1st June 2008

Senior Women

First up were the ‘Hildegard’ crew in WS3 4+ Division B. With the top two crews in each heat progressing straight to the final and places three and four into a repecharge, the pressure was on to avoid an additional race.

A nervous start was quickly put behind them and they chased down Edinburgh University all the way to secure second.

Nearly seven hours later the girls lined up in the Final looking for a strong performance. An altercation with some buoys off the start didn’t put the bow-siders off their stride and girls drove on up the 2000m course in determined style.

Again Edinburgh University were the crew to chase and with a Swansea/Cardiff composite leading the field the boat finished in an excellent third place.

In Division A, the ‘George’ crew found themselves in a monumental tussle in their heat with four crews tied along the length of the course, all vying for position and the valuable final or repecharge places. Neck and neck coming into the closing stages Twickenham were pipped into fourth…only a second separating places two to four. What a difference a week makes!

The repecharge was another incredibly tight affair and the girls had one of their best races of the season so far to finish in third.

Finally it was the turn of the Lightweight Pair pitting their wits against WS 2- heavyweights.

In their heat a top three finish was required and they duly delivered, taking advantage of some clear water between themselves and UL to progress.

The Final was a much tougher test and again the girls put in a solid display and posted an improved time to come in fifth.

Day Two of the regatta saw the ‘Hildegard’ and Pair return to Dorney to step up in category to WS2 4+ and WS1 2-.

The Hildegard crew had an early start in the opening races of the day and went into a tough heat including Osiris, Edinburgh University and Furnivall knowing yet another step up in gear was needed to progress.

Step up they did, with Osiris taking an early lead, the girls were once against forced into a battle with Edinburgh Uni and Furnivall on the far side. Neck and neck with the sculling club in Lane 7 up the course, it took a burst from their rivals to take third and the weekend was over.

The Pair had an equally close call in their heat but pushed themselves to the next level as demanded by Rachel. Edged into fourth they nevertheless packed up from Dorney part of a squad that had well and truly hit their targets for the weekend.

Gayle Farmer

Senior Men

The road to Henley starts here, but for the senior 2 four it was a case of disappointment after they bowed out earlier than anticipated in the first round.

This year’s crew could not equal the achievement of a year earlier by reaching the final of the Snr2+ fours race after finishing one place outside the repercharge placing.

For most of the race Twickenham was in third place, close to a first two placing that would have taken them straight to the final, and easily in a third/fourth placing that would guarantee them another race to reach the final.

Unfortunately however the four didn’t have the speed to keep going, and it was gradually reeled in and overtaken to fifth in the dying metres. Despite the early bath though, the crew remains upbeat, after posting a six-second faster race than a few weeks earlier, and more than 30 seconds improvement on its times at camp. Reading Regatta is next, where the crew are looking to avenge their loss!
Peter Crush