Four boats and twenty nine competitors enjoyed unusually balmy temperatures and glorious sunshine yesterday at the Nottingham Trent head.

 

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!!