Veterans Head of the River - 2012

Maidstone Invicta's Veterans continued their impressive start to the season with a 20.18 min 45th place at this year's Vesta Veterans' Head of the River.

We came to the event pretty confident in our abilities, and buoyed up in the knowledge that we would be using the "Ray Long". 

Liz Ridgway accepted our offer as cox and we were buoyed further that her timely bout of "food poisoning" last week made her 1 stone lighter on the day.  Not sure if anyone actually asked how she was ;).

I advised Liz to keep the number of pushes to one or two maximum, given we are old men; so she dutifully packed about 20 in.  The first 3 coming immediately after the start in order to overtake Bewl's Sunday crew.

The Bewl looking better than they rowed - 2 min 20 behind us.  Notice their equipment!

I advised our stroke, Geraint, to rate about 30, given that we are old men; so he dutifully maintained a rock solid 32 all the way.

I advised the crew to beware of the nasty chop and wind that always hits you after Hammersmith, and of course, the chop happened at Barnes.  It was much calmer after Hammersmith.

The relative calm after Hammersmith Bridge.  3 miles in and some of us are panting hard.

I gave up offering advice and sank back into my own annual private hell, which is rowing the Championship Course, and vowing never to do it again.

The crew behind us were noisy mustachioed Frenchmen from Boulogne, festooned in all sorts of strange clothing and looking like extras from "'Allo, 'allo".  They looked like they were only here for 'le Rost Bif', but they really pushed us all the way, only fading at the end and losing to us by just 7 seconds. 

Johnny Frenchman from Boulogne in the chop at Barnes.  They rowed much better than they looked!

We didn't see anybody else in the race, though we caught up on the 3 crews ahead of Bewl, so we knew we had done well.

We came 8th out of 40 in the Vet D category, and 5th of the UK crews.  Still lots to work on, but a good place to be.

Thanks to Kate Povall and Archie Hodgkinson for support and welly monitoring.

Women's Head of the River - 2012

After months of training the day finally arrived for the WEHORR. Unfortunately we
had been denied any race practice by the cancellation of Henley Head and illness had dogged the crew in the weeks running up to the race.

 

However we all gathered early on the Saturday morning at Cygnet, keeping a close eye on the sky for rain. It was forecast for midday and the race was due to start at 11am. However in true British style the unpredictable weather dumped some rain on us just as we lined up to boat.

After the usual scrum to boat we were afloat and off, heading upstream towards our marshalling position between Barnes Bridge and Tideway Scullers. After some ‘polite’ requests to crews failing to marshal properly from our cox Tom we found our slot, although the crew in front seemed to be number dyslexic!

We watched the first few crews race pass, being armchair critics looking at style, kit, and admiring their boats and were off again to our final marshalling position above Chiswick Bridge.

The sun then came out and a discussion ensued as to whether we were going to race in skins or with tops under the all in ones! The final outcome was a mixture. Having stripped down to racing layers the sun went in and a chilly wind blew up. Those of us who had kept our tech tops on were laughing!

Then we were off. A steady paddle down towards Chiswick Bridge and then a build to race pace. We went through the start at 30/32 and Tom called for a build on the rate. We pushed a couple of pips higher and quickly began to reel in the crew in front. Passing them before Barnes Bridge we then set about reeling in the next crew. Their cox was determined to make our passage more difficult and a discussion ensued between Tom our cox and Laura our stroke about which side we could overtake on. They were eventually warned by the umpire and we went through. That was 2 crews down.

We then settled through the next sector, boosted by the cheer from Kate and Robin at The Bandstand, aiming for Hammersmith Bridge. 

Although we had pulled away from the crew immediately behind us, they began to reel us in again and we went under Hammersmith Bridge just ahead of them. They then took the inside of the bend and as we hit the infamous rougher water, pushed past us.

However we held things together and drove on to the finish, catching up some of the crews further ahead. We finished 171st out of 287 but were lying 130th at Barnes Bridge and 129th at Hammersmith, so again it was the last part of the race that did us in.

Well done to everyone who raced, some for the first time, others who were more experienced and knew what to expect and those who had struggled through illness and survived (just). An umpires launch was heard to call to us ‘Maidstone if you need some help raise your hand’ as we rowed back up after the race. Some of the crew were looking quite rough!!!


Anne Salmon

Pictures courtesy Hugh Gabriel.

Maidstone Spring Small Boats Head - 2012

MIRC put out no less than 30 crews at our local Spring Head on March 11.  We were gifted with some benign Spring-like weather, and opponents from all over the South-East joined us in some stiff and enjoyable competition.

In total, we won 9 events: 4 for the Juniors, 3 for the Masters and 2 for the Seniors.

Our Masters B4x+ of James Knight, Richard Ridgway, Lewin Hynes and Mark Tompkins, coxed by Lois Birrell, blasted their way down the course to win the Masters B/C/D event and Penant for the fastest boat in a very fast time of 8.27.

 Masters B 4x+... timing!!


The juniors also put up an extraordinarily strong performance with the J164+ of R Porter, J Grace, A Collins and J Harris, coxed by I Terry in an impressive 9.11.

Also, A Collins won the J17 1x in a fast time of 9.57. 

A popular Masters win came in the form of the BBQ crew, who taking time out from their duties with the burgers, won the ME/F4+ event in 10.02.  They were Alan Leeson, Bert Deters, Tom Fuller and Alan Rickwood, coxed by the irrepressable Tui Thain.

The BBQs mid race!  Note the special resting technique employed.


Tom Fuller and Rachel Rickwood on duty at the food stall.

S Marlow from the seniors won the Novice 1x just two seconds behind the Masters 4+ in 10.03.

There was another terrific result for the Juniors - this time the girls when the J164x+ of  B. Arscott, A Gordon-Reid, L Maunsell and L Gilchrist, coxed by C Gilchrist, and rowing in the J18 event won with the fast time of 10.17.

L Gilchrist and L Maunsell went on to win the WJ16 2x in 10.44

Maunsell and Gilchrist on the way to their win.

Ray Phillips in his MIRC debut won the Masters D/E/F 1x in 10.48.

Finally, another popular victory was that of C Devereaux and J Whyman in the ladies N2x.  This was their first ever win, and J Whyman's first race!  Their time was 11.08.


There was some excellent organisation on the day: a big thank-you goes to all who helped make it a success.


Sue Marden keeping the landing stage ship-shape!

Finally, a special mention for the Demon Double in Green, who managed to take out no less than 4 other crews in their race.  Here we see them just after driving the Kings School Canterbury girls into the bank, and eyeing up Sara and Teri as their next target.

Phew - survived.  Is that standard MIRC racing kit Sarah?

Thanks to Alan Leeson for the pics.  Also see here for some video footage of our Juniors

Maidstone Spring Head 2012 RESULTS

Maidstone Spring Head Results 2012

Maidstone Head - Sun 11 March 2012 - DRAW

Maidstone Invicta Small Boats Head Sunday 11th March 2012

DIVISION 1 09.30
No       Name                                    Club                            Status                                                                                   
1     C Mollison M Nicholls Maidstone  Invicta RC      S2-
2     S Marlow W Purnell T Saunders B Finch Cox J Jarrett Maidstone Invicta RC      IM24+
3     J Knight R Ridgway L Hynes M Tomkins Cox L Birrell Maidstone Invicta RC      MB4x+
4     J Player G Seamark R Philpot G Mitchell-Hill  Cox Z Szotyon Medway Towns RC      MD4+
5     T Mason G Hill D Purchase C Long  Cox D James Maidstone Invicta RC      MD4+
6     M Dean W Brown N Prescott J Wynn Cox R Kemlo  Medway Towns RC      J164x+
7     A Warner M Rutland F Bowen D Chadwick  Cox Maidstone Invicta RC      J164x+
8     W Game J Britton S Haider A De-Nieffe Cox H Higgins Bewl Bridge RC      J164x+
9     H Best Shaw E Bryant G Edwards E Thomas Cox T Fairbairn Kings School Canterbury BC      J164+
10   R Grice H Jones T Thackeray R Williams Cox A Cole Medway Towns RC      N4+
11   J Wareham J Dawkins G Holness A Taylor Cox D Wareham Herne Bay RC      CoastalN4+
12   L Potterton R Blake R Byrne-Smith J Ross-Cumming Cox L Potterton Herne Bay RC      CoastalJ4+
13   V Warszewski J Ellard H Presdee A Thomas Cox S Wallis Kings School Canterbury BC      WJ184+
14   A Mason J Hampshire A Salmon L McGrillen  Cox K Povall Maidstone Invicta RC      WIM34+
15   A Willson D Johnson E Lintern S Johnson Cox B Webster Gravesend RC      WIM34+
16   S Moseley E Cross L Brunton S Corbett Cox K Tatchell University of Kent RC A  WIM34+
17   S Martin M Russell Medway Towns RC      MB2x
18   S Tupper R Semple Spitfire BC      MC2x
19   M Coughlan P Prentice Poplar Blackwell & District RC      ME2x
20   K Jones V Clarke  Bewl Bridge RC      MG2x
21   T Powell D Kergal Medway Towns RC      N2x
22   M Reddaway A Farrow Kings School Canterbury BC      N2x
23   M Lane D Westwood University of Kent RC      N2x
24   P Flasse J Keech MIRC/PB&DRC      J172x
25   M Lucas J Rapier Erith RC      J172x
26   N Hastings S Roud Kings School Canterbury BC      J162x
27   E Stinton T Walden-Smith Bewl Bridge RC      J162x
28   K Oungpasuk V Leigh Kings School Canterbury BC      J152x
29   T McConchie S Judd Maidstone Invicta RC      WJ182x
30   L Richards R Seakins Bewl Bridge RC      WJ172x
31   B Arscott A Gordon-Reid Maidstone Invicta RC      WJ162x
32   L Gilchrist L.Maunsell Maidstone Invicta RC      WJ162x
33   M Tucker A Purvis Ardingly RC      WJ152x
34   F Holgate H Dowman Medway Towns RC      WMC2x
35   J Williamson Kings School Canterbury BC      MC1x
36   S Hart Erith RC      MC1x
37   G French Erith RC      MC1x
38   L Towner Herne Bay RC      CoastalJ1x
39   A Plunkett Kings School Canterbury BC      J181x
40   A Tonsbeek Spitfire BC      J181x
41   R Phillips Maidstone Invicta RC      ME1x
42   F Smith Erith RC      MH1x
43      French Globe RC      J171x
44   N Thomas Spitfire BC      J161x
45   J Grace Maidstone Invicta RC      J161x
46   E Cox Spitfire BC      J161x
47   R Porter Maidstone Invicta RC      J161x
48       Cook Globe RC      J161x
49       Blanchard Globe RC      J151x
50       Smyth Globe RC      J151x
51   G Brady Kings School Canterbury BC      J151x
52       Martinez   Globe RC      J141x
53       Carballo Globe RC      J141x
54   S Perkins Kings School Canterbury BC      WJ181x
55       French Globe RC      WJ181x
56       Curthoys Globe RC      WJ181x
57       Turner Globe RC      WJ181x
58   V Mansfield Kings School Canterbury BC      WJ161x
59   A de Ryke  Bewl Bridge RC      WJ151x
60       Hayward Globe RC      WJ151x
61       Bradbury Globe RC      WJ151x
62       Hopkins Globe RC      WJ141x
63       Bernstein Globe RC      WJ131x
64

DIVISION 2  11.30
No       Name                                    Club                            Status                                                                                   
65 F Maunsell A Roberts C Ilett R Lednicsky Cox J Jarrett Maidstone Invicta RC    IM34x+
66 T Powell M Smith R Philpot D Kirgal Cox Z Szotyon Medway Towns RC    IM34+
67 C King A Kendall-White R Redding A Dent Cox C Page University of Kent RC    IM34+
68 O Barton G Evans S Bickers G Hodgkinson Cox D James Maidstone Invicta RC    MC4+
69 G Roberts A Mills P Monroe T Brown Cox L Potterton Herne Bay RC    CoastalM4+
70 J Plimmer C Mattocks W Everett J Osborne Cox R Tanna Judd School    J184+
71 C Humphreys J Pluckrose O Heller C Oliver C Page cox Kent College Canterbury    N4x+
72 M Beeson J McKibben N Shields J Williams Cox C Page University of Kent RC A    N4+
73 A Farrow G Edwards M Reddaway A Plunkett Cox O Cooper Kings School Canterbury BC    N4+
74 Alan Leeson Bert Klien Deters Tom Fuller Alan Rickwood Cox Tui Thain Maidstone Invicta RC    ME4+
75 N Spear D Simmonds L Storer M Simmonds Cox F Holgate Medway Towns RC    MixedMC4+
76 J Powell M Penney B Pearson M Frith Cox J Player Medway Towns RC    MF4+
77 J Kingsley-Smith R Evans G Bentley R Galliers Cox H Mitchell   Kings School Rochester BC    J174x+
78 N Hastings E Bryant S Roud E Thomas Cox S Wallis Kings School Canterbury BC    J164+
79 T Trelawny-Vernon T Woods L Eberenz T Cowderoy Cox T Fairbairn Kings School Canterbury BC    J144x+
80 P Rose J Gray T Moverley Smith R Britton Cox H Higgins Bewl Bridge RC    J144x+
81 S Hughes F Stangel L Gourbin E Myles-Hook Cox K Tatchell University of Kent RC B    WIM34+
82 L Gibbins L Gieves S Theyre A Turner Cox J Dawkins  Herne Bay RC    CoastalWJ4
83 A Buck A Ridler I Fish S McConchie  Cox I Terry Ardingly/MIRC    WJ174x+
84 A Mexted H Brown BBRC/MTRC    IM32x
85 T Marshall R Chapman Maidstone Invicta RC    MF2x
86 G Mitchell-Hill H Dowman Medway Towns RC    MixedMC2x
87 M Smith W French Erith RC    J162x
88 H Best Shaw G Brady Kings School Canterbury BC    J152x
89 S Grimsey K Birkenshaw Bewl Bridge RC    WMB2x
90 A Cole C Farbrace Medway Towns RC    WN2x
91 C Devereaux J Whyman Maidstone Invicta RC    WN2x
92 V Warszewski A Thomas Kings School Canterbury BC    WN2-
93 H Presdee J Ellard Kings School Canterbury BC    WN2-
94 S Perkins V Mansfield Kings School Canterbury BC    WJ182-
95 K Nicholls C Titmuss  Kings School Rochester BC    WJ172x
96 G Nightingale H Gilliland Bewl Bridge RC    WJ162x
97    Bradbury Hayward Globe RC    WJ152x
98 A Bestel J Faulkner Kings School Rochester BC    WJ152x
99    Hopkins Bernstein Globe RC    WJ142x
100 N Bardon Bewl Bridge RC    MB1x
101 D Cowderoy Ardingly RC    MD1x
102 S Marlow Maidstone Invicta RC    N1x
103 J Voss Bewl Bridge RC    J181x
104 J Harris Maidstone Invicta RC    J171x
105 M Lucas Erith RC    J171x
106 A Collins Maidstone Invicta RC    J171x
107 J Rapier Erith RC    J171x
108    Hooper Globe RC    J141x
109    O' Donnell Globe RC    J141x
110 H Sweetman Kings School Canterbury BC    WIM31x
111    Dwyer Globe RC    WJ161x
112    Histon-Smith Globe RC    WJ161x
113    Buckley Globe RC    WJ161x
114    McGill Globe RC    WJ151x
115 L Gilliland Bewl Bridge RC    WJ141x
116    Bradbury Globe RC    WJ131x
117
118
119
 

DIVISION 3  13.30
No       Name                                    Club                            Status                                                                                   
120 J Lawrence G French D Redgrave S Hart Cox M Smith Erith RC    MC4x+
121 M Wilson M Nightingale D Simmonds N Spear Cox Z Szotyon Medway Towns RC    MC4+
122 R Kenway R Huggins O Barton G Evans  Cox E Ridgway Maidstone Invicta RC    MD4x+
123 L Potterton R Blake L Towner J Ross-Cumming Cox J Dawkins Herne Bay RC    CoastalJ4+
124 J Wareham R Byrne-Smith G Holness A Taylor Cox D Wareham Herne Bay RC    CoastalN4+
125 A Machin J Massey D Prentice B Barwick Cox D James Maidstone Invicta RC 3 MN4+
126 G Edwards H Best Shaw E Bryant G Brady Cox S Wallis Kings School Canterbury BC    N4+
127 S Valentine T Shepherd T Protheroe N Todd Cox L Brockwell University of Kent RC B    N4+
128 R Porter J Grace A Collins J Harris Cox I Terry Maidstone Invicta RC    J164+
129 O Garcia B Garcia G Payne W Carter Cox K Nicholls  Kings School Rochester BC    J154x+
130 O Potter D Windsor G Jones C McAuley Cox A. Bastel Kings School Rochester BC    J144x+
131    Smyth Hooper Ward O' Donnell Globe RC    J144x+
132 S Garside C Stokes S Wheeler G Turner Cox A Cole Medway Towns RC    WN4+
133 B Makulski E Thornton S Byles-Watlers T Pilgrim Cox L Brockwell University of Kent RC    WN4+
134 R Barry S Rondell E Butler T Green Cox C Farbrace Medway Towns RC    WN4+
135 Y Culloty D Johnson A Willson E Lintern Cox B Webster Gravesend RC    WN4+
136 R Seakins I Terry N Whitbourn N Gill Cox R Tanna Judd School    WJ184x+
137 V Warszewski A Thomas S Perkins V Mansfield Cox T Fairbairn Kings School Canterbury BC    WJ184+
138 B Arscott A Gordon-Reid L Maunsell L Gilchrist Cox Maidstone Invicta RC    WJ164x+
139 B Prentice E Bishop C Doran E Macpherson-Smith Cox H Higgins Bewl Bridge RC    WJ154x+
140 S Martin S Russell Medway Towns RC    IM22x
141 D Chadwick F Bowen Maidstone Invicta RC    N2x
142 M Frayling-Cork N Paterson Uiversity of Kent RC    N2x
143 N Hastings M Reddaway Kings School Canterbury BC    N2-
144 L Emanuel C Soan University of Kent RC    N2-
145 G Seamark J Player Medway Towns RC    MD2x
146 M Coughlan P Prentice Poplar Blackwell & District RC    MD2x
147 R Phillips K Jones MIRC/BBRC    MF2x
148 F Smith J Eggleton Erith RC    MixedMD2x
149 F Holgate J Powell Medway Towns RC    MixedME2x
150 J Plimmer W Everett Judd School    J182x
151   Davidson French Globe RC    J172x
152 J Osborne C Mattocks Judd School 3 J182x
153 E Cox N Thomas Spitfire BC    J162x
154 E Thomas S Roud Kings School Canterbury BC    J162-
155 P Rose J Gray Bewl Bridge RC    J142x
156   Martinez Carballo Globe RC    J142x
157 K Oungpasuk V Fryeks Kings School Canterbury BC    WN2x
158   French Curthoys Globe RC    WJ182x
159 H Presdee J Ellard Kings School Canterbury BC    WJ182-
160 A Buck A Ridler Ardingly RC    WJ172x
161 S McConchie I Fish Maidstone Invicta RC    WJ172-
162 A de Ryke E Matthews Bewl Bridge RC    WJ152x
163 H Mitchell J Faulkner  Kings School Rochester BC    WJ142x
164 L Hynes Maidstone Invicta RC    S1x
165 J Williamson Kings School Canterbury BC    MB1x
166 J Knight Old Monmothians BC    MB1x
167 A Plunkett Kings School Canterbury BC    N1x
168 A Tonsbeek Spitfire BC    N1x
169 D Cowderoy Ardingly RC    MC1x
170 A Marshall Maidstone Invicta RC    MF1x
171 M Smith Medway Towns RC    MN1x
172 R Ridgway Maidstone Invicta RC    MN1x
173 J Keech Poplar Blackwell & District RC    J171x
174 P Flasse Maidstone Invicta RC    J171x
175    Cook Globe RC    J171x
176 J Britton Bewl Bridge RC    J161x
177    Blanchard Globe RC    J161x
178 T Walden-Smith Bewl Bridge RC    J151x
179 H Sweetman Kings School Canterbury BC    WN1x
180 T McConchie Maidstone Invicta RC    WJ151x