Thames Valley Trial Head - 2012

They told me that Dorney Lake can be like the arctic; and so it was, as a small but determined contingent went to do battle with some keen opposition from the Thames Valley region and beyond.

The Trials are named so because they have an unusual dispensation from British Rowing, which allow coaches to put in 2 or 3 crews in the same category using the same rowers.  This allows for a bit of seat racing, and testing out different combinations.

So, first up were the two MIRC Vet D crews in both Open and IM3 configurations.  The difference between them were that Huggy and Robin in the Open boat were swapped out for Greg and Bert in theIM3 boat.  A case of grace versus power ;).  Their opposition were a useful looking Vet E crew from Abingdon, and one from Southampton Coalporters. 

It was a tough 1.9k blast, but something that the MIRC crews had been practicing for a few weeks and well within their capability.  What we did not expect was the final timings after handicap:

MIRC Vet D Open - 6.26

MIRC Vet D IM3 - 6.27

Abingdon Vet E - 6.27

Very close: a shot across the bows for the cosy boys in the Open Boat, and a first WIN of the year for MIRC!

Next up were our very own Mollison and Nichols in the Senior 2-, who went on to dominate a very large field and WIN comfortably. 

Finally, Lewin tried his luck in the IM1 1x, and in typical style, blasted his way down the course to finish 2nd in another large category.

2 Wins and 2 seconds out of 3 races, a great start to the year.

Photos will be posted next week.