History of BPJR
In March 2009 Nick Kenworthy-Browne and I were taking a break between coaching sessions at our Hinksey Lake site and found ourselves talking about the racing prospects – or lack of them – for our 13 year old athletes and below. At one point Nick turned tome and said “why not a Regatta on the lake at Blenheim?”
Why not indeed so we decided Nick would make contact.
Nick went back to the next coaching session and I turned towards the boat store where I found Ann Bevan – the mother of one of our athletes – standing next to a bright and shiny new bicycle.
We fell into conversation about bike technology and it turned out that she is a Triathlete and was in training for the 2009 Blenheim Triathlon that coming June.
I mumbled something to the effect that she was lucky to be using that water because Nick and I had just decided to ask the Palace if we could run an event there. Ann looked at me and said “Perhaps I can help – I know the Marketing Director”
In the course of less than 5 minutes and 2 separate conversations, this event was conceived.
For a gestation period of something marginally over 12 months one might have used the word “miraculous” when looking at the 2010 racing schedule. However there was no miracle - after those 5 minutes in Hinksey Park - concerning the way subsequent events unfolded.
All that was required was a huge amount of hard work by dozens of people far too numerous to mention individually
The numbers of volunteers helping this year again is enormous. There are a few however I must thank individually - Blenheim Palace’s Operations Director - Paul Orsi, Hinksey Sculling School’s chief engineer - Alastair Brown and Regatta Chairman - Amelia Wright.
Without their considerable efforts and the TRUST they put in all those around them as they continually look for ways to make this work – what you see here today could not have happened.
The Future
The entry numbers this year are broadly the same as last year although there are new names of clubs involved. We have changed the layout of the course and added another launching platform for ease of boating and de boating crews
I hope this day’s event provides a really good platform to build on for the future and that competitors and spectators alike will provide us with feed back as we look to develop systems which will safely accommodate more of the youngsters involved in this growing group of the J13 to J10 category.
John Broadhurst
Chairman,Hinksey Sculling School.