Prelude
It is dark. Two furtive, shadowy creatures, one unnaturally tall, the other very short, move from boat to boat in a trailer park somewhere in Wales.
Sound of hacksaw on metal can be clearly heard over the rumbling sky on this windy, rainy night in May.
Screek, screek, screek. Screek, screek, screek.
Whispers. "Ow 'bout that one over there, then", says the short one.
"Boyo" says the tall, "say boyo so if anyone over'ears, they will think it's an inside job!".
"Ow 'bout that one over there, then... boyo".
"Do 'em all, my precious, do 'em all".
Saturday 29th May
Spring Bank Holiday in Wales is going to be wet, and we were not disappointed. Yet despite the squalls, the beauty of the Wye came as a sharp and pleasant contrast to the beast that is the Lea. We came as a Vets and Senior male team in roughly equal numbers, along with a few carefully chosen, tolerant camp follwers. We bonded well. The old 'uns brought civilsation to the campsite: deckchairs, canopies with cute little lilac and black flags, tables, cutlery, beer, little children and boring tales of yester year. And the youngsters repaid in kind, by getting drunk, eating as much as they could, running amok, hiding cars in the woods, doing silly things to tents and in tents, and being noisy at 3am.
The seniors played experimentally for most of the weekend. Not wanting to pick up unnecessary wins that would jeopardise Henley, they relearned the ancient art of sculling, in all it's forms, and returned home at the end of the day potless, except for a Maidstone v Maidstone IM3 4x straight final. I don't want to decry their efforts. The novice single scullers, Ridgeway, Charlie and Tom (now known as Poppet), all won one or two rounds and did very credibly.
The boys did show the Welsh that we can row, and row well, with the one crew who aren't at Henley triumphing at IM3 4+.
IM3 4+ win (3.07 mins into clip)
The experienced Vets were shown the door, by some very capable opposition. Huggy and Henry (no slouches on home turf), were seen off by 2 lengths by the Bradford-on-Avon half of a composite that won Vet D at the Fours Head. The fledgling Vet C 4+ were beaten by the same distance by a Llandaff crew that had won Vet C at the Fours Head the year before. We were really picking our opposition.
Olly and Gerraint continued to discover how hard it is sculling at Vet Novice, but did win a round. Your time will come gentlemen.
The Vet Novices, however, came into their own this weekend. The outrageous mismatch of their 8+ against Cardiff University did not result in their expected capitulation. They lost, but only by a length or so, and they looked neat and tidy.
The 8 then split into 2 coxed 4s, both in straight finals against Upton RC and Ross County respectively and... they both won!! The perfect result. Pots all round, and as they were non qualifying events, they stayed novices. Among them big Richard (yes another one). He, who looks like Thor and is so new to the rowing and the club, I don't know his last name. An extraordinary achievement.
Vet Novice 4+ - featuring Thor at bow.
So day one closed with a respectable return of 4 Maidstone wins. That night, the seniors got up to their normal tricks, and the Vets hit a curry house and were by and large good that night. The key exception being Coach Abraham, who drank to excess, with the normal consequences the following morning.
That night, a tall, lean chap and a very short one, slipped away when no one was looking to attend to some business...
Interlude
Screek, screek, screek. Screek, screek, screek.
"I fort we 'ad dun 'em all last night... boyo".
"Nah, forgot the ones in the boat house, didn't we, my precious".
"Fing is, I've lorst count of what we 'av dun. In fact, I've a nasty feeling we dun our own boats too... boyo".
"Oh no, you plonker. Get on wif it, I'll go get some araldite"...
Sunday 30th May
We were all surprised with it being a gloriously sunny day on the Wye. But less surprised as the Senior experiment at sculling continued to fail. Their best result (and, in fact, the gutsiest row of the weekend for me, was Tom losing the Novice Scull final by a length). His Reading Uni opposition out rated him by 4 pips all the way down, but still Tom hung on in there and was slowly catching at the end.
Also, a similar story for our experienced Vets. The Monmouth Vet C4+ - possibly the best crew at the regatta, coasted home easily against our Vet C4+ (though Lois had at least taught them how to do a decent start).
As for messers Huggins and Coach Abraham who were due yet again to meet the Bradford boys. Hmmm. Huggins took Abraham to a Little Chef and tried to sober him up with coffee. When he could speak, the tall green giant leant over the table and amidst the stale curry and beer fumes, earnestly said: "listen old chap, I better tell you now that I fully expect you to do all the rowing - I'll just be a passenger, if that's alright". And he slumped back, comatose.
"No, no" I cried, "listen, I've spoken to them and they admit that 1k is their distance. 1500 meters is unknown territory for them. 1500 is our distance, we'll take them at the end... are you listening, Henry... why are you sleeping?"
So, Huggins pulled the snoring lard arse down the course for 1k, looked round and saw the Bradford boys 4 lengths up. Dutifully, he shouted "LEGS", at which point, Coach Abraham woke up, the boat surged forward, and the Bradford boys had to work to keep their winning distance to 1.5 lengths. If there had been a handicap, things may have gone differently.
So to the Vet Novices. Same trick, an 8+ and 2 4+s. The fours lost this time, but the 8+, in their first heat are ahead as they came into the final straight. But look, something is very odd. Bert isn't rowing, in fact his backstay has fallen off. So why are they winning? Well look, the Llandaff opposition stroke and seven aren't rowing either. Bits have mysteriously fallen off their boat too. It's a very strange sight. How odd.
In the final, our boys are up against another University - Swansea. As they came into the final straight, Swansea are just up. But look, they are slowing down as they come to the line. Oh and look, the Swansea stroke man's whole rigger, gate and pin have disintegrated. And look, our boys surge past them and win their Novice pot!!!!
Oh and look, the Swansea stroke man's whole rigger, gate and pin have disintegrated - 5mins into the clip
Hurrah!
Seriously, the boys rowed brilliantly, unfairly placed among kids half their age, they took their chances, and as Big Bill said... "if you can't stand the heat..."
Pics, lawsuits and subsequent amendments to come.
Monmouth Draw Now Up
Check this link
Monmouth Draw
At a first look for the Vets, I can't say I'm estatic. Many of us seem to have been moved to younger categories and James tells me there will be no handicap - I mean, what's the point of getting older if you can't get a little headstart once in a while. Example - Vet Novice 8 now in the Novice 8 category - Saturday v Cardiff Uni Boat Club, Hmmm, 20 year olds v 40 to 50 year olds.
Not fair, Monmouth!!
Monmouth Draw
At a first look for the Vets, I can't say I'm estatic. Many of us seem to have been moved to younger categories and James tells me there will be no handicap - I mean, what's the point of getting older if you can't get a little headstart once in a while. Example - Vet Novice 8 now in the Novice 8 category - Saturday v Cardiff Uni Boat Club, Hmmm, 20 year olds v 40 to 50 year olds.
Not fair, Monmouth!!
Kelsie is selected to represent Great Britain in the World Cup
Kelsie is selected to represent Great Britain in the World Cup
Kelsie has been selected to represent Great Britain at the rowing world cup in Bled, Slovenia, over the weekend of May 28-30.
http://www.britishrowing.org/news/men-stick-women-twist-gb-rowing-team-world-cup
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/rowing/8687945.stm
To see Kelsie on the BBC coverage: World Cup - Bled 28-30 May, Watch live on red button/online (UK only), highlights on BBC Two, 31 May, 1300 BST
http://www.britishrowing.org/news/men-stick-women-twist-gb-rowing-team-world-cup
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/rowing/8687945.stm
To see Kelsie on the BBC coverage: World Cup - Bled 28-30 May, Watch live on red button/online (UK only), highlights on BBC Two, 31 May, 1300 BST
Morgan at Munich Regatta
Morgan at Munich Regatta
On Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May Morgan Hellen raced at the Munich Junior International Regatta representing Great Britain. On the Saturday he raced in the Junior Mens 2- finishing 6th in the A Final. On Sunday he then raced in the Junior Mens 8o finishing 3rd overall behind two German crews. It was an excellent weekend of success for Morgan with a promising summer of international racing ahead of him.
Guide to the Rowing Year
I knocked this up for newcomers to the Development Squad, and thought it might be useful for others to read. It's not official, just my view on things. Obviously the performance Seniors and Juniors would want to do more :), and the young'uns and recreationals do less.
We have two seasons in rowing:
Head Season from October to April roughly. In this season we build our fitness for the Regatta Season. We normally start in October at our lowest level of fitness in the year, and so build up fitness, by doing long sessions on the ergo or on the water. Typically 5k, and occasionally 10k. We start very slowly at what we call UT2 and UT1 aerobic levels. Makes you sweat, great for fat burning, but does not kill you. Here’s a guide to the various rowing intensities:
Don’t worry about the ridiculous suggested times, that’s for the top athletes. We very rarely do more than 40 mins in one session, and mostly 20 mins or so.
By December, we move to AT Training – Typically hard 5ks.
During the Head season, we test ourselves at Head races – usually one a month. These are processional races, where they set us off every 15 seconds or so, and time us to the end of the course. They are typically 2.5k – 5k long, and fit in with the training schedule. You win prizes at these things, but they are just building blocks for the main Regatta season.
By April, the Head season is winding down, and you should be, aerobically, very fit. April is a transitional month, when it gets light and we get into boats and practice sprints, racing starts and regatta length pieces (typically 500m to 1.5k).
You do not get many 2k races on the local regatta circuit, but it is the de facto distance for Seniors at national and international levels.
Regatta Season
The season lasts from May through to August. All the while concentrating on in-boat crew rowing, getting the all important starts right, and building the capability to row at anaerobic levels for 1k or so. The races are head to head, and on a knock out basis. So if there are 8 boats in a category and you keep winning, you will have 3 races over the day.
If you win, you win a "pot" (typically a pewter tankard). If you are a Senior, you get a point added to your status, and slowly ascend from lowly Novice to supreme Elite (think black belt). You only row against crews of your status, so it never gets easy... just harder and harder ;).
If you are a Junior, you race other kids of your own age: J12, J13, J14, J16 and J18, where you have to be under the age in that group, so if you are 13, you will be racing at J14.
If you are a Master (above 27). You row in categories based on the average age of the crew (denoted by a letter of the alphabet, where A is youngest and I is the oldest). It's all very complicated, but can be figured out here:
Masters and Juniors probably go to an average of 1 regatta a month, Seniors may do more.
September is commonly regarded as the month off! That’s when rowers without families go on holiday, or the insane do the Boston (Lincolnshire) marathon – 31 miles of agony. Once was enough for me.
Because we haven’t been doing as much aerobic training in the summer, our fitness actually tails off over the season, while our anaerobic capabilities build up. So by October, we have to get properly fit again.
So the cycle continues.
Monmouth Regatta Entries
Reminder that final entry submissions are coming close 12 NOON SATURDAY 22nd May 2010. And there is not much activity on this front from what I have seen so far.
Vet entries to my knowledge are:
Vet C 2x
Vet D 2x
Vet C 4+
2x Vet Novice 4+
1x Vet Novice 8+
Senior entries????
I believe Hugh Gabriel is submitting the entries.
Vet entries to my knowledge are:
Vet C 2x
Vet D 2x
Vet C 4+
2x Vet Novice 4+
1x Vet Novice 8+
Senior entries????
I believe Hugh Gabriel is submitting the entries.
Kelsie wins 2 international golds!
Kelsie Gibson won two gold medals representing Great Britain Varese Italy
Kelsie was selected in April to represent
The results over the last weekend now put London 2012 as a real prospect. Kelsie is currently on training camp in Italy but will be back on Saturday 8th May at the club Great Britain
IM1 4x comes second at Wallingford Regatta
Juniors Sam Blackwell and Ryan Mitchell competed with Matt Nicholls and Stuart Hampshire at the Wallingford Regatta at Dorney Lake on Sunday 2nd May.
As a new crew combination they competed well finishing 2nd in a time of 6:31.5 in the Intermediate 1 Quadruple Sculls. The results puts them in a good standing for greater success over the course of the summer season with an intention to attend Henley Royal Regatta in July.
Well done to the crew!
MIRC Race Night
Following recent emails, just wanted to post info about the next MIRC social and Fundraiser....
When: Friday 11th June
When: Friday 11th June
Where: Aylesford Village Community Centre (ME20 7AU).
Time: Bar opens 7.30, tote opens 8.00 and first race approx. 8.15.
How it works: Bets are £1 per horse, a tape is then selected at random and played on the big screen for everyone to cheer on their horses! The cash from each race will be split between the winners and the club.
All ages and everyone welcome, would be great to see everyone from all squads, non rowers and friends and family etc.
There are opportunities for local businesses to sponsor a race for £25, sponsorship will secure advertising on the event posters (logos will need to be supplied) and a special mention/thank you by the compare on the night.
I have yet to finalise the food arrangements and ticket prices, it is likely to be jacket potatoes with a choice of filling(s), salad and nibbles etc. to keep the ticket prices down. Let me know your thoughts.
For further information/questions please get in touch lauramcgrillen@hotmail.co. uk or 07554 005717.
Thanks
Laura
Time: Bar opens 7.30, tote opens 8.00 and first race approx. 8.15.
How it works: Bets are £1 per horse, a tape is then selected at random and played on the big screen for everyone to cheer on their horses! The cash from each race will be split between the winners and the club.
All ages and everyone welcome, would be great to see everyone from all squads, non rowers and friends and family etc.
There are opportunities for local businesses to sponsor a race for £25, sponsorship will secure advertising on the event posters (logos will need to be supplied) and a special mention/thank you by the compare on the night.
I have yet to finalise the food arrangements and ticket prices, it is likely to be jacket potatoes with a choice of filling(s), salad and nibbles etc. to keep the ticket prices down. Let me know your thoughts.
For further information/
Thanks
Laura
Lea Spring - Regatta Report
Maidstone veterans followed up their total success at their Spring Head in March, with a total fail at Lea Spring! Though despite the whitewash, there were glimpses of some real good news for the future.
As a club, we were not well represented, with the juniors off at the inter-regionals in Nottingham and the seniors, opting to avoid picking up unnecessary points so early in the season... hmm... The Vets, too, were short handed, resulting in largely scratch crews being fielded.
I don't like the river Lea. It is, without doubt, the most putrid course on the circuit: where even the fish have given up the will to live as evidenced by the large number of dead ones floating along with the other dubious detritus that can be found in this waterway of North-East London. You don't want to fall in here.
Seemingly oblivious to this, James was first up in the Vet B 1x. He was against a Belgian man-monster in Lea colours, who was to take his first of 3 Maidstone scalps. James, plucky as ever, gave his best shot, and while he was well beaten, it wasn't an Easy win. Anyway - it didn't really count as James was in his Old Monmouthian colours ;).
Next up were the Vet C 4+. In the morning, Gerraint had called in sick, so a hung-over Abraham was drafted in at the last moment. We were up against... yes you've guessed it, the Belgian man-monster and 3 similarly built man-monsters, who could have been his brothers, rowing Vet B. Ollie echoed our thoughts with a: "gosh, they're big", while Abraham echoed our other thoughts with a: "and so very young...", and Huggins finished off our pre-start demoralisation with a: "and so very together", as they neatly took up station at the start.
The start marshall gleefully told us that he had calculated our head start to be all of 4 seconds, and were we happy with that? err - NO. Still we had a good start, rapidly stabilising at 36. The men-monsters had a better start, and got to a length down ominously quickly.
But, their stride, while neat, was very pedestrian - at a guess, rating 33, and we held them at 1 length for 450 meters. Liz, unable to hide the shock shouted: "YOU CAN DO THIS!" And we all thought we could, but the Lea had a finish up their sleeves, and we were, frankly, knackered. They cruised through and beat us by 1/3 length. We comforted ourselves later when we found out they were a training IM2 crew. No dishonour there.
"YOU CAN DO THIS". VET C v The Lea Men Monsters (pic courtesy Alan Rickwood)
So, there was much interest in the final when the men-monsters came across our very scratch, very uneven, Vet B 4+ where Mr Chairman sat in between our very own men monsters of Ridgeway and Tompkins. A very odd sight. Our boys went down a length immediately to the fast Lea start, not helped by some poor early bladework of our own. However, the slow Lea middle game came to light again, and our heroes clawed back a half length, before succumbing to the fast Lea finish, which undid all their good work. Another gutsy performance.
The race of the day for Maidstone, though, was still to come. The Vet E 4+, who have been doing a lot of secret, hardcore training, under the watchful if menacing presence of Chris Long, held a straight final against another Lea outfit. They blasted down the course, out-rating the Lea, but doing so a bit less tidily. It was neck and neck all the way. As the crews closed on the finish, a Lea marshall, said if they won, it would be a great scalp: the Lea crew had won at the FISA Masters International Regatta, and were a force to be reckoned with... "but the race is not over yet". Which was portentious as the Lea put in a surge at the finish and won by a canvas. Another plucky failure. I predict great things for this crew this year.
Finally, our Vet Novice 4+ in quite a experimental configuration with big Bill at stroke. They are a powerful crew, but they are not quite ready, technically, and so lost to a neat Sudbury Vet Novice crew in the final. The Novice Vet squad has fantastic potential for the future though - watch this space.
So, as we headed away from London, pondering the failings of fielding scratch crews, and not practicing sprint finishes, heads were not particularly down, and we are sure in the knowledge that later in the season, the Vets will do their part for the club.
I reminded myself, once again, as I recoiled from the bloated, half eaten, floating carcass of a Cocker Spaniel, never, ever, to go single sculling on the River Lea.
As a club, we were not well represented, with the juniors off at the inter-regionals in Nottingham and the seniors, opting to avoid picking up unnecessary points so early in the season... hmm... The Vets, too, were short handed, resulting in largely scratch crews being fielded.
I don't like the river Lea. It is, without doubt, the most putrid course on the circuit: where even the fish have given up the will to live as evidenced by the large number of dead ones floating along with the other dubious detritus that can be found in this waterway of North-East London. You don't want to fall in here.
Seemingly oblivious to this, James was first up in the Vet B 1x. He was against a Belgian man-monster in Lea colours, who was to take his first of 3 Maidstone scalps. James, plucky as ever, gave his best shot, and while he was well beaten, it wasn't an Easy win. Anyway - it didn't really count as James was in his Old Monmouthian colours ;).
Next up were the Vet C 4+. In the morning, Gerraint had called in sick, so a hung-over Abraham was drafted in at the last moment. We were up against... yes you've guessed it, the Belgian man-monster and 3 similarly built man-monsters, who could have been his brothers, rowing Vet B. Ollie echoed our thoughts with a: "gosh, they're big", while Abraham echoed our other thoughts with a: "and so very young...", and Huggins finished off our pre-start demoralisation with a: "and so very together", as they neatly took up station at the start.
The start marshall gleefully told us that he had calculated our head start to be all of 4 seconds, and were we happy with that? err - NO. Still we had a good start, rapidly stabilising at 36. The men-monsters had a better start, and got to a length down ominously quickly.
But, their stride, while neat, was very pedestrian - at a guess, rating 33, and we held them at 1 length for 450 meters. Liz, unable to hide the shock shouted: "YOU CAN DO THIS!" And we all thought we could, but the Lea had a finish up their sleeves, and we were, frankly, knackered. They cruised through and beat us by 1/3 length. We comforted ourselves later when we found out they were a training IM2 crew. No dishonour there.
"YOU CAN DO THIS". VET C v The Lea Men Monsters (pic courtesy Alan Rickwood)
So, there was much interest in the final when the men-monsters came across our very scratch, very uneven, Vet B 4+ where Mr Chairman sat in between our very own men monsters of Ridgeway and Tompkins. A very odd sight. Our boys went down a length immediately to the fast Lea start, not helped by some poor early bladework of our own. However, the slow Lea middle game came to light again, and our heroes clawed back a half length, before succumbing to the fast Lea finish, which undid all their good work. Another gutsy performance.
The race of the day for Maidstone, though, was still to come. The Vet E 4+, who have been doing a lot of secret, hardcore training, under the watchful if menacing presence of Chris Long, held a straight final against another Lea outfit. They blasted down the course, out-rating the Lea, but doing so a bit less tidily. It was neck and neck all the way. As the crews closed on the finish, a Lea marshall, said if they won, it would be a great scalp: the Lea crew had won at the FISA Masters International Regatta, and were a force to be reckoned with... "but the race is not over yet". Which was portentious as the Lea put in a surge at the finish and won by a canvas. Another plucky failure. I predict great things for this crew this year.
Finally, our Vet Novice 4+ in quite a experimental configuration with big Bill at stroke. They are a powerful crew, but they are not quite ready, technically, and so lost to a neat Sudbury Vet Novice crew in the final. The Novice Vet squad has fantastic potential for the future though - watch this space.
So, as we headed away from London, pondering the failings of fielding scratch crews, and not practicing sprint finishes, heads were not particularly down, and we are sure in the knowledge that later in the season, the Vets will do their part for the club.
I reminded myself, once again, as I recoiled from the bloated, half eaten, floating carcass of a Cocker Spaniel, never, ever, to go single sculling on the River Lea.
Upcoming Regattas
Lea Spring is on Sunday 25th April. Check the link for the draw which should be out soon.
EDIT - DRAW IS NOW UP!
Boat Loading: Saturday 24th c11.30.
Unfortunately, Danson Dashes (which was going to be on the 9th May) has been called off, I understand this is due to the costs of hiring sufficient Marshalls and Toilets to keep the council happy. Sad.
James, is rallying the troops for his annual pilgrimage to Monmouth on Spring Bank Holiday weekend (28th and 29th May). At least you get Bank Holiday Monday to recover. Lovely, wide stretch of river for you dodgy steersmen and women. Why, oh why, they have a 1,500 metre race on hung-over Sunday is beyond me: but it's a beautiful venue nonetheless.
Not seen a poster for the event yet - watch this space.
EDIT - LARGE MAIDSTONE VET CONTINGENT GOING:
Vet B 2x
Vet C 2x
Vet D 2x
Vet C 4+ (Probable)
2x Vet NOV 4+
Vet Nov 8+ (Possible)
Seniors? Juniors?
EDIT - DRAW IS NOW UP!
Boat Loading: Saturday 24th c11.30.
Unfortunately, Danson Dashes (which was going to be on the 9th May) has been called off, I understand this is due to the costs of hiring sufficient Marshalls and Toilets to keep the council happy. Sad.
James, is rallying the troops for his annual pilgrimage to Monmouth on Spring Bank Holiday weekend (28th and 29th May). At least you get Bank Holiday Monday to recover. Lovely, wide stretch of river for you dodgy steersmen and women. Why, oh why, they have a 1,500 metre race on hung-over Sunday is beyond me: but it's a beautiful venue nonetheless.
Not seen a poster for the event yet - watch this space.
EDIT - LARGE MAIDSTONE VET CONTINGENT GOING:
Vet B 2x
Vet C 2x
Vet D 2x
Vet C 4+ (Probable)
2x Vet NOV 4+
Vet Nov 8+ (Possible)
Seniors? Juniors?
Spring Head Pics
Just a couple of pics to get the hang of posting pictures on the site.
Old Vet B F**ts
Old Vet D F**t
Old Vet B F**ts
Old Vet D F**t
Can't Blog?
Loads of comments from folks who say they can't blog, even when they set up a Google Mail Account.
Just figured out that I need to set you up as an Author as well. So if you want to blog, please let me know by sending me an email.
I will speculatively send a bunch of the mouthy ones in the club invites to get you going. You know who you are!
Also, I don't have emails of any mouthy Juniors and a few Seniors so please write me for an invite.
Finally, I've opened up comments to anybody who visits.
Ta
Just figured out that I need to set you up as an Author as well. So if you want to blog, please let me know by sending me an email.
I will speculatively send a bunch of the mouthy ones in the club invites to get you going. You know who you are!
Also, I don't have emails of any mouthy Juniors and a few Seniors so please write me for an invite.
Finally, I've opened up comments to anybody who visits.
Ta
Morning!
So, while the main websites seem to have fallen into a state of disrepair, we need a club wide internet "thing". Not sure what that "thing" is, and I certainly don't have the time to build a website, but this is nice and easy.
We've got a bunch of yahoo noticeboards, which are going strong, but they are not very visual, and are targeted at different bits of the club, so this is for all, and it would be great to have lots of pics and videos.
Of course I nicked the idea... look at what the Minerva did when their website ran out of steam...
Minerva Blog
Anyway - go ahead and blog!
ps - if you want to Blog something, you need to set up a Google mail account, and let me know, so I can add you as an author.
We've got a bunch of yahoo noticeboards, which are going strong, but they are not very visual, and are targeted at different bits of the club, so this is for all, and it would be great to have lots of pics and videos.
Of course I nicked the idea... look at what the Minerva did when their website ran out of steam...
Minerva Blog
Anyway - go ahead and blog!
ps - if you want to Blog something, you need to set up a Google mail account, and let me know, so I can add you as an author.
Pairs Head of the River - Saturday 17th October 2009
On Saturday 17th October, two crews from Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club (MIRC) travelled to Chiswick for the Pairs Head of the River. With 372 crews from all over the UK competing, the MIRC Elite double scull consisting of Stuart Hampshire and Chris Mollison were thrilled and honoured to start the race in number one position. The conditions on the River Thames were remarkably tame, with no rain and only a slight wind. Hampshire and Mollison started the race exceptionally well and maintained their number one position for the majority of the race, as they approached Hammersmith bridge the MIRC double were being pushed on by University of London Boat Club crew who spurred them on and had a blinding finish. Hampshire and Mollison completed the course in a time of 12.25 and finished in a very respectable 12th place overall. The wind increased for MIRC’s Intermediate 2 double scull consisting of Matt Nicholls and Sam Blackwell who set off in 87th position and faced a head wind during their race. Nicholls and Blackwell have not competed together in a double scull before but did not hold back, as they had a good start and went off rating 33 and settled into a steady rhythm and maintained 30 strokes per minute for the duration of the race. Nicholls and Blackwell completed the course in a time of 12.34 and finished in 24th position overall. With just 9 seconds between the two MIRC crews they are all looking forward to the upcoming races in November to see who finished where.
Laura McGrillen
Laura McGrillen
Maidstone Small Boats Head - Sunday 4th October
Sunday 4th October was the Maidstone Small Boats Head which was held on the River Medway from Kings School Boat House to just before Town Bridge, a distance of 2.5Km. Head racing is when boats are individually timed.
155 boats from various clubs, racing over 3 divisions in a variety of different categories for Mens, Women's, Juniors, Vets and Mixed crews.
Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club (MIRC) entered 37 crews and won in 15 of the categories. They also got 3 of the 4 fastest times.
The Mens fastest time was awarded to Maidstone/Globe composite IM2 4+ Matt Nicholls, Chris Mollison, Stuart Hampshire (all from MIRC) and Mark Jaques (from Globe Rowing Club) coxed by Jo Jarrett in a time of 8:29, they were the fastest boat of the day.
The Junior J18 2x - from MIRC Tim Grant and Morgan Hellen were the fastest Mens Junior Crew – 9:08
Fastest Women's crew WIM3 4+ from MIRC Laura McGrillen, Liz Bennett, Elida Fidler, Katie Martin – Coxed by Tricia McGrillen from Sudbury Rowing Club. Time: 9:53
Fastest Women's Junior Crew was awarded to Bewl Rowing Club was J15 4x+ – 10:22
Other winning Maidstone crews
IM3 4+ Rich Wood, Stephen Slade, Marc Feary, Ben Finch coxed by Thea from Royal Docks RC
Elite 1x Stuart Hampshire - 9:03
J18 4+ - Dave Porter, Fergus Maunsell, Matt Delderfield, Ben Le Lion cox Ross Porter – 9:19
J16 2x Ryan Mitchell, Charlie Talbot - 9:34
J18 1x Tim Grant - 9:44
Vet E 4+ Robin Chapman, Harry Salmon, Dave Marsden all from MIRC and Ian Boyd (from Tyne Rowing Club) coxed by Sue Mobbs - 9:44
J15 2x Nick Penny, Pierre Flasse 9:56
Vet Novice 4+ Graham Hodgekinson, Richard, Simon Da Maria, Ali Macham coxed by Tui Thain - 9:59
1x Vet B/C James Knight – 10:02
1x Vet F Roger Mobbs – 10:45
WJ16 2x Abi Deldefield, Sarah Judd - 10:49
WJ14 2x Megan Fuller, Lauren Gilchrist 12:01
Later this month Morgan Hellen and Tim Grant are attending World Class Start and GB potential camp
Laura Johnson
155 boats from various clubs, racing over 3 divisions in a variety of different categories for Mens, Women's, Juniors, Vets and Mixed crews.
Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club (MIRC) entered 37 crews and won in 15 of the categories. They also got 3 of the 4 fastest times.
The Mens fastest time was awarded to Maidstone/Globe composite IM2 4+ Matt Nicholls, Chris Mollison, Stuart Hampshire (all from MIRC) and Mark Jaques (from Globe Rowing Club) coxed by Jo Jarrett in a time of 8:29, they were the fastest boat of the day.
The Junior J18 2x - from MIRC Tim Grant and Morgan Hellen were the fastest Mens Junior Crew – 9:08
Fastest Women's crew WIM3 4+ from MIRC Laura McGrillen, Liz Bennett, Elida Fidler, Katie Martin – Coxed by Tricia McGrillen from Sudbury Rowing Club. Time: 9:53
Fastest Women's Junior Crew was awarded to Bewl Rowing Club was J15 4x+ – 10:22
Other winning Maidstone crews
IM3 4+ Rich Wood, Stephen Slade, Marc Feary, Ben Finch coxed by Thea from Royal Docks RC
Elite 1x Stuart Hampshire - 9:03
J18 4+ - Dave Porter, Fergus Maunsell, Matt Delderfield, Ben Le Lion cox Ross Porter – 9:19
J16 2x Ryan Mitchell, Charlie Talbot - 9:34
J18 1x Tim Grant - 9:44
Vet E 4+ Robin Chapman, Harry Salmon, Dave Marsden all from MIRC and Ian Boyd (from Tyne Rowing Club) coxed by Sue Mobbs - 9:44
J15 2x Nick Penny, Pierre Flasse 9:56
Vet Novice 4+ Graham Hodgekinson, Richard, Simon Da Maria, Ali Macham coxed by Tui Thain - 9:59
1x Vet B/C James Knight – 10:02
1x Vet F Roger Mobbs – 10:45
WJ16 2x Abi Deldefield, Sarah Judd - 10:49
WJ14 2x Megan Fuller, Lauren Gilchrist 12:01
Later this month Morgan Hellen and Tim Grant are attending World Class Start and GB potential camp
Laura Johnson
Maidstone Invicta Junior Squad - Presentation Evening - Leeds Castle, 18th September 2009
The Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club Junior Squad have celebrated a successful 2008 / 2009 season last weekend. Following a grant from the Kent Youth Service for £50,000 the deputy mayor (to send name) helped name the new eight and new training single. The eight was named after the longest serving junior coach Ray Long who helped coach the juniors to their greatest year.
The boat naming ceremony was followed by the annual presentation evening held at Leeds Castle. It was a fantastic evening with lots of laughter and reminising. The junior of the year award was won by Morgan Hellen, who represented the club and Great Britain at Le Coupe de la Jeunesse winning 3 golds and a bronze. Morgan's mother, Anita Hellen was awarded Coach of the Year an award voted for by the juniors.
The overall contribution award went to Ross Porter after he coxed the junior eight to the Henley quarter finals, the coxed four to National Championship silver and represented the club and England winning a silver at the Home Countries. He is the club's youngest athlete to win a medal representing his country.
It has been a great year for the junior squad and a big thank you goes to all the juniors, parents and coaches for all their hard work.
Kate Beaumont
The boat naming ceremony was followed by the annual presentation evening held at Leeds Castle. It was a fantastic evening with lots of laughter and reminising. The junior of the year award was won by Morgan Hellen, who represented the club and Great Britain at Le Coupe de la Jeunesse winning 3 golds and a bronze. Morgan's mother, Anita Hellen was awarded Coach of the Year an award voted for by the juniors.
The overall contribution award went to Ross Porter after he coxed the junior eight to the Henley quarter finals, the coxed four to National Championship silver and represented the club and England winning a silver at the Home Countries. He is the club's youngest athlete to win a medal representing his country.
It has been a great year for the junior squad and a big thank you goes to all the juniors, parents and coaches for all their hard work.
Kate Beaumont