Unofficially Thames Rowing Club

Before Unofficially Thames gets swamped this week with updates regarding a minor provincial regatta held on the non-tidal Thames I thought I’d better bring you news of Hatwell’s heroes.

After a diffident couple of weeks of training post-Dublin, the IM3 qualified-IV dragged their weary bodies up the towpath to compete in Richmond Regatta on June 27. Work commitments and swine flu scares meant that the only pre-race outing was on the eve of the race, a Cracknell/Fogle-esque 2 hour effort to Eel Pie Island with the chafed-arses and blistered spanners to match . I’m not sure that Richmond’s pubside ladyfolk have recovered from the sight of The Foo gliding past “sans chemise” but I can confirm Dylan that yes, your back looked really, really big.

Boating the next day from Twickenham RC in blistering conditions, Thames dispatched Eton Excelsior if not with elan then with some ease; a scrappy row but the right result. The keen ornithologists among you might be interested to know that the crew caught a brief glimpse of a mature bearded chuff as they crossed the line, a dainty bird with well-maintained plummage seen all to infrequently on these shores. Unfortunately, this was not to prove a good omen and in the final a few hours later an experienced Twickenham crew delivered unto us a rowing lesson from a very great height.

I’d like to mention here the very warm welcome that we received all weekend from our colleagues at Twickenham RC. A finer bunch you couldn’t hope to meet, especially their ladies four who kindly clapped and cheered us back into the raft after our plucky defeat. I think we were mistaken for the victors….but anyway, thank you Twickers tweacles, we’ll toast your good health at Remenham this week.

As a footnote, the paddle back on Sunday morning was, for me, one of the highlights of the season so far. Old Twickenham in the eary morning sun, church bells ringing, ducks idling in the shallows, cricket on the green, jumpers for goalposts, etc. A magnificent way for Nicki to celebrate her 21st birthday!

Share the (Thames) love and good luck to our betters at Henley this week!

OMBA