Wallingford Pub Regatta

11th September 2004

They came, they saw and they rowed...and lost! The Bike babe's crew: Dee @ stroke, Fen:3, Becca:2 and Nat: the bowman, raced at the Wallingford Pub Regatta on a very windy 11th September.

Having had some intensive coaching at the Wallingford club with the austere Nev Llewellyn, and moved up in to the amateur ladies coxed fours, they faced an even greater challenge.

Race 44: Bike Babes won convincingly beating Thames crabs by at least a length and a half.

Race 48: Saw the battle of the Goring-Gap boat club. Oar Blimey (Laurence, Becs Sally and Snowy) and Dead Ringers (Richard, Fen, Dee and Andy Mc) were closely matched in the amateur mixed final. Oar Blimey managed a good start and were ahead at the beginning, Dead Ringers put in a good effort so that in the final few strokes both teams were heading for first place but Oar Blimey were just better on the day and triumphant.

Dee and Fen finished the amateur mixed race and then were straight in to the amateur ladies final.

Race 50: Into the final to race against old arch rivals the Fourever Hopefuls. Fourever Hopefuls looked fresh and on form having had a lucky draw……… they found themselves in the final.

As they moved to the start line the wind was picking up and both crews had to make a few quick final adjustments. Ready set and go, they were off, halfway down the course the cox shouted "Hold it up!!!!", bike babes hurriedly threw their blades in, narrowly missing the amateur men’s crew, Blazing Paddles, who had strayed in to the course on their way up for their final. The race had to be re-run.

The crew felt that the start of the second race actually went better than the first but somehow Fourever Hopefuls managed to get a better start and was ahead. Bike Babes increased the rating, pushed hard and started moving up on them as Nev shouted for ten firm. As both teams crossed the finish line it looked like it might be a dead heat. The commentator shouted Bike Babes, the cox said, "you won!!" The crew were unsure but victorious………… then the commentator said "…… actually Fourever Hopefuls won that"

………Next year we’ll win that one!!!!

Regatta link: www.pub.regatta.org.uk/welcome.htm

Back