Vets HORR

2004

Rowed over a shortened course due to inclement(!) weather conditions the VHORR results are now up at www.vrc.org.uk

For the record: -

Vet B crew 30 (avg age 38 1/8th)

Kate Tucker, Iain Pressling, Mike Spencer-Jones, Mark Henstridge, Mark Davies, Tony Ellis, Simon Huntley, Dave Vernon & Gary Phillips

Finished 17th overall, 6th/19 Vet B in 7m29s

Vet C (a) crew 50 (avg age 48)

Ella Waddingham, Richard Coles, Mark Billingham, John Yeatman, Chris Lenton, Nick Gill, James Tong, Rob Robertson, Ed House

Finished 31st overall, 8th/41 in Vet C in 7m45s

Despite rough conditions in the marshalling area, where we waited for nearly an hour, the shortened course was relatively flat. Thames Vet B started just a canvas down on crew 30 the Putney side and so took the majority of the stream along the buoys. Despite this the Marlow Vet Bs settled into a fantastic rythmn and pulled away rating 31 and gained distance on crew 28 before crossing the line (having not been told that the event was running over a shortened course!). Thanks to closet Vet Dave Vernon for subbing in for the ailing Neil Mc at the last minute.

The Vet C boat had a similarly comfortable paddle, overtaking several crews (and not shipping any water despite being a heavier crew!) in the windy conditions.

The Vet C (b) crew from Jonathan Walne's group finished 97th in 8m50s

2003 - Towing (surely rowing?) without a hitch

Sunday 30 March And finally the big day had arrived. We had, somehow, managed to get 32 rowers, 4 coxes and 4 eights together, find a tideway club to boat from (thanks to Sean Farrelly's contacts at Quintin) and get the entries in (just). We even managed to get the trailer and boats there without collecting any roadside furniture, though we did successfully manage to cut up David Rendall's Volvo on the Hogarth roundabout. To make the parking/rigging that little bit more interesting we were put in the middle of a running race course, right by the start/finish of a half marathon.
The Marlow crews were starting 34th, 60th , 74th and 133rd, so set off in plenty of time for the marshalling point below Putney Bridge. Paddling to the start the Vet B crew were (slightly) concerned to see the bow number of crew 74 floating upstream, but as no other flotsam was spotted they carried on. At the marshalling point the Vet B crew bumped into Woody with his RAF crew chomping at the bit to do their 20th head course in the last 10 days!

View from the 'B' boat (avg age 36)

Starting 34th , sandwiched between London RC and Molesey BC, the Marlow Vet B crew were in good company. Crossing the start line with a gap between themselves and London ahead and Molesey only a length behind they quickly hit their race rhythm of 32 strokes per minute. Karla using the tide to perfection grabbed the main channel, forcing Molesey to go wide towards the flats at Fulham. A cracking battle then ensued with Marlow and Molesey rowing side-by-side from the black buoy round to St Paul's, overtaking crew 27 from Belfast before Hammersmith, before Molesey managed to squeeze a length ahead around the outside as both crews overtook crew 31 from Exeter and crew 29 from Circolo Canottieri Imo. With Karla still holding her line, Molesey just missed clashing their stroke's blade with Simon in the bow seat. Following the perfect course through Barnes Bridge, Marlow raised their rate for the finish, crossing the line rating 34 in a time of 19m21s, putting them 21st overall and 7th of 26 Vet B crews.
Bow - Simon Huntley, Neal Skipper, Paul Saunders, John Yeatman, Marc Furlonger, Neil McCulloch, Mike Spencer-Jones, Stroke - Iain Pressling and cox Karla Boddy

View from the 'C' 1 boat (avg age 43)

Having had a long, loose paddle about half-way to Westminster in search of other crews starting around 60th position, and having observed the alarming high frequency of GB leggings in the Nottingham crew starting 64th, Marlow Vet C1 wound up a fluid start and settled to a neat 32 past the boathouses. Crew 56, possibly from France, had arrived late for the battle, moved past, but not before Marlow had picked off another late starter. Into the headwind up to Hammersmith. Nottingham closed, but with a rock solid rhythm at 31 from Marlow, and sustained exquisite coxing from Ella, couldn't get past. They tried the inside, and then they tried the outside, then the inside again. Then they started shouting. Marlow responded with a storming blend of determination and yet more rhythm. Nottingham made it through with a bit more abuse, before having to go round the outside of some Cambridge Veterans in the approach to Barnes Bridge. Ella neatly tucked Marlow down the inside, the Cambridge and Nottingham blades tangled, and then Nottingham had to find their way around the outside again. The wind for home added a pip to 33 for a stroke or two, and a finish time of 19m35s put them 34th overall, and 9th of 30 Vet C crews.
Bow - Ed House, Rob Robertson, David Rendall, Tony Ellis, Ian Packer, Mark Henstridge, Mark Billingham, Stroke - Richard Coles and cox Ella Waddingham

 

View from the 'C' 2 boat (avg age 43)

Starting as far from the start as the marshals would allow, Wandsworth Bridge, gave the Vet 'C' 2 boat plenty of time to warm up on their way from their marshalling point to the start line. Once into the race they enjoyed(?) a running battle with the Quintin BC crew who started behind them. Quintin had managed to get overlap by Hammersmith Bridge, 1/3rd of the way into the race, but Marlow then gradually drew away from them to finish 15s ahead. Final placing was 99th overall and 23rd of 30 Vet C crews.
Bow - Mike Landers, Jonathan Walne, Bob Thompson, Rob Thomson, Kelvin Read, Graeme Hyman, John Kirtland, Dave Faulkner and cox Elaine Caldwell

View from the 'E' boat (avg age 55)

Starting 133rd gave the 'E' crew plenty of time to rest after their warmed up, so they quickly overtook two crews early in the race. Rising 23 places to finish 110th overall and 18th of 24 Vet E crews.
Three Warwick athletes - Barry Meatyard, Tim Walmesley and Martin Le Toq, along with Graeme Armstrong, Ian Chamberlin, Ray Swordy , Chris Tipney, Chris Adams and cox Sue Walters from Marlow