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BUCS Regatta
Nottingham, 2nd & 3rd May 2009

An intense three week training camp, complete with blood, sweat and tears, reached its climax as the University of Kent Rowing Club arrived at Holme Pierrepoint National Watersports Centre in Nottingham for the BUCS Regatta 2009, hopeful of making it the club’s most successful BUCS Championships in years. The club had five Coxed Fours, two Singles and a Pair entered across six categories, over two days of high quality rowing.

First on the water was Sam Webb, who was entered into the Men’s Intermediate Single Sculls. He had the task of qualifying in the top twenty four from thirty one scullers, which he duly did, finishing the 1750m time trial course comfortably in the top twenty four. The Men’s Pair of Miles Halahan and Steve Cooper were supposed to be on the water next for the time trial of the Men’s Intermediate Coxless Pair, but pull outs meant they were able to go straight through to the Quarter Finals.

The club had two crew’s entered into the Men’s Beginners Coxed Fours, and an entry of sixty nine crews meant both of the club’s entries would have to pull out a great row to finish in the top twenty four, and qualify for the quarter finals. Both crew’s put in brave rows, but sadly neither was able to qualify. The men’s Development A crew of Ash Roberts, Konur Alp, Tom Davies and Mark Humphreys, coxed by Luke Hawker finished an impressive thirty first, whilst the Development B crew of Stephen Prosser, James Stokes, Dave Weildon and Josh Blackledge, coxed by Cathrine Pateman finished further down the field in a commendable fifty fourth.

Sam Webb was back on the water in the early afternoon for the Quarter Final of the Men’s Intermediate Single Sculls. Sam received a blow shortly before his race as he learned the boat he shares with fellow sculler Amy Hills was to be used by Amy for her race which happened to be shortly after. Unfortunately his back up scull was not fast enough to help Sam through to the Semi’s as he finished fifth in his race.

Shortly after Sam’s race, Amy took the start for her first race of the day, and it proved not to be her last as she finished third, beating scullers from Aberdeen, Bath and Birmingham. It was a very impressive row from the club’s most experienced rower at the Regatta. Despite this success, there was agony shortly after for the club as the Men’s Pair came an agonizing fourth in an incredibly competitive Quarter Final. Their time would have comfortably qualified from any other Quarter Final, but unfortunately they missed out on qualification by three seconds.

Last on the water on Day One of races was Amy, back for the Semi final of her category. Amy would end up being the only Kent Semi Finalist of the weekend, and she was unable to go one further missing out on the final, coming a very commendable fifth in a very competitive field.

Day Two started in impressive fashion as the Womens Development Four of Sarah Fish, Alice Mason, Sarah Harvey and Antonia Gerlach, coxed by Carmelia Parimasivan completed their Womens Beginers Coxed Four time trial in a tremendous ninth place out of a field of fifty one. They were soon followed by the Mens A Four of Sam Cackett, Nick Paterson, Sam Cumming and Christian Wren, coxed by Jen Fisher. Despite a rocky row on the 1750m time trial course, and a four hour wait for the results, they finished a terrific thirteenth place out of a field of fifty three, joining the women in the Quarter Finals.

The women, who had been impressive over the course of training camp went into their Quarter with high hopes of reaching the Semi’s, and despite a very impressive race, they came so close but so far, finishing fourth, beating crews from Durham and Bournmouth on the way.

The men, now the last Kent crew left, like the girls came up short, but still put in a brave row. Their finish of sixth in the Quarter Final doesn’t show how well the guys actually rowed, and they were only a length behind the crew in fourth, and two lengths behind the crew qualifying in third. It was a disappointing finish to a magnificent row, and a weekend that the University of Kent Rowing Club can be proud of.

For full results of Day One click here.
For full results of Day Two click here.

Christian Wren