You are here: Home > News > Read all about it! >
11th and 12th July - what a weekend!
Veteran Henley 2009
Avon County Rowing Club’s Veteran F coxless four won at the Henley Veteran Regatta on Saturday. The oversubscribed international event, raced over 1000 metres on the boomed Henley course, took place over two days of often intense side-by-side racing.
Derek Walker, Jim Dawson, Antony Constantinidi and Chris Brigden (coached by Jeremy Cheek) commenced their campaign on Friday when in a heat against Crabtree RC (ex Cambridge University), their fast start killed off the opposition before the halfway stage. In Saturday’s semi-final, Avon faced a re-match with the Tideway Scullers of London who were thirsting for revenge, half of their crew having been defeated by the Dawson/ Bridgen coxless pair at the National Veteran Championships in June. In a very close race, another fast start saw Avon open a lead of a length and a half. In deteriorating conditions, the Tideway Scullers crew mounted an all-out challenge, cutting into Avon’s lead. The boats were overlapping in the closing stages and Avon came away with a half-length victory.
In the final, Avon County were pitted against a much-fancied four from Rijnland RV of Haarlem in Holland. Their coach had observed Avon’s previous races and instructed his crew to throw their all into trying to break Avon over the first half of the race. When the flag dropped, Brigden led his crew into a ripping head wind at a blisteringly fast pace, with the Dutch crew matching them stroke for stroke. After 2 minutes Avon had inched a small lead, but with a major push they suddenly gained half a length. Rijnland fought back, but another push by Avon effectively ended the race and Avon crossed the line with a winning margin of just over 2 lengths.
Even then, the drama was not over. Arriving at the winners’ landing stage, they learned their gold medals were missing, presumed stolen, and were presented with unengraved medals instead.
The last word went to a Dutch supporter though. “You haf beaten zis crrew??” she asked almost in disbelief. “You must be verry fast.”
The Avon County veterans will now take a summer break, before reforming for the Head of the River Fours Race in London in November.
Llandaff Sprint Regatta 2009
In a desperate bid for supremacy on the river Taff, Avon County RC sent 30 crews to Llandaff Sprint Regatta. Apart from the obvious problem of getting that many boats on one trailer, being held up on the Severn Bridge by a coach that was on fire, no room in the trailer park, a stressed official due to the lack of ARA cards, the river being to high to race on (!!?!!) and some drizzle, we had a good day!
We had several loosing finalists and 10 wins! As we were the most successful club of the day, we also won the victor ludorum - £200 and more importantly a very large trophy!
Special congratulations to the novice women who won coxed fours convincingly!
Many thanks to everyone who helped out on the day and most importantly to Ann for the loan of her car to tow the trailer!
Winners
| Event | Crew |
| J13 coxed quads | Fraser, Jack, James, Alex, KateM |
| J14 double sculls | Rory, Elliott |
| WJ13 single sculls | Shannon |
| WN single sculls | HannahO |
| J14 coxed quads | HannahA, Rory, Elliott, Ollie, KateM |
| WJ14 single sculls | Alice |
| WJ14 coxed quads | HannahA, HannahS, Georgie, Kirsty, Ollie |
| WIM3 single sculls | KateH |
| WN double sculls | Nora, HannahO |
| WN coxed fours | ClairS, Ali, Kate, Rosie, Frankie |
