Molesey Veterans Head - 2012

The big freeze in the early part of 2012 continues, and on a morning when ice on the Medway stopped rowing at Maidstone, we were advised that the ice on the Thames had been cleared by river traffic and the Molesey Veterans Head would go ahead.

After a really enjoyable and successful event last year, we vowed to return, and were once again warmly greeted by our hosts.  It is almost the perfect Veteran Head – 3k downstream (so not too far); plenty of beer and cakes in the wonderful Molesey Clubhouse; and also plenty of old friends to catch up with: including Lawrence (ex MIRC now Tideway Scullers), Simon de Maria (rowing in his Putney colours) and of course the Bewl Sunday crew.

MIRC Veterans only took one crew this year, with the Vet F crew still in its infancy and the Novices not wanting to waste any valuable training time to actually compete ;).

The Vet D’s came 4^th out of 9 last year in a tough field, beaten by Crabtree (of course), Weybridge and Tideway Scullers.  This time they were in a field of 7, but this time, none of the above boats were in their category.  “Maybe, just maybe…,” thought their captain on the way to the Thames.

We kicked off hard, and kept there, settling in at 32, with Molesey (who we beat by just 4 seconds last year) hard on our heels.  They were outrating us – possibly 33 or 34, were a big crew, but not too tidy.  It looked very close at the end, and we thought they had caught us during our traditional end race fade.  The other boats in our category had disappeared out of sight, and we knew it was just us two in it.

And so it was, we won by just 5 seconds, and came 4^th overall in the field.  A really great result, 2 wins out of 2 for the year, and early achievement of our objective of being top quartile in the country – the ultimate test of which of course, will be the Vets Head of the River in March.  

Here are the RESULTS 

Molesey Veterans Head - 2011

Despite the small field of 60 boats, Molesey Veterans Head is an important step in our run up to the Vesta Veterans Head on April 3rd. For the first time over the winter season, we can finally match up against some of opposition that we will meet in the summer, and see where we are in the big picture.

Veteran rowing can be unpredictable. You can never really tell who will turn up. So on this squally, ugly day in London, our Vet D Eight ran up against some of the tougher crews in that category: including Crabtree (Cambridge University Allumni), Tideway Scullers, Molesey and Quintin in a field of 9. Some may remember that we put up 2 scratch crews for a giggle at the Vet Nat Champs last year, and were shown the door by these crews finishing 4 or 5 lengths down.

On the other hand the two Vet Novice crews (again) found no opposition, were promoted to rowing Open Vet C and Vet D. Strangely there was still no opposition, and so played out a private match betweeen themselves.

The Vet E 4+ were lone in coming across 2 other crews of relatively known quantity, particularly Walbrook who had beaten them at Weybridge last month.

Molesey is a great Venue and we should go again next year. The 3k course on a fast stream is nice and short, the river is picturesque; and afterwards, you can wallow in the history of the club in it's superb clubhouse facilities.

The Heavyweight Novices rowing Vet C won the private match in a very decent time of 10.51. Comparisons are few, but when you consider bonafide Open vet C coxless boats were only 20-30 seconds faster, the crew are demonstrating that they can play reasonably well at Open level. If only we can find them some Novice competition.

Heavies getting ready.

The moment of the day came when, ignoring the polite and orderly collection of Shields at the awards ceremony, our boys mobbed the poor 82 old prize-giver from Molesey to uproarous cheers from their fellow out-of-town yokels in the corner... Will we be invited back again?!

Roger Mobbs: "I must be dreaming!".

Despite dragging David "The Bishop" Usher from retirement, the very scratch lightweight novices rowing Vet D came in at 11.53. Moves are afoot to rejuvenate the crew.

The Vet E 4+ came 3rd out of 3 with a time of 11.13, again Walbrook won their category. Timewise, they are in the right ballpark, and are not being blown away by the opposition, but have lost a bit of power while Mark "loved-up" Diessner is on his sabbatical from rowing. Chris Long is manfully trying to redress this with a lot of technical training for the crew.

The Vet D Eight did well. The Mobbs' are providing some excellent coaching/coxing support, and have used old-fashioned, tried and trusted methods like sticking straws 3" above the gunnel to help control hand heights.

The crew captain (who shall not be named), confidently predicted them cruising through Kingston and Bewl, but being hunted down by Molesey, Quintin and Tideway Scullers, and there was discussion about what to do with the inevitable logjam halfway down the course. Of course almost the reverse happened. While Bewl kept ahead, the Eight did cruise past Kingston Grammar School Vets; but more satisfactorily, Molesey and Tideway Scullers made no impression and Quintin seemed to be going backwards.

Vet D Eight

It was a good row, and we know there is more to come as the squad continue to refine itself technically. We came 4th out of 9 in a time of 9.43: 8 seconds behind Tideway Scullers and 1 second behind Weybridge, but beating Molesey by 4 seconds, and the rest of the field by a decent margin. As expected Crabtree beat everybody by a good 30 seconds.

A great day and another win for the Vets was rounded off by watching us beat the French in the rugby. Thanks as ever to the long suffering coxes: Roger and Sue Mobbs, Tim Simmons and Andrea Barker.

Molesey Veterans Head - Start Order

Please find links to the Head and the Start Order.

The Vet D 8+ are in a field of 9.  I recognise most of the clubs at last year's Masters Championships, so this will be an interesting indicator.

The Novices have no opposition (again) and will be in a field of 2 of their own at Vet C4+ and Vet D4+.  I think the handicap will make for an interesting little race of our own.

The Vet E 4x are in a field of 4.

Good luck to all crews.