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.

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…..)     

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

From 15 March 2008 the crew can be reached at:

Mill House
Mill Road
Nettlebed
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 1AU