Conrad Gets Busy

Morning All,

As promised, here is the Rad Man's contribution to the blog.  Names have remained exactly the same to expose the innocent.  Drew

Thursday 23^rd June 2011

Day 4 Henley Tour PHRC

I woke at approximately 7:00 pm and the front door of the cabin was open. In the doorway was a Greek Adonis in his “Bonds” boxer shorts and his body shimmered in the sunlight. As luck would have it, this was the exact time of the day that Tora, the farmer’s daughter drove past on the tractor as she headed off to tend the fields. She is a very capable young woman, with broad shoulders and common sense beyond her years.

Unfortunately Tora’s head did not turn as she passed the Adonis and she continued on her way. It appears that a new strategy will have to be devised to attract the attention of the fit young female farmer.

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

Sam had recently arrived from Melbourne and we felt it was important that he got to go for a row before the jet-lag set in. We munched down our cereal and packed ready to head off to the Henley rowing course.

At this stage Shane was struggling with his technology, the phone did not work, the internet did not work and he was certain that the computers were conspiring against him. We felt it was best that he be removed from the technology and taken away for a row.

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

Hatzi had to stay back to complete some urgent work.

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

It is approximately 6 miles to the rowing course from the “White Pond farmhouse” along windy, picturesque roads passing through the quaint town of Henley.

The traffic in the town of Henley is significantly increasing as all the preparations are well underway for the start of the regatta (mowing the course, setting up marquees, setting up the temporary structures for the race officials and competitors. The infrastructure for the Henley Regatta is greater than that used at the Melbourne Grand Prix (the event is also better attended).

As you approach the course you can see the historic buildings and the marquees that run along the river.

We entered the competitor’s enclosure, a massive white marquee with beautiful thick grass and hundreds of brand new pairs, quads, fours and eights.

We hit the water and headed off for two laps. We rowed over the course at 24 strokes per minute on the first lap and the second lap at 26 strokes per minute. There were strong winds and we made good progress through the heavy conditions. We appeared to be moving well compared to all other boats on the course.

After the row we intended to make a crew change. However we advised that the date had passed that allowed for this change. We headed back to the cabin and the leaders of the group decided how to best address this issue.

Fortunately the Stewards who run the Henley Regatta, allow for more flexibility than Rowing Victoria. At the Henley Regatta the rowers are treated more as a customer/guest than an inconvenience to the race officials.

Back at the farm we were offered the opportunity to assist with the “farming”. The Carlton city farmer yesterday appeared to believe that all the spotted beasts in the adjacent enclosure were all cows. However the main activities at the farm is breeding and raising the Angus cows and bulls. This activity requires both the female cow and the male bull to reproduce (much like humans).

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

Although the rain appeared imminent the fair weather farmers headed out. We herded up the cows and bull into the crush one at a time. Both Sam and I were given the opportunity to inject the bulls for foot root.

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

Although the cows and bulls appear to be docile, they move quickly and at 300-400kg they are a formidable beast.

We headed back to the course for our second row.

After much deliberation with race officials (Stewards) PHRC were allowed to make the crew change.

On the banks we head from spectators that MUBC eight rowing in the Thames Challenge Cup as the Upper Yarra Rowing Club were the crew to beat. They have elected to row at UYRC as they were not eligible for the event as MUBC.

We headed out for the second row. We lined up for training piece against an American four. They were in a coxed four and appeared to be young, fit and strong. The American’s rowed at 33 strokes per minute and maintained that rate. We were able to reduce the rate to 25 strokes per minute and still stay in front of the Americans. At the thousand metre make we lifted the rate to 32 and took four lengths over the next two hundred metres.

Against the American’s our pacing seemed good and we will continue to increase the intensity as the race day approaches.

After the row we headed off to Tesco Supermarket. Surprisingly, with the dollar so strong food is cheaper than Coles or Safeway.

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

Back at the cabin a meal of pasta was prepared (lots of vegetables and meat).

I had a coffee, one sugar and milk.

Movie (DVD), and bed.

Conrad