Oxford University Women's Lightweight Rowing Club

Current Articles | Categories | Search

Wimbleball Lake: EPIC
Hannah Kaye recounts the adventures of the second training camp: After a long drive down from Oxford the adventures began early. Firstly the arrival of our convoy was staggered massively; the trailer being the issue, as well as some exploration tendencies in some of our drivers! Devon country lanes and a 15metre long vehicle are not an ideal pairing. As it was Chris made a farmer friend in the figure of his rescuer who happened to have the two tractors needed to extract the truck and trailer from a 90degree uphill bend covered with ice. One good thing to come of it is that Chris now has a fitting person to name his name his first child after in thanks. We have certainly made our mark on the Dulverton and Wimbleball area; in our endeavours to reach the lake we relied on much Devon generosity from bemused farmers, Dulverton residents possessed of shovels and the Co-op, which received daily visits from most of the squad, exhausting their milk stocks and buying which ever ingredients were needed for the night’s feast. Day one’s drama turned out to be quite indicative of the determination and enterprise which was needed just get to the lake each day after the record 9 inches of snow which helpfully to fall over Tuesday night. We were interred on Wednesday because of the snow and reported 40km gusts at the lake but consoled ourselves with some friendly rivalry that the Openweight women only stuck out 24 hours on their training camp. We are certainly now all ‘nails’ (hard as-) which is a tick for our first aim of the Christmas Training camp at least! We made the most of our day stuck in the house with a romp around the countryside accompanied by some inventive circuits fashioned from compacted saucepans of snow for body weights in the dining room and core in the sitting room. Combined with some pretty energetic shovelling of snow to ready us for our expedition to the lake the next day we had at least expended some of Dobbers’ banoffee pie, another fruitful result of a day in the house. As for the next day, we would not be defeated by the snow despite the concerns of the residents of Dulverton, who definitely thought we were mad for even contemplating trying but after some heavy behind the scenes grafting from Chris, Linda, Dobbers and Georgie- our dream-team- we had a plan, a contingency and several back-ups; we would make it to Wimbleball! So in convoy we embarked on our epic journey which would encompass a 15mile detour, now that’s dedication! I think the most surprising part was coming upon Nehaal’s car facing the opposite way to all of us up the hill having done a pretty impressive 180 degree spin! So once we had rectified that we ploughed our cars into a suitable drift, due to the lack of a visible car park, and proceeded to the next part of our journey which would ironically be by boat across the lake to reach the activity centre which was base camp. A more treacherous trip than expected because the launches, which were our vessels, once weighed down with 6 people and their kit and food provisions for the day were suspiciously close to sinking... After clambering through the snow and digging the waist-deep drift away from the door of the changing rooms we were in! Thanks has to go to all the staff at the lake whose launch-driving, snow-clearing efforts to get us to training every day were invaluable. Should you ever find yourself at Wimbleball lake be sure to look out for the ‘Oxford Lightweights’ woolly hats which were bestowed on them as signs of our gratitude. Though an unconventional start to our first day of seat racing we made good progress. As one of those who is new to this trialling business this season, I can say that though initially scary seat racing turned out to be actually a fun experience, testament I think to some impressive organisation, numerous complicated sums and serious efficiency from Chris. Our coxes might not agree, saying numbers not being one of the more interesting parts of the job; so thanks to Caroline who’s been our sole cox for both of the camps this season. Also to everyone who took one for the team and jumped into the coxing seat to enable us to seat race two coxed fours; Georgie our Pres’ is a particularly notable example here and actually a very good cox! One of the most fun parts, and this is a surprise entry, has been the work which we’ve been doing in pairs over the week. Though the first session was rather tentative and definitely got the blood pressure up a bit I think we’ve all learnt a lot about boat sensitivity and our technique, which as Chris will tell you was the main point of the exercise. We all quickly decided however that our main aim was to win the time trial planned for the end of the camp. Sadly this didn’t take place due the combined efforts of the snow and some impressive wind speeds which resulted in lake impersonating the North Sea and doing its utmost to soak, and sink, anyone who had the tenacity to try and row on it. Or maybe it was just to show the windsurfers a good time. So we all developed a close relationship with metcheck, windguru and various other weather checking sites available (and scrutinised by OUWLRC). However I can say with the benefit of hindsight and with the writer’s privilege that my pair would definitely have won. So all-in-all a very successful camp despite some adverse conditions. We made some big technical improvements as a squad which were gratifyingly obvious in our final couple of outings in the eight in the last couple of days. These will provide a great start point for this term’s work and its grande finale: the Boat Race. If we can survive Wimbleball and make it a positive and productive camp we can do anything!

December Training Camp Report
*Nehaal Bajwaa* *reports on pre-Christmas training camp at Marlow:* If someone had suggested even six months ago that I would be trialling with the Oxford University Women’s Lightweight Rowing Club, I probably would have laughed, loudly and perhaps over one of several summer bowls of ice cream. Yet, here I am, with thirteen other girls on our last night of the Christmas training camp at Marlow. We’ve had three days of outings in the snow, wrapping up warm (or in our Australian coach Chris’ words “rugging up”) and pretending we’re skiing. There was once even a very pretty but very windy blizzard, which wasn’t the best time to be halfway through a technical outing. Nevertheless, the training camp has been a really good time to consolidate our first term of rowing and some very necessary preparation for our ten-day camp in the New Year at Wimbleball. We have been enjoying the benefits of an almost deserted stretch of river (funnily enough, not everyone shares our enthusiasm for rowing in sub-zero temperatures, apart from two-time Olympian Greg Searle who was spotted in his single scull) and good conditions which have provided the ideal setting for some focussed technical work in smaller boats. We’ve been doing lots of sculling this season and this was carried on at the camp, with several people getting the chance to venture out in a single scull, and we’ve introduced a pair to our fleet which has been good for technique. I had the dubious pleasure of steering it on an outing today, and it was a surprisingly enjoyable row (despite my fear prior to going out in it!). It really got me thinking about coordinating with stroke in a way that isn’t driven home as well in any other boat. The squad this year has been a lot of fun and everyone sees each other two or three times a day, so being able to laugh together has been really important (!) and it’s been easy for a “new girl” to slot in – which is just as well, because there are nine of us this year. We’re all sleeping in three-tiered bunk beds at Marlow, so it’s not unlike being on a school trip, except that instead of staying up whispering all night we tend to demand ‘lights off’ at 9.30pm and the only time anyone trips anyone else up is accidentally via the piles of kit left all over the floor. I am really looking forward to the challenges of the term ahead and the improvements in strength and technique we’ll make to get us rowing together better and better. First, though, I think we’re going to open the Secret Santa presents...

The Season So Far
Caroline Dobbin reports on the progress of the 2009-2010 squad: It’s hard to believe that over two months have gone by since we began our training for the 2010 Boat Race against the Cambridge Lightweight Women. This year the squad consists of 13 rowers and 2 coxes, with several athletes returning from the year before, two of whom rowed in the winning Blue Boat last season. So far we have mostly been training in small boats, including a lot of work in quads, doubles and singles, giving athletes the chance to master sculling, which for many was an unfamiliar discipline. The technical precision required in sculling has been invaluable when returning to a sweep boat and has been helpful in terms of developing boat speed. The first race of the season took place at a very windy and rainy Upper Thames Head, on the Henley Reach. As we boated it quickly became apparent that we would not be setting any course records! Nevertheless there was a strong performance from all crews which this year included several sculling boats, with the Senior double consisting of Miriam Höner and Caris Marsh and the Novice double of Georgie Baines and Hannah Kaye winning their divisions. The IM1 quad took second place, and the IM1 coxed four and Novice double of Juliet Zani and Lottie Stables both achieving third place in their respective races. The results were promising, and the day, although more about surviving adverse conditions than anything else, also got our heads firmly back into the racing mindset. Sadly our hopes for success at the Fours’ Head of the River were unfulfilled due to the cancellation of the race as a result of adverse weather conditions. The club had entered both sweep and sculling events, reflecting the fact that our training had been split between the two disciplines. Both the elite lightweight quad and the coxed four which were set to compete had put a large amount of time and effort into preparing for the race, and expectation had been high for highly competitive performances from both crews. The lack of a race was frustrating, although something of a relief given the size of the waves and the gale-force gusts of wind being experienced on the Tideway! Focus is now on Wallingford Head, due to happen on the 6^th of December. The club has entered several boats into both divisions, and hopefully a combination of focussed preparation and knowledge of the home stretch on which the race is to be held will pay off come race day. As always, the 2009/10 season has brought with it challenges both mental and physical, all of which we have faced as a squad, supporting each other through good times and tough alike. The intensity of training is stepping up now, and along with the decrease in temperature and daylight a lot is being asked of all the athletes. However, the attitude of determination and solidarity has meant that everyone has tackled the training to the best of their abilities, and improvements are constantly being made. Three weeks of training remain before we head to Marlow for a 4-day training camp to notch up some serious mileage and to round off the year, after which we will be heading home for a much deserved Christmas break!

OMA Regatta and the 'Speed of Light'
*Caroline Dobbin reports on the latest OMA, squad, and families event:* On the 10^th of October the Fleming Boat House played host to our Old Members’ Association Regatta; an event designed for old members to come and see how the club is developing and to show friends and family exactly what it is that we devote so much of our lives to! Thankfully the weather was in our favour and everyone was able to enjoy the boathouse on a sunny day. Generous donations from various sources has meant that the club was able to acquire a new coxed 4 last year, and we were fortunate enough to have Steph Cullen, a former squad member (Blue Boat 2003) and a member of the GB women’s lightweight quad which won silver at the World Championships this year, to name the boat. Hopefully the club will enjoy many years’ successful racing in the newly-christened ‘Speed of Light’. Following the naming there was also an opportunity for members of the OMA to race the current squad- this old vs. new grudge match took place over a short sprint course in front of the boat house, and resulted in a win for this year’s squad. Many thanks to everyone who came to enjoy the day with us- particular thanks to Julie Baines for her help with the food and for providing an amazing cake! Photos to follow soon on the Gallery page.

Tethys Retain Women's Elite Eight Title at Sudbury International Regatta 2009
Off to Suffolk we went... Following a successful sweep at the 2008 Sudbury International Regatta, Tethys, along with their male counterparts Nephthys, made the (4 hour!) journey to Suffolk. We arrived at the idyllic setting of Colt's Hall to begin our race preparations with a well deserved BBQ. Race day dawned bright and sunny. We got down to the river and surveyed the course, checking out the legendary 90 degree bend... Then racing got underway. We spent the rest of the day jumping in and out of boats, crashing into the banks and beating our opposition! A highlight of the day was the triumph of the women's eight to retain their title in the elite category. The achievement was all the more gratifying as we did it in a monsoon conditions! Having collected all our silverware, we returned to Colt's Hall for our celebrations. Thanks must be given to Pat and Lynch, and all who live at Colt's Hall for such a great place to stay. Dobbers for all the organisation and coxing. And Nephthys for rowing with us! *Wins:* Women's elite eight - Sarah Cornick (06, 07, 08), Georgie Baines (BB 07, 08, 09), Rachel Hall (BB 09), Bianca Reisdorf, Linda Reynard (BB 06, 07), Nicole Milligan (BB 09), Aimee Campbell (BB 09), Lynch Mason (super-sub), Caroline Dobbin (Vice-President 09-10) Women's novice 1x - Linda Reynard Women's novice 2x - Bibi Reisdorf and Nicole Milligan Mixed senior 4+ - Rachel Hall, Georgie Baines, Alex Simmons, Paul Crewe, Caroline Dobbin Mixed intermediate 2x - Georgie Baines, Alex Simmons

Success in Belgium
On Friday May 8^th, several squad members set off for Gent, Belgium, to compete in the Gent International Regatta, a prestigious competition held from the 9^th-10^th of May. With us we took a plethora of boats ranging from singles to an eight with the intent of gaining as much racing experience as possible in both sculling and sweep events. The regatta attracts crews from all over Europe, and the standard over the weekend was very high, with appearances from the French, Belgian and Dutch national squads as well as many top-level British clubs and universities. Tethys Boat Club did not record any wins in sculling events, although Briony Cavell and Caroline Greeves of Wallingford RC put in a superb performance and won a medal in the women’s doubles event. On Sunday a composite eight of Belfast, Tethys and Wallingford rowing clubs competed in the women’s open eights event, winning their heat and going on to win a silver medal in the final. This was a fantastic achievement and hopefully will be the first of many successes for the club this summer.

Boat Race 2009
*Hannah Seddon gives her experience of the final preparations and race day for the winning crew:* I arrived in Henley on 14^th March 2009 exhausted from a term of hard work and harder trialling. In tow I had half a library, a laptop and an unfinished piece of coursework, so I started the run up to the Boat Race slightly on edge, and somewhat teary! A Werther’s Original, administered by Doctor Baines, cheered me up, and I very soon began to enjoy the novelty of living in Henley, in an amazing house that felt very much like home. It was easy to relax, and Oxford felt like a hundred miles away. All the stresses of the previous term dissipated, and as Cambridge grunted and sweated their way up and down the Henley reach, we grew in confidence, knowing that we’d already put in the mileage necessary to make us a fast and formidable crew. But there was no resting on our laurels, as Alex, wary of letting us fall into complacency, encouraged us to aim higher, and exhorted us to greater speeds. March 22^nd dawned, and everything went exactly according to plan. We woke up, and I personally breathed a thankful sigh of relief that I weighed in enough under weight to allow me to tuck into some tea and toast, not least because Charlotte had provided an impressive array of jams, and I was keen to sample them all! We went for a pre-race paddle, and then went to the official weigh-in. We met our opponents in the doorway, and gave them a haughty ignoring – we had other things to think about! Whilst it was never really in doubt that anyone would fail to weigh in, we all collectively exhaled when we were all found to be on weight. No celebrating though, as the real challenge was yet to come. The moments between walking into the crew-room at Upper Thames Rowing Club, our hosts whilst we were in Henley, and getting attached to the stake-boat were the most surreal moments of my life. We had a briefing much like any other. We did our warm up much like any other. Only this time we had a real and significant purpose, and this time there were countless faces on the bank, cheering as we pushed off. As we waited for the starter, Emily Piggott turned around and said, ‘They’re going down!’ But as my knees trembled, and my heart banged in my chest, and my mouth felt dry, I really wasn’t so sure! But then we took the first stroke, and I was in auto-pilot, going through the same patterns that we’d practiced again and again. From stroke one to the finish I couldn’t feel my legs, so I just concentrated on pushing harder and harder. We did our planned push at Upper Thames, and broke away from the Cambridge boat. In no time at all we were flying past Remenham Barn, and then we started our push for the finish. We were cheering before Cambridge crossed the line. Then came the tears, the cheers, the cider, the emotions, the thank-yous, some dancing, some drinking, some eating, some partying, a sleepless night in which I relived the moment over and over again, some victory snuggles, and then more tears when I finally realised that it was all over. We won the 2009 Boat Race on March 22^nd, but it was won well before then. It was won in Wimbleball in freezing conditions in January, it was won every time we made a crew-effort to train harder, push ourselves further, it was won with the dedication of our coach, the support of our nutritionist, and the help of Jay and Charlotte in the Henley house. People ask me how I can bring myself to train so hard for what essentially comes down to 6 and a half minutes of racing. But the Boat Race, and the winning of it, is a six month process of unforgettable highs and lows, disappointments and achievements, and amazing friendships, and the winners are the crew who recognise and embrace that.

AGM and Election Meeting
The Annual General Meeting and Election Meeting will be held on 30 April 2009 in Oxford. All classes of members are entitled to attend. The meeting will be at 6:30pm in the Harrison room at Merton College. This notice was posted by LR on 17 April 2009.

Newly Installed Honours Boards
The OUWLRC Honours Boards have now been mounted in the Fleming Boathouse. Our alumni are most welcome to visit and see them!

2009 Boat Race Crew

President Georgie Baines and coach Alex Cavell are pleased to announce that the crew for the 2009 Boat Race on 22 March has been selected and is:

Bow
Nicole Milligan

New

2

Hannah Seddon

Oriel

3

Emily Piggott^†

St Edmund Hall

4

Rachel Hall

Green-Templeton

5

Aimee Campbell

University

6

Felicity Hawksley^†

Mansfield

7

Georgina Baines^†

Merton

Str

Rose Higham^†

Hertford

Cox

Hannah Leadbetter

Merton

^†returning Half Blue

Rowing in Exmoor - Part II
*Nicole Milligan recaps a frigid week in the West Country:* On the second day of 2009, the squad headed back to Wimbleball Lake to brave sub-zero conditions in the beautiful Exmoor countryside. We were there to hone our technical skills, rack up the miles, lay down some fast times, and have a good time too! Our nutritionist Juliet was on hand to make sure we were properly fuelled and hydrated for training. We were also joined by Sarah Cornick and Linda Reynard who brought with them a wealth of experience. Under coach Alex's watchful eyes, we progressed through a tough schedule which included a couple sessions of speed order testing. A whole week in boats great & small and, unlike last year, not a single capsize – perhaps due to a healthy respect for the ice-infested water. Training camp also involved some cross-training, with trips to Tiverton Pool and Woolacombe Beach for swimming, birthday bumps, sea-breeze running, dune-scampering and ring of doom fun. Each evening we headed back to the "toasty" digs in Dulverton to cook up some, well, interesting meals, and chill-out before hitting the pillows. The local pubs were visited on occasion and a certain gong would herald the end of the night… By day eight we were utterly exhausted, happy to have consolidated our technique and moved our physiology on in harsh conditions. And so it was time to pack our bags & boats and bid farewell to the lake. Many thanks to the drivers for taking us safely home at the end of such an action-packed week!

Rowing in Exmoor - Part I
*Katherine LaFrance sizes up Wimbleball Lake:* With a solid Michaelmas term of training behind us, Christmas break was finally approaching. What better way to welcome the season than with three days in Exmoor, rowing on Wimbleball Lake! On Friday 19 December, we were on the road before 6am, having loaded the trailer the night before. Our kit bags were artfully wrapped in bin liners and loaded in the back of “The Warrior,” driven by coach Cavell. Making good time, we arrived chez Crewe hungry for breakfast – and were not disappointed by tea, fresh fruit, toast, homemade marmalade, and Lebkuchen. It was then onward to Exmoor to rig boats and fit in an outing before the early sunset. Despite only having 2 ½ days for rowing, we managed to fit in a good deal of water time, making the trip worthwhile. Rowing on the open lake, with woods and hill trails rising up around us, we felt the satisfaction of connection with the water and our new surroundings. In pieces, steady state and technical rowing, we made the most of our weekend, while whetting our appetites for a longer training camp in January 2009. We were pleased with the facilities at Wimbleball (a well-provisioned nature centre managed by the South West Lakes Trust), and had the large lake mostly to ourselves. A crew room with ergos, whiteboard, DVD player and tea also did not disappoint. Although the temperatures were not below freezing during the day (we would wait until January camp for this), it was still a welcome treat to come back to the warm crew room and clean, hot showers, before braving the more ascetic conditions at our hostel in Dulverton. (Three days was not quite enough time to heat up the entire house – but we warmed ourselves with jaunts to the local watering holes). A memorable Saturday evening included Secret Santa gifts and a festive meal at Dulverton’s famous Red Lion pub. Back off the water from our last outing on Sunday afternoon, we moved the boats and trailer, energized by a soundtrack of festive tunes. After a few tries, we managed to fit all the boats into the garage at the top of a steep hill…and were soon back on the road towards families and holiday celebrations. In high spirits we made our way back to Oxford and beyond, ready for Christmas…and counting the days until our next trip to Wimbleball Lake.

More Winter Head Races
*Aimee Campbell reports on racing on the home stretch:* Wallingford Head took place on 30th November this year and Tethys boat club entered three 8+ over the 2 divisions, in Novice, Senior 3 and Senior 2 eights. The Senior 2 entry marked a first in the clubs history; never before had a boat from this club been entered in a senior 2 category at this event. The race was held over a 3 mile upstream course, from Moulsford Railway Bridge to the Fleming Boathouse. This being the Tethys Boat Club home stretch, and final public outing before Christmas, the squad was fired up and ready to impress. The Senior 3 boat had a good start, quickly dispatching an Oxford Academicals crew ahead in the first few minutes. Unfortunately disaster stuck on the last corner of the S bends, courtesy of another eight who decided that stopping for a tea break in the middle of the racing line was better than keeping moving! Well done to the Novice 8+ for winning Tethys Boat Club’s pennant for the day, winning their category by a whole minute! In the second division Tethys fought hard in the Senior 2 category against some tough competition, finishing a very respectable 3rd in this higher category after a blistering start. All in all, a very good hard day’s racing. Well done everyone!

Tethys at a rainy Fours Head
Ruth Crewe reports: After a very early start on a very wet day on 8 November, our two crews boated from London RC to join over five hundred other boats out on the churning Thames. Competing in the W S3 4+ (A) class meant a two-hour wait in lashing rain, many of the squad donning bin bags in a desperate attempt to remain warm and dry. When our division finally got underway, Tethys I stormed down the 6700m course in a time of 22:48:77, while Tethys II established a great rhythm and managed to record a time just six seconds behind them, finishing in 2nd and 4th place respectively. Full credit to the coxes who steered an excellent racing line, but unfortunately both crews suffered nasty blade-clashes whilst overtaking slower boats that would not give way – costing the 3.6 seconds needed for a pennant win! I think the less said about this the better. The crews (bow to stern) were: Tethys I: Aimee Campbell, Rachel Hall, Georgie Baines, Felicity Hawksley, Matt Smith. Tethys II: Ruth Crewe, Hannah Seddon, Nicole Milligan, Rose Higham, Hannah Leadbetter. Wallingford Head on 30th November will be the next opportunity to gauge our speed against the rest of the rowing world.

Birmingham Indoor Rowing Championships 2008
*Georgie Baines recounts a day out in Birmingham:* On 26^th October 2008, OUWLRC journeyed to Birmingham to take part in the much feared ‘Indoor Rowing Championships’. As it was the first 2km test of the season all the rowers (and two of the coxes) were anxious on the journey to the Midlands. We arrived at the National Indoor Arena (home to Torvill and Dean’s ‘Dancing on Ice, The Tour’) and stripped off immediately for the weigh in. Everyone entered in the lightweight student event was under the 61.5kg weight limit and following that, much high GI carbohydrate and salted squash was consumed. Following a lengthy warm up (where 10 strokes felt like the toughest thing ever) we huddled in the ‘holding pen’ eyeing up the competition. We entered the area where a horrendous sight greeted us; a hundred ergs lined up in front of a big screen. We all found our allocated machines and sat down. Then “Attention, Go!” and we were off. For me the first few strokes were a blur of adrenaline, then my brain took over and told me to sit on the split carefully formulated by our coach, then the plan was to just sit there for 1700m. However, like most well laid plans this has the potential to go astray. The sound of the marshals calling other people on, the voice of the commentator and the noise of the crowd all serve to corrupt the rhythm which is essential to finishing the race. By 700m the dry air in the hall burns at the back of the throat. On the screen you can see the person ahead and behind you and personal, inter-squad rivalries spur people on. In no time (but what feels like forever) it’s over. We all collapsed on our machines gasping for breath, but thankful that the first performance test of the year is over. At this point two of our squad realised they had done particularly well; Rachel Hall had won the silver medal and Felicity the bronze. We all watched proudly as they stepped up to the podium to receive their prizes. As we caught our breath back, we cheered on our cox Matt in the men’s lightweight category appreciating the pain as he went over the 2km mark! In the minibus on the way home we reflected on what had been an important day; our first real test in public. Bearing this in mind we headed back to Oxford to go and eat twice our weight in pizza! Thanks to Mike for the awesome pre and post race chats.

Tethys Boat Club Launched with a Win at Reading
Matt Smith reports on Tethys Boat Club's Inaugural Racing at Reading Small Boats Head 2008: On Sunday 5^th October, OUWLRC competed for the first time as Tethys Boat Club at the Reading Small Boats Head. Three Tethys coxed fours (one shell kindly lent by Lincoln College, and another by Exeter College) entered the Women’s Senior 3 class, and in doing so were thrust into competition with many clubs and schools in the region, including three Osiris boats. The weather showed a vulgar persistence in imitating that so favoured in these Isles this summer. Thankfully, long-lived cloud cover had ensured that the day, though uncomfortably wet, was not uncomfortably cold, and so was not miserable. Nine crews raced for the WS3 4+ prize: Tethys I won the event, Tethys II came 4^th and Tethys III came 6^th. The event’s absolute finish order was unconfirmed until all boats had raced. The later-racing crews had the advantage of a swelling and slightly faster flowing course, but failed to surpass the effort of Tethys I. Experience was scattered between the three boats, and for at least two people in each, this was their first race for Oxford. Though the race did not turn into the hoped display of total Tethys domination, important lessons of racing were learned or re-learned by all. The crews were: Tethys I (cox to bow): Smith, Baines, Higham, Ferber, Hall Tethys II: Dobbin, Campbell, Hawksley, Seddon, Linthwaite Tethys III: Leadbetter, Knight, Milligan, Houlgrave, Crewe

Irish International Currach Championships
Rachel Hall reports on more summer fun: On the 8^th-11^th August, in the small Irish town of Omeath, County Louth, representatives from OUWLRC took part in the Irish International Currach Championships 2008. We were joined by teams from Cambridge, the USA, Canada and Ireland for 2 days of racing in traditional Irish currachs. Day 1 saw Rachel Hall and Sophie Knight, and Laura Addis and Georgina Baines go round in circles in the women’s doubles, and Rose Higham put up a sterling effort in the women’s singles. Needless to say, currachs are very difficult to steer and it was very windy – at least that’s our excuse and we’re sticking to it! Nonetheless, Sunday we were much improved with Rachel Hall and Oliver Whitby (OULRC) beating Cambridge to take first prize in the mixed doubles competition. It was not all about the racing, however. The hospitality of our hosts and the entertainment laid on was fantastic. BBQs in the rain, Irish stew and poetry, the banquet and of course, the currach celebrity Dick O’Daire (Dick O’Daire, Dick O’Daire, Dick O’Daire!!). The weekend was brilliant fun made even better by the warm welcome, beautiful surroundings and extreme luck with the weather! A video of the event can be found here, including an interview with Rachel and Sophie.

Sudbury International Regatta Sucess
Suki Tyler sums up: On 2^nd August current OUWLRC members were joined in force by OMA and Development Squad girls, plus some lightweight men, in a bid to take on the ‘curvaceous’ 650m stretch of the River Stour in Suffolk. On the banks a live jazz band kept the rather elegant spectators entertained, despite being drowned out occasionally by Pat Lockley’s inspired drollery over the commentator’s speaker. Spirits were high and it took a sterling effort on OMA member Rachel Lund’s part to abstain from cracking open the celebratory Pimms before the end of racing. Most of the squad got out onto the water at least three times, in an assortment of singles, doubles, pairs, fours and eights. It became apparent very quickly though that the only way of surviving this short but lethal course was expert steering around what amounted to a 90 degree bend. There were casualties. But also some spectacular wins including the WS2 4+ with Sarah Cornick, Felicity Hawksley, Katie Taylor and Linda Reynard, coxed by Becky Donaldson, as well as Sarah Cornick’s single in WS3. The highlight of the day was the sprint eights where OUWLRC triumphed, each member receiving a very fetching hip flask (Sarah Cornick, Felicity Hawksley, Katie Taylor, Suki Tyler, Rachel Lund, Linda Reynard, Alice Millest and Laura Richard, coxed by Becky Donaldson). A fantastic day for OUWLRC and an event to really look forward to next year (although hopefully without the random skinny dipping by some other more unrestrained clubs…..)

Solo Pacific row!
Roz Savage (OUWLRC 1989) is rowing solo across the Pacific. See her blog here: rozsavage.com/blog/. Good luck and best wishes from OUWLRC.

Henley Women's Regatta wins
Crews featuring members of this year's lightweight Blue Boat won Intermediate Eights and Senior Coxed Fours at the 2008 Henley Women’s Regatta. The crews’ performance continues a highly successful summer racing season for OUWLRC. The club has so far won events at Metropolitan, Wallingford and Reading regattas, as well as seeing one squad member selected for the GB EUSA squad. For these Oxford lightweights, the last nine months of training and their Boat Race experience allows them to overhaul many strong crews. The Intermediate Eights event at HWR, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, is one of the largest events in the regatta. A compopsite crew of Lightweights and Osiris beat Furnivall Sculling Club in the final by 1 1/4 lengths. The crew was coached by OUWLRC Head Coach Alex Cavell. "They have a great team spirit and thoroughly deserved to win", he said afterwards. This composite eight will be attempting to qualify for the Remenham Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Emily Piggott, OUWLRC Blue Boat '08 and former Junior International, raced with OUWBC Blues in Senior Coxed Fours. They beat a Nottingham and Molesey composite crew to win the Frank Harry Cup. It was fantastic to cheer on (at least) another 8 OUWLRC old girls competing in various other categories throughout the course of the weekend. Well done to all those involved.

Page 1 of 2
Previous Page \| Next Page

Matt Smith reports on Tethys Boat Club's Inaugural Racing at Reading Small Boats Head 2008: