Today marks International Women’s Day, Women’s Rowing was the subject of a debate in the House of Lord’s last week, it’s less than one week to go until the Women’s Head of the River Race (the season’s big one) and after two glorious mornings in the sunshine on the tideway, spring looks to be on its way. High time this ladies rowing club website news page came out of hibernation.
What have we been up to since our Christmas jaeger filled bash? We’ve expanded the fleet with a Filippi 8+ (oooooh), done more circuits than we care to count, done the 5ks, done the crazy pyramids, laughed our way through Thursday night socials and done some racing:
Katie M, Sharon, Bec & Marion got the year off to an amazing start by winning the WMas C 4x at Weybridge Winter Head – just brilliant!
The first VIII ended up on the wrong end of some bad marshalling at Quintin Head, and one lost fin later, sadly had to be escorted back home from the start.
At Henley 4s & 8s head there was a great turnout from both BBL and Cygnet, what better place for a bunch of rowers to spend Valentine’s Day?!? Guess our priorities… The new 8+ was christened by some lovely countryside mud on the way, and of course no one saw when a trestle was screwed into the boat join, honest. There was a good gag by the novices putting the seats from the boys VIII into Ali B and giving a few of the gents a slight panic as they thought they’d left their seats in London. Two Mx 4x ‘love boats’ were entered into the lunchtime special; one a Captains’ invitational with both BBL & Cygnet captains on board, and the other with two couples who, having got past the cheesiness of it (thanks to Sue!), had quite a good race.
This write-up also marks the return of The Tea Tent Report – our take on the most important factors at the heads and regattas we visit across the year. Big tick to Henley 4s and 8s for oversized cups, and frankly, given how cold we were we’d have paid you anything! Cake and bacon sarnies went down well too. Obviously.
Eights were entered into Hammersmith Head from the Performance and Happy Mondays squads, finishing 4/13 and 3/5 respectively – good results and a strong showing two weeks before the Women’s Head. Off the water, it was also a good warm up for our own tea tent and the boathouse bar… huge thanks to Michelle for manning the catering on her own, feeding the hungry hoards and raising much needed funds for the club. Every penny we make on catering goes into club funds for e.g. coaching, boats and blades so get your pinny’s at the ready to get baking for the big races.
The fact it was a Sunday afternoon didn’t get in the way of the legends that are Killepitsch and Krumme in the bar. Thank goodness WEHoRR and Vet’s Head are on Saturdays. We shall look forward to introducing newbies to these delights and might throw in the odd bakewell tart challenge.
Next Saturday, BBL will be going off at 40 (Performance squad IM3), 69 (Development & Happy Mondays MasC), 70 (SuperVets Mas F Composite) and 294 (novices). Good luck to everyone racing, and for anyone not, please do come down, lend a hand, and join in the post race celebrations & shenanigans.
See you on RACE DAY!