Saturday 10 June 2017

Saturday - Reading Amateur Regatta Day 1

Let's race!

Today was sunny and warm and cloudy at times but good weather for racing.  The team bussed up to Reading this morning and prepared for the afternoon races.  The venue is at the Reading Rowing Club at Caversham Bridge and is a well managed affair.  Helpful officials and Brits everywhere, and many American friends as well.  The St. Paul's school girls from NH, the Radcliffe LW women, friends from Saratoga, and random American rowers who have moved to the UK to work.

The eight raced first, drawing Kingston Rowing Club.  The Brits surged ahead at the start but our women stayed collected and reeled them back in stroke by stroke passing them and winning by a decisive length.  Well rowed by both crews, and a great start to break the ice here.  The four then raced a very experienced Nottingham crew.  Despite a strong start, good steering, and a great will to win, the Nottingham women bested them.  They felt glad to have their first UK race behind them and are ready to bring it again tomorrow.

The eight then raced Bristol University for round two.  Bristol was blazing fast off the start and gained a length, but then we held them for the remainder of the race but could not reel them in, crossing the finish one length behind.  All in all great racing across the boards, with good racing speed, and a great venue to spectate up close.

We watched the finals of our respective events and saw some very competitive races.  A great day all in all.  Tomorrow, we do it all again against different opponents, with a shortened 1100m race course.  Our first race isn't until 4PM.

Cheers,
Coach Pat


Downtown Henley across from the bus/train station
Waiting on the morning bus to Reading





Walking from bus to race site


View of the finish area and Reading Rowing Club from the Caversham bridge


Great spectating spot at 200m to go mark


The VHP 8 in action!


Racing happens 10 feet from this pathway


The start area.  Definitely in the countryside outskirts of Reading.


Platinum Fantastico Quatro racing hard

Spectating

No comments:

Post a Comment