More wins at Twickenham Regatta 2017

The masters, novices and juniors made the short run over to Twickenham Regatta on Saturday 28 May and returned in the evening with armfuls of pots to celebrate.

Thames won no fewer than five events in a busy day. The first win came courtesy of the women’s novice squad, racing WIM3 4+. Having won this category at Putney Town Regatta a couple of weeks ago the crew was keen to repeat the achievement. Gifted with a bye to the second round, they beat Twickenham by four lengths and in the final East Anglia University by four and a half lengths, in a time which was 22 seconds quicker than the winners of the other division of this event.

The junior boys were up next. The J16 2x – actually both J15s – beat Twickenham easily, while in the J16 1x Toby also faced a Twickenham sculler and beat him easily too.

Of the three masters crews racing, the best result came from the MasE 4+. A committed start saw them get out to an early lead over Putney Town in their straight final and they also secured an easily verdict.

In the afternoon the novice women’s 8 – racing WIM3 after two of the crew had won WNov 4+ at Hammersmith Regatta – set out to match the four’s achievement. They started out with a solid two-length victory over Vesta, following it up with an easily win against Auriol Kensington. Staying on the water, they turned around for the final against a powerful and clean Furnivall crew, quickly got their bows in front and extended the lead for a three and a half length win. For six of the crew this was their first regatta win.

The men’s novices also raced IM3 4+, reaching the final after wins over Lea and X-Press. In the final they faced an Auriol Kensington crew with a great start and despite hanging on to their opponents throughout the race, could not quite get back into it. In IM3 2- a few steering issues contributed to a close loss against Eton Excelsior, who went on to win the event.

Phil was setting out for his third win in three regattas in IM3 1x and also reached the final, losing to a Molesey sculler who had previously beaten fellow Thames member Roger in the heats.

The women’s novice squad also put out a WNov 4+, who faced a good Mortlake Anglian & Alpha crew that had to fight to stay ahead of a gutsy Thames quartet. Ultimately Mortlake prevailed, going on to win the final.

The masters raced MasE/F 4x, going out to a younger Sons of the Thames crew; and MasC/D 8+, where they found their nine-second handicap a little too much to pull back.

Thanks again to Twickenham RC for hosting a really great regatta!