Upper Thames Autumn & Kingston Small Boats Heads 2016

Upper Thames Autumn Head

Upper Thames Autumn Head has proved a great run out for TRC crews for the last few years and this year proved no exception. All those not taking part in the Fours Head de-camped to Henley for the day and most of them took part in the two divisions. The main aim of the day, from the head coach’s perspective, was to see all the crews attack the short 3km course and for the coxes to steer ‘properly’. As always, a few lessons were learned in the first run and remedied in the second run.

The stand out results of the day were a convincing win in MIM3 8+ where the crew pretty much over took the entire field in a storming row, and the MIM2 4+ that also won its pot. The WIM3 8+ just missed out to Southampton University but showed much greater fight and aggression than this level has shown in recent years. The same can also be said for the ‘B’ crew.

All told, a valuable trip and thanks to Upper Thames for running such a slick operation.

Kingston Small Boats Head

The senior and junior squads were treated to light winds and still water at Kingston Head in the continued build-up to Fours Head.

On the women’s side, two crews raced: an IM2 4+ of Sarah Fabes, Katie Woodward, Beth Fooks and Helen Carswell coxed by Nat Kernan and an IM1 4x of Jordan Cole-Hossain, Lowenna Coad, Natalie Hardy and Sally Hodgson.

In division 1 the 4+ put together a strong race, took the category win and narrowly missed out on beating all the coxless fours. Division 2 was the quad’s turn. They were racing for time only but set down a strong marker, producing the fastest women’s time of the day by a distance.

Meanwhile the men’s IM2 4+ proved it was up to speed, rewarding themselves with a win. Other crews had some decent results with the IM1 4- finishing second and both the Sen 4- and another IM2 4+ finishing third. Finally Skye Landon raced at his first race in the 1x in preparation for the Scullers Head.

The juniors put out several crews. Gaby Munyard, racing in WIM3 1x as there was no J18 category, stormed to victory in her first race in this class. The WJ18 4x and the WJ16 2x were both second and there was a good row by the J16 2x to finish eighth.

Overall it was a good day of racing, proving the crews were ready and raring to go for Fours Head.