) was the day that the indian summer decided to call it a day; with temperatures plummeting, winds rising and rain varying from light drizzle to light downpour all day long.  It was a different world after last weeks' MIRC SBH.

The Head is held on the Thames on a shortened championship course from Chiswick bridge to Hammersmith bridge - 4,000 metres.  It is a big event, this year attracting 435 of some of the UK's top pairs and doubles.

The planned representation of 4 Maidstone crews dwindled to 2 with Lewin and James (B2x) crying off because of various ailments and Keith and Ray (G2x) crying off because, well, because they can ;).

Chris Mollison and Matt Nicholls entered their first race of the campaign after laying off for pretty much the past year, and rediscovered just how difficult it is in the Senior category.  Their pair came in 5th out of 7 and 95th overall in a time of 13.07.86.

The Masters D2x pairing of Geraint Evans and Richard Huggins continued to surprise everyone including themselves with a creditable 3rd out of 9, finishing 158th in 13.34.50.

MIRC competitors take note: crew kit colour coordination looks good!

Maidstone Autumn Small Boats Head - Oct 2013

This year's autumn race was held on a truly beautiful indian summer's day with calm waters, still winds and a full entry.

The Head's organisation is now honed to close to perfection given the constraints of our narrow, bendy stretch of water, resulting in a well run day, plenty of volunteers and only one capsizing (to my knowledge).  But then, what is the MIRC Small Boats Head without a capsize or two?

real life capsize drill

Mr Porter enjoys the river too!

The club brought home 4 victories - 3 of which came in the top ten times of the 190 strong field.

They were:

James Knight and Lewin Hynes (Lewin sporting his Kings School Canterbury colours) in the Masters B2x winning the BCD2x category against opposition from MIRC, Kings Canterbury and Medway. Impressively, they came 3rd overall with a time of 8.52.  An excellent achievement for a veteran double.

The Masters also came 7th in the Masters D4x+ in the DEF4x+ category (their third win of this event in a row).  Ollie Barton, Geraint Evans, Ray Philips and Richard Huggins were coxed by Andi Barker, and came in with their best time to date (9.02) against another MIRC D4x+ and an Erith F4x+.

Ross Porter and Jack Grace came 8th in the J182x event against Globe, Ardingley and Gravesend in a time of 9.10, which also won them the pennant for fastest Junior boat.

Finally, the juniors rowing in the Novice 4+ event of Tom Long, Dan Singer, Frederick English, Dom Tinker and coxed by Sam Rogers came 20th in 9.38 beating a strong field consisting of 2 crews apiece from Kings Canterbury and Gravesend, Herne Bay and a fellow MIRC crew.  No photo of them - has anyone got one?

Well done everyone!

See below some pics from the event.  Thanks to Susan Warren, Andi Barker and Alan Leeson.

all action by the club!

Concept 2 Ergo Logs

Hi ALL Maidstone Members

At present – MIRC Vets are/have set up personal rowing logs on www.concept2.co.uk under LOGBOOK.
We want to get as many members of the club [Junior, Senior and Vets], either leisure rowers, competitive – old and young…  it’s really down to you and is a completely FREE service!
Your Captain or Team coach can also keep an eye on how you are progressing too, this is a simple process by sharing you individual RANKING ID# with your team Captain/Coach.

Overall, we wish to get all MIRC members to join the Online ‘Maidstone Invicta RC Onliners’ too, this allows everyone to take part in online ERGO Challenges, so please join the Onliners!

Benefits:

• Personal log – keep tabs on your personal fitness
• Review your personal bests against others in your age group [in the world] – by Ranking you times!
• Link up with fellow crew members and work together and motivate each other
• Opportunity to compete in the Online challenges set throughout the season
• Raise the Online Profile of MIRC, help attract NEW memberships

Detailed instructions on how to join are in this post in the noticeboard, so take a look at the attachment and get yourself logged on.

THOR

Cambridge Autumn Regatta - 2013

An inauspicious start… half the club entries rejected, draw not published until the Wednesday morning, towing plans thrown into confusion, last minute withdrawals, towing vehicle falling apart, alarm clocks not working, a spot of cold overnight camping…

However, all that aside, the WJ14/15 squad plus Alex Marlow and Will Purnell ventured forth to a misty field in Fen Ditton. The girls had been cajoled into trying singles and doubles racing in new combinations, new steerers etc.

Singles:

Falling foul of the draw, Ella and Charlotte had to race singles at 0-eight-hundred (0 standing for Oh my gosh it’s early and hence the overnight camping)… the other girls at 08:30.

Charlotte, Katie, EllaM and Louise showed great spirit in their first ever singles races arriving at the finish line dry and displaying good steering but each in second place.

EllaK made light work of her first opponent from Putney High School to set up a rematch with the City of Cambridge sculler she beat at Oxford, Ella vs Ellen, very confusing… the same result again, half a length to Ella. Ella then drew an Amazonian Globe sculler in the semi-final. Ella was drawing back level at the ¾ mark but pulled a back muscle with the effort so went out fighting. (post race research revealed that the Globe sculler won NJIRC back in March breaking the British record for their age group!)

Meanwhile, Will was being frustrated with opponents scratching and when he got to race found the pace a bit too hot but was pleased to be improving from his past races. Alex was playing it cool in IM3 1x winning by a foot in one race but then dominating his other races to win.

Doubles:

WJ14 doubles saw Alice and Grace taking to the water. Although losing, their steering on the tricky course was exemplary and they were moving well together… bit of tidying up of the catch and finish and some more oomph and they’ll be in front next year.

WJ15 doubles saw EllaM and Ceilidh partnering up with EllaM taking steering duties. Again, MIRC showed how to row a corner well but the more experienced combination from Cantabrigians led them over the line.

Coxed Quads:

The B Quad was first up against last year’s opponents from Putney High School. Initially MIRC had the better bladework but PHS had the more lasting power… but a very gutsy performance from MIRC nonetheless especially from Katie at stroke.

The A Quad then had the chance for revenge. Ella having retired injured in the singles meant that Katie was subbed into the stroke seat for a second go at PHS. A faltering start saw MIRC behind but several big pushes meant MIRC pulled away for our first heat win in WJ14 coxed quads and a spot in the final.

The final saw MIRC matched up against Cantabrigians who were confident after knocking out PHS’s other crew. Cantabrigians had a quicker start and settled in slightly in front of MIRC. The MIRC crew kept up the work rate and then went for a big push at 350m. MIRC worked together and started moving through Cantabs causing them to panic with crabs being caught. MIRC romped home to record the win and collect the pots!

So five girls and Alex got to take a glass tankard home but everyone (coach included) got good experiences to utilise for the new season.