Racing has returned!

After a long, hard lockdown and months of training, the Metropolitan Regatta was held this weekend at Dorney Lake. The regatta saw time trials followed by finals across all events, meaning everyone got to race twice, testing speed and race tactics.

Thames had almost 100 athletes racing. On Saturday the men won the 4+ A final, beating Cambridge University by two seconds, and also took a win in club 4- with three crews in the A final. The women were a close third in championship 8+ behind Leander and Oxford Brookes with a second crew also reaching the A final.

On Sunday, Thames had five 8s entered in both the men's and women's events and showed real strength in depth. The women's 1st 8 beat Leander in the timetrial and were joined by the 2nd and 3rd 8s in reaching the A final, while the 4th 8 made the B final. In the A final, the Thames women led out; Leander came through in the closing stages to win the race, but Thames were easily the fastest club crew in the event.

The men also got three crews into the A final of the 8s event with the 4th 8 in the B final, and also won the club category. The 1st 8 finished fourth behind two Oxford Brookes crews and a Leander crew (all championship boats), and the 2nd and 3rd 8s beat all other club crews entered.

Two women's 4-s raced on both days, reaching the B final. As well as winning the B final on Sunday, the Thames crews were second and fifth in the club category in this event.

Elo Luik and Nat Morgan both raced the women's single sculls. Elo reached both A finals, and was second on Sunday in a strong row; Nat was the third-fastest lightweight sculler in both time trials, making the B final on Saturday and the C final on Sunday.

Last but not least, Tom Portsmouth and Tom Foad raced open 2x on Sunday and also reached the A final.

The weekend gives the squads plenty of momentum going forward.

Thanks to Jon Davies for the photos!

Racing is back at the Met