We had two big races this month - Fours Head and Wallingford Head. Our senior crews race in the Fours Head and the club won the WIM1 4+ pennant, with the crew of Helen Austen, Emma Windham, Barbara O'Brien and Cat Hart with Emma Searle coxing - a great result. On the men's side the E4- of Anthony Lester, Nicholas Challinor-Halford, Richard Dyer and Bryan Hoffman came third in their category - a great result considering a lot of crews had GB or potential GB athletes in their boat.

Ali Knowles representing Thames won the WE4- pennant as part of a composite crew with her GB team mates. Well done Knowlesy!

Wallingford Head saw the intermediates from both squads and some vet crews racing. It was a cold and windy day but the WIM3 8+ raced a competitive race in the second division and came home with a win. Two Masters crews won their categories in the second division - Masters C and D...but we don't mention that they were the only crews in their categories of course!

All in all, a promising start to the season, especially as there have not been as many water outings as usual during this period with the building works being completed. The next big races with be the Women's and Men's Heads of the River.

Wallingford race report from Claire Birchenough:-

“Wallingford Head was the first race of the season for the inter women, and despite windy conditions (as opposed to last year’s heavy fog!), the two crews gave gutsy performances in the women’s IM2 and IM3 races. The best performances were pulled out in the second race where the crew, lead solidly by Barbara Paagman in stroke, won the WIM3 8+, and the crew stroked by Samantha Grey-Wilson came very respectably in 5th. A special mention for the coxes, with Wallingford not being the easiest stretch of river to steer on, and Carlota Berruezo putting in enormous effort to ensure the crew had the speed needed to win. With the winning time beating most of the WIM2 crews and taking this aggressive performance and confidence born of great team spirit forward into the winter season’s training, it should stand the squad in good stead for the head races to come.”

FULL RESULTS 

Fours Head:-

TRC I E4- 39th overall, 3rd in category
TRC II E4+ 102nd overall
TRC III IM1 4x- 154th overall
TRC IV IM1 4- 319th overall
TRC V IM1 4- 94th overall, 6th in category
TRC VI IM1 4- 169th overall
TRC VII IM1 4- 134th overall
TRC VIII IM1 4+ 144th overall, 6th in category
TRC IX IM1 4+ 174th overall
TRC X IM2 4+ 219th overall
TRC XI W Sen 4- 327th overall, 3rd in category
TRC XII W Sen 4- 366th overall, 4th in category
TRC XIII W IM1 4+ 306th overall, PENNANT WINNERS
TRC XIV W IM1 4+ 419th overall
TRC XV W IM2 4+ 406th overall

ARMY/ MIN BATH/ TRC/ DURHAM ARC W E4- 116th overall, PENNANT WINNERS

Wallingford Head:-

TRC – Grey-Wilson W IM3 8+ 190th overall, 5th in category
TRC – Grey-Wilson W IM2 8+ 189th overall, 7th in category
TRC – Francis W IM2 8+ 182nd overall, 6th in category
TRC – Dooley MasD 8+ 123rd overall, 3rd in category
TRC – Francis W IM3 8+ 159th overall, PENNANT WINNERS
TRC – Cawston IM2 8+ 79th overall, 17th in category
TRC – Seddon MasC 4+ 155th overall, 1st in category
TRC – Roberts MasD 4+ 193rd overall, 1st in category