The junior squad performed with gusto. Another tankard for ‘Super Sculler’ Tom Scholefield, who yet again proved to be unbeatable in J18.A1X.  In the J16A.1X event Scott Boardman was unfortunate not to come home with a winners tankard after powering through two rounds to reach his final. Danny Walder and Charlie Macnamee raced in the final J15A.2X but just missed out to the Newark RC crew.  In the WJ16A.2X event, Lucy Agar and Bethan Henry were pipped at the post by Peterborough.

First time regatta competitors Emily Senior and Matilda Haines raced in WJ14A.2X and had a very convincing first round win against the Leicester RC crew. They met up with the experienced Burton Leander Twins in the final who had their work cut out to beat the LBC girls.  Despite not gaining their first tankards, Emily and Matilda gained the LBC performance of the day!

Two more first time regatta competitors were Helen Fairbrother and Erica Gummery, who came up against fierce opposition from Lincoln RC in the final WIM3.4+ event. Both Ladies rowed faultlessly and show real promise for the forthcoming season.

Adam Fairbrother and Tom Gee easily gained their place in the final of IM3.2X, as did the IM3.4+ crew of Jonathan Day, Chris Smith, Shane Frear and David McCaughan (coxed by Timothy Ives) both crews just missing out on finals victory and winners Tankards. Next time boys!! Single sculler Nikola Stoilov made great progress in the NOV.1x before steering issues prevented victory.

Ladies Captain Zoe Poyner coxed the WNOV.4+ crew of Jenny Smith, Kate Henry, Emma Heygate and Diane Hope-Cokayne , who despite an excellent performance were victims of the polished Demontfort University crew.

More silverware was provided by the ever improving Masters Squad. With no race for the Eight it was decided to enter the crew as two fours in the MasD/E4.+ event. Clearly this eight will take some beating this season as the two LBC fours met in the final, with victory going to Keith Hudson, Andy Hill, Mike Targett and Jerry Heygate (cox Oisin Mcnally-Reilly).

Start as you mean to go on! Great start to the season, well done LBC.

Sports Council Trophy – most promising junior: SCOTT BOARDMAN

HRS (Bertie) Clifford Trophy – most promising senior: HENRY SIMKIN

Willet Trophy – achievement: ANDREW SKINNER / TOM SCHOLEFIELD

Tinker Hayes Trophy – services to coxing: OSSIN MCNALLY-REILLY

Jim Hambley ‘miles makes champions’ Trophy: TOM SCHOLEFIELD

Rowers Rower: JEN SMITH

On Sunday 1st April 9 crew members from Loughborough Boat Club rowed a 50.2km (31 mile) rowing marathon in aid of local children’s charity, Steps.

The nonstop Boston rowing marathon, held between Lincoln and Boston on the river Witham, took several hours to complete by the 9 man crew but was well worth it to raise deserved funds for LBC’s chosen local charity.

Overtaking numerous crews during the challenge, the crew managed to to power through the course achieving a consistent pace of 13.5kph, resulting in the crew completed the gruelling course in 3 hours, 51 minutes and 37 seconds becoming the fastest coxed 8 on the water.

The IM3 8 that took up their oars and row the course were: Adam Fairbrother, Chris Smith, Shane Frear, Jonathan Day, Simon Gee, Zoe Poyner, Henry Simkin, David McCaughan and coxed by Timothy Ives.

The crew’s efforts have managed to raise around £500 for local children’s charity Steps.

The crew would like to thank everybody that donated to their challenge and they hope to hand over all of the donations to the charity as soon as possible to help make a difference. LBC would also like to give special thanks to ADT Taxis for providing transportation to and from the event free of charge for the crew.

The pot that never was!

Loughborough Boat Club Masters D VIII (Masters D crew has an average age between 50 and 55!) knew that they had a tough challenge from Nottingham Boat Club/Nottingham Union crew at Lincoln Head of the River Race – which was contested over 5500m of the River Witham at Lincoln last Sunday. Loughborough’s Winter training had not gone well, with several injuries and key personnel taking holidays, and the actual crew had never been out together in that exact form until the day. But in the last training outing on Saturday, the crew (still without Captain Keith who was away supporting the LBC juniors at the Regional Trails at Nottingham) the crew had “clicked” and so optimism was high in the beautiful Spring weather which graced the event at Lincoln.

The Head Race format is against the clock and the Nottingham crew started some 20 seconds behind Loughborough, and were always in sight of the key tactician Keith in the stroke seat of the Loughborough Boat. He knew he had to drive his men especially hard at the start and Loughborough pulled away in the first 1000m; but then half way into the race Nottingham were pressed by a faster Doncaster Schools crew in a different event coming up behind them, and the competition to keep ahead allowed Nottingham to regain the deficit on Loughborough who were rowing well above their training rate. There was a fear that this speed could not be sustained over the entire gruelling 20 minutes or more of the race. After 10 minutes sinews were busting and lungs were bursting as the Nottingham crew, pressed by Doncaster Schools remained stubbornly in sight. But the Loughborough cox, O’Shean, managed the pace well and inspired the Loughborough men to further effort. Eventually the Doncaster crew overtook the Nottingham crew who then faded towards the end of the gruelling race, and the pressure came on the Loughborough “geriatrics” to stave off the Doncaster Schoolboys. The last 1000m of the race was in a red mist, according to several of the Loughborough men – from the the eldest, 61 year old Nick, to the youngest, 45 year old Andy. Eventually the cox called for the last 20 strokes and the Loughborough crew started to pull away again from the Doncaster boys, before collapsing – fully spent – at the finish line.

Loughborough had a total of 5 crews of various sizes and status entered. When the times were published LBC’s Tom Scholefield had won the Senior Sculls, and the Loughborough Master’s VIII had beaten the Nottingham crew by 9 seconds. But knowing that the Nottingham crew had a higher average age, a “handicap” would be applied to the relative times – giving the trophy to Nottingham. The Loughborough VIII were therefore very surprised when they were called out at the prize ceremony to receive their trophies – individual cut glass brandy glasses engraved with the Lincoln Imp to match similar trophies several members of the crew had won in 2011. In celebration the photos were taken and preparations made to depart, before the Race Officials agreed that “the pot that never was” had been wrongly awarded and the trophies had to be re-wrapped and given back, to be finally given to Nottingham. Knowing they were not entitled to them, Loughborough did this in good grace and without rancour.

For several of the Loughborough crew, this is the third dubious happening against a Nottingham crew. At the Ironbridge regatta in 2011, Loughborough beat Nottingham in the knock-out semi-final, but the regatta was called off before the final when excessive driftwood coming down from Shrewsbury made the river dangerous. Later the same year, at Stourport regatta, a Stourport VIII was forced to retire from the final when one of their crew suffered a heart attack, and a scratch crew from Bewdley and Loughborough was rapidly assembled to “give them a race” – but Nottingham won by 1 1/2 lengths.

With this history, the next time Loughborough and Nottingham local rivals meet on the river, the memory of these events, and the “pot that never was” will make the race very special!

Daniel Walder and Charlie Macnamee have been selected to compete in two crews J15 4X+ and J15 4+.  Both Lucy Agar and Bethan Henry will be part of the WJ16 8 crew, and Scott Boardman won selection in the J16 4+ category.

The winter training and hard work has paid off. Coaches Steward Ward, Keith Hudson and Jonathan Day are delighted and are now focusing on preparation for the event.

Good luck Guys!!

On the morning of 3^rd March 2012, sixteen nervous rowers and two willing coxes prepared to take to the water on the banks of theThames. Along with the other 2574 competitors racing in 288 craft, LBC crew numbers 227 and 274 battled for both position and water within the congested river. This was merely the task of rowing to the start, and I can tell you there were some shocking and questionable manoeuvres by other ‘advanced’ crews.  However, coxswains Tim Ives and Mike Targett, both first time tideway boys, were equal in competence, composure and professionalism.

Despite a shower of rain before racing commenced, the clouds parted to allow the sun to shine. And as the 11 o’clock chimes rang out, the bank-side cheers began, closely followed by the thundering sound of the elite crews blades as they fought their way towards the finish line.

Perfect spectator seats were lost as the two LBC crews were marshalled from the band stand towards Mortlake and the Starting position. No time for nerves now, as boat after boat peeled off to catch the tide.  First of the LBC boats past the start of the Ship Pub were crew 227 WIM3.8+. Followed a few minutes later by W.NOV8+ crew 274.

Determination, pain, aggression, pain, concentration, pain, control, pain, perseverance and pain! These were just a few of the emotions experienced by the ladies as they powered their way along the course. Both crews held a good rhythm; however their skills were tested when after Hammersmith Bridge the river direction change made conditions choppy.

By Fulham Football ground, the boats were focused again, and fighting to the end. Putney Pier was indeed a sight for sore backs. Sixteen very exhausted rowers made their way back to Barn Elms Boathouse and found the strength to carry boats back to base.

Congratulations to the three junior members Bethan Henry, Lucy Agar and Rachel Grewcock who experienced the first of hopefully many Tideway adventures. Thanks go to Keith Hudson, Andy Skinner and Charlie Henry whose help and support throughout the day was both much needed and appreciated.

Crew 227 IM3.8+ of Lindsey Skinner, Erica Gummery, Lucy Agar, Zoe Poyner, Megan Devlin, Laura Livesey, Rachel Grewcock and Bethan Henry. Cox Tim Ives. Finished in position 250, in a time of  24.56.23.

Crew 274 WNOV.8+ of Jenny Smith, Emma Heygate, Carol Cunningham, Gill Hepworth, Kate Henry, Hazel Bickerstaff, Sandra Martin and Di Hope-Cokayne. Cox Mike Targett. Finished in position 280, in a time of 26.21.26.

Winning crew number 12ThamesRC A finished in a time of 20.10.92. Well girls we have some work to do but who knows, this time next year! Watch this space.

The early division saw the WMasB/C 8+ crew of Jen Smith, Emma Heygate, Carol Cunningham, Gill Hepworth, Kate Henry, Hazel Bickerstaff, Sandra Martin and Di Hope-Cokayne take to the water. Coxed by Mike Targett the crew put in a solid performance over the 6km course, perfect training for the upcoming WHORR. This Ladies eight is becoming more polished every outing, impressive enough for their crew photo to grace the pages of the Nottingham Post!

There were no LBC crews in the shorter middle division, but thankfully the weather held and the sun remained for the final division. Lucky crew number 7, the new IM3.4x- combination of Andrew Martin, Jonny Frear, Adam Fairbrother and Simon Gee were the first and the fastest of the LBC boats to tackle the 6km stretch of the Trent.

Jonathan Day, Chris Smith, Shane Frear and David McCaughan with cox Tim Ives finished a respectable mid table in the IM3.4+. The 6km course must have felt short for these guys, who are also crew members of the LBC Boston Marathon Eight. Together with Adam Fairbrother, Simon Gee, Henry Simpkin and Scott Boardman they will compete over the 31mile course in the rescheduled 2011 Marathon on 1st April.

Finally the W.IM3.8+ crew of Lindsey Skinner, Erica Gummery, Lucy Agar, Zoe Poyner, Megan Devlin, Laura Livesey, Helen Fairbrother and Bethan Henry coxed by Captain Keith Hudson put in what was described as a ‘spunky’ performance over the 6km course despite damaging their rudder approaching the start. Both Ladies eights crews will be competing at the WHORR, here’s hoping the sun continues to shine for all the Loughborough Ladies who will be rowing the Tideway on 3rd March.

Good luck Girls!!

Local Taxi Firm, Ashley David Taxis (ADT) are supporting LBC’s Boston Marathon attempt, in aid of local children’s charity STEPS, by supplying transport to LBC’s Marathon Crew for the event.

ADT have kindly offered a minibus to support with the transportation of LBC crew to the Boston Rowing Marathon on the 1st April 2012. This has resulted in the 9 man crew being able to travel as a crew to and from the rowing challenge and will no longer have to drive back to Loughborough after rowing the 50.2km (31 miles), to which they are rowing to raise funds for local children’s charity, STEPS!

LBC would like to thank ADT for their generous offer in the current economic climate and for their support LBC’s charity fundraising efforts.

To find out more about ADT click here.

The non stop Boston rowing marathon, held between Lincoln and Boston, will take several hours to complete by the 9 man crew but will be well worth it to raise deserved funds for LBC’s chosen local charity.

The IM3 8 that are due to take up their oars and row the course are: Adam Fairbrother, Chris Smith, Shane Frear, Jonathan Day, Simon Gee, Zoe Poyner, Henry Simkin, David McCaughan and coxed by Timothy Ives.

The crew are due to increase their training schedule over the upcoming weeks to ensure that they are ready for the challenge with plenty of off and on water training activities planned for the weeks to come.

The crew hope that you would be able to make a donation to the cause and help us to raise as much as possible.

This can be completed by donating on the LBC Boston Marathon 2012 Just Giving page:

http://www.juustgiving.com/lbcbostonmarathon

Alternatively, send a text message from your mobile phone:

Text: ROWS99 £(Amount) to 70070.

Thank you for your support.

To find out more about STEPS click here to find out more.

On Sunday 22nd January, seven LBC crews travelled to the Witham to compete in the annual Boston Head. The wind and rain proved unwelcome guests for the competitors in the first division. Tom Gee represented Loughborough in the IM3 single scull event. Loughborough Ladies crew of Helen Fairbrother, Erica Gummery, Lindsey Skinner, Gill Hepworth, Jenny Smith, Emma Heygate, Sandra Martin and Di Hope-Cockayne gained second place in WNOV8+, coxed by Ladies Captain Zoe Poyner.

Unfortunately the weather conditions deteriorated, resulting in race organisers cancelling division 2, and limiting division 3 to fours, quads and eights. This was disappointing news for the IM3.2x crew of Simon Gee and Adam Fairbrother, and the WIM3.2- pairing of Lindsey Skinner and Zoe Poyner.

The continuing poor weather conditions saw division 3 shortened to 2KM to accommodate a more sheltered stretch of river. LBC’s new IM3.4+ crew of Chris Smith, Shane Frear, Jonny Day and Dave McCaughan had an excellent race and are relishing success in upcoming events. Also racing over the 2KM distance were the eight Loughborough ladies, but this time as two WNOV4+ crews, coxed by Zoe Poyner and Jerry Heygate. Both coxwains worked their magic and conjured up inspired performances from both crews, resulting in second and third places.