Races 2010/11
Docklands Head saw Kent Rowing kicking off the new academic year with a truly memorable race. The event is held by the state-of-the-art London Regatta Centre just off the river Thames. The straight 2,750 metre course runs adjacent to London City Airport through the Royal Victoria and Royal Albert docks where the wide, open waters and towering concrete sides have given the Docklands a notorious reputation for treacherous rowing conditions.
The Kent rowers, many of whom had not rowed at one of the city’s large competitions before, arrived the morning of the race with tales of battering winds and three foot waves in mind; surprisingly, race day greeted the competitors with flat water and nothing more than a brisk breeze. This year is the first time in a considerable period that the club finds itself in a position to enter races such as Docklands and, moreover, in a position to have an Eight race competitively (the Kent signature crew usually being a coxed four). The newly composited crew: Sam Webb, Nick Paterson, Sam Cumming, Matt Frayling, Miles Halahan, Dan Westwood, Carl Soan, Lawson Emanuel and cox Jen Fisher, took to the water thankful for the unusually calm conditions and looking to complete the course as a benchmark for the rest of the racing year. As the race began the crew looked to be putting in a very solid performance.
Disastrously however, just a third of the way into the race during the crew’s first push through the narrow Connaught Road Bridge, the equipment failed with one of the boys’ blade handles breaking in his hands. Whilst the crew continued the best they could, the fault in the oar meant that the blade was caught under the water at several points during the race, causing the boat to be dragged down on one side and lose speed between strokes. In spite of this set back however, the Eight managed to complete the course in the respectable time of 10minutes and 27seconds, the fifth fastest overall time of the day- a tremendous achievement and testament to the Kent Rowing attitude of a will to power through in the face of a snag or two.
The University’s rowing club went from strength to strength last year and early indications suggest this year could be equally as successful. The Men’s First Eight will be training under the guidance of experienced coach Andy Turner and 2010/11 men’s captain Nick Paterson. With the prestigious Head of the River in sight, this crew is one to watch. And whilst it may be too soon to tell, that elusive men’s Kent crew at Henley Royal Regatta could very well be on the cards.
Jen Fisher.
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