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Marlow Fours and Pairs Head
21st November 2010

On Sunday 21st November the University of Kent senior squad travelled to compete at the Marlow Fours and Pairs Head, a 2.9km race, on the river Thames. The club competed last year, but the race was held on Dorney Lake, which is currently undergoing construction work in preparation to be one of the venues for the 2012 Olympics.

With the club entering eight crews into various divisions it was set to be a busy day that started at the crack of dawn, not least for those driving the trailer to the event. On our arrival we found our spot in the muddiest field known to man, and squelched our way around rigging the boats and getting the equipment ready.

In the first division Mens 1st 4+ achieved the 6th fastest time of the day, a great achievement for a new crew. Women’s 1st 4+ battled hard to pull away from the rest of their division, in the end getting very narrowly (no bias intended) pipped to the post by a strong Wallingford crew. Josh Blackledge and Ash Robert’s rowed a good first race in the pair, achieving a very respectable time in a tough category, with our new men’s double doing the same.

One downside however was that other club members and spectators wishing to watch had to walk back from the club, over the motorway bridge, down the other side, and walk along the other side of the river! This resulted in the shoes of the 1st division competitors (kindly stowed in a safe place by the speculating members of the club) not being found, leading to some very soggy feet in the rush to get the boats out of the water!

In the second division it was Men’s 2nd 4+ and Men’s 3rd 4+ who took to the water. Both crews fought well throughout the race but were eventually beaten by a very quick novice crew from...Trinity Oxford, who unsurprisingly took the fastest time of the day. Nick Paterson and Sam Webb entering their second race, after getting up at four in the morning to drive the trailer, also raced well in their category in the pair. Lastly, the Women’s double, who after their success at BUCS this summer and gaining further points in other regattas, achieved a respectable time coming first with no-one else in their category!

Although we did not come away with any medals it was a good first race for the senior fours, pairs, and doubles and a demonstration of how well the new crews have gelled together this year. It was also brilliant to have so much support from family members, friends and other members of the club too. It should be an exciting and successful year to come!