NSR Tom's Report
26th May 2009
National Schools Regatta 2009
Held at Nottingham
22nd to 24th May 2009
The Boys Junior 15 Coxed Four consisting of Tim Swan, Freddie Myatt, Dan Bowen, Oliver Barratt and Alice Foreman, at Cox put us all in a good frame of mind with their magnificent 3rd place in their event. Any Medal is a good medal and Tim Messent, Paul Redgewell & Nick Kenworthy-Browne should be complimented on their hard work and effort over the last 5 months.
But nothing could prepare us for the WJ Ch 2X later in the day. Please read on and see below
Oh yes the weather was fantastic for very nearly the whole time and we had a tent to relax in thanks to Mandy Myatt’s excellent organisation and to all those families and friends who brought food and sustenance for the athletes. Next year we will get ourselves better organised from the start but I think that all will agree that our side was in an excellent position
On the Friday we all agreed that we might have to rename the club “The Thirteen and Nineteen Club” as we had a long line of fastest losers in the processional.
WJ14 4X+ Consisting of Anuska Maton, Francesca Eastment, Alice Koston, Caroline Papp and coxed by Ella Carter were the fastest loser and had they been 1 second faster they would have qualified. A real effort and a huge well done. There is some unfinished business to be seen to at maybe Peterborough???
WJ14 2X Elli Godden and Georgia Bradshaw were pipped to the post by 4.5 seconds so please watch this space these two might be the stars of the future.
WJ15 1X Molly Glenn was the second fastest loser by 2 seconds. Next year we all hope for better things.
OJ15 1X Freddie Myatt was stopped close to the finish and should have qualified and 3 seconds were all that was needed. Better luck next year.
OJ15 2X Oliver Barratt and Dan Bowen were beaten by the clock by 1.5 seconds. A bit more fitness should do the trick next year.
**************
The Saturday saw the sun bright and the weather clear and one of the nicest days at Nottingham with just a little wind to keep the heat under control. With the better weather our luck changed
WJ16 2X Hannah Smith and Rachel Spiro were just off the pace and suffered from the lack of fitness and strength but were there or there about. They did not qualify but kept our humour up and roared the Boys’ coxed four on with great effect.
OJ15 4+ They easily qualified and were second in their semi-final but were in lane two for the final. In the final they were about 1.75 seconds into 3rd place and easily won their bronze medal. (Reading B.C. took the Gold medal and Norwich School, the Silver medal).
OJ17 1X Alex Walmsley rowed exceptionally well in this event and considering his size put up a magnificent display when you consider that the winner was 6ft +. Alex you will have to wait for the Lightweight category to start when you are 19 years and older.
WJ Ch 2X Alice Carrington – Windo and Rebecca Roberts. These two are a real lesson for those coming up through the ranks of the club. They qualified in 11th place with Alice having a recurrence of an old injury problem and she rowed the last 250 meters in agony. Ambulances and doctors were called and after about 45 minutes she came out of the Medical Hut all smiles and asking if she had qualified and begging to be allowed to row in the semi if they had. They rowed in the semi and were last but had they been able to row to the same standard as they had in the processional they would have qualified for the final. Well done Alice and Rebecca you should be proud of yourselves.
**************
On the Sunday morning the weather was clear and it must have been the best day ever at the course, still water, calm and still as you could imagine.
OJ16 1X Luke Hiles had an excellent row in what was one of the most keenly contested events of the week. More experience and a higher rate is required and I am sure that you will have a great future. Watch this space
OJ16 2X Dominic Manifold and Harry Myatt had a good row but even they admitted that they were not quite fit enough to be able to compete with the faster crews in this very keenly contested field.
In all an wonderful three days of racing and a point to raise our game for the next year from both an athletes view point but also from the parents’ enjoyment and understanding of what to expect