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
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
