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Monkton Bluefriars Head of the River Race
AVON COUNTY RC HOST MAJOR ROWING EVENT AT SALTFORD
Avon County Rowing Club played host last weekend to the 39th annual Monkton Blue Friars Small Boats Head of the River Race at its Boathouse at Saltford. Bathed in glorious autumn sunshine more than 170 rowing crews and scullers from all over the south of England and beyond were timed over the 3km course from Twerton to Saltford.
Fastest overall in a time of 12:52 was a quadruple scull from local club Minerva Bath but they were closely challenged by fast finishing fours from Wiltshire Scullers’ School and Eton College. Third overall and quickest two man crew was a Veteran Minerva Bath Double Scull who narrowly beat local rivals Bradford on Avon in the same boat class. Also highly placed was the coxed quad four from Dutch visitors Alkmaar. Bristol University Boat Club took the fastest single scull prize in an outstanding time of 13.31.
Racing for the first time this winter season on home waters Avon County continued their outstanding season with wins in Women’s Junior 14 coxed quadruple sculls, Open Junior 13 coxed quads, Veteran Novice double sculls, Open Junior 13 double and single sculls and Women’s Junior 16 double sculls.
Avon’s best performance of the day came in the Junior 15 double scull event where Wellsway Schoolboys Elliott Raine and Rory Adams took first place in a time of 13:59 from a high quality field of 13 crews from Eton, Winchester and Bryanston schools as well as an entry from French club Nantes.
The Avon County Women’s Intermediate 3 coxed four produced a time of 17:02 but were unopposed as were a number of other senior crews from Avon including Veteran coxless fours, pairs and doubles as well as the in form Junior 15 girl’s coxed quad scull who despite beating all but one boy’s crew in their age group were frustrated by the lack of same-sex opposition in their attempt to add to their season’s haul of trophies.
Organised by the Monkton Bluefriars Charitable Trust with considerable help from the host club Avon County the day provided an excellent opportunity for crews and coaches alike to assess early season form and crew selections before moving on to the national level long distance “head” races scheduled for November and December.
