Race #3

Hi All,

Below is Shane's view on today's race.  It seems most of you already know the result - thanks for all your messages of encouragement, we are overwhelmed by the support.  As Shane notes below, tomorrow is the big test, London A are the form crew of the event and we will have our work seriously cut out.  But at Henley, anything can happen and we'll be making sure nothing is left on the water.  Drew

1^st July

Today’s race pretty much went as well as it could. Our opposition London C managed to oust out Lea and Thames Tradesmen RC in earlier rounds. We managed to discover that London C were similar in speed to the Elizabethan crew we raced yesterday. Essentially every crew that you beat feels at least some loyalty or at least obligation to pass on their best wishes and perhaps a bit of local knowledge regarding what they know of the next crew. London received allot of vocal support from the bank, it wasn’t until we reached the stewards enclosure that the raucous football (soccer) styled encouragement turned into polite clapping.

This time we started on the opposite side to the previous 2 races. 

 Decorum and tradition dictates that the lanes are called Berks (Berkshire) and Bucks (Buckinghamshire) but basically I can’t be bothered committing either to memory when perfectly clear instructions such as north, south, left and right are more than adequate. When I ask Drew what side are we racing on today he will often answer either Berks or Bucks, when asked for further elaboration he refuses to do so.  So this time we were on the other side to normal (left) which initially wasn’t a problem until we passed Temple Island. Temple Island is called so because it is an Island with a temple (church like thing) on it. Amazing Ha’ and yea when I often ask Drew why it is called Temple Island he again refuses to elaborate.  This of course often happens straight after I’ve asked him what lane we are racing in. But to me (stroke seat) Temple Island is something you pass after 30 or so strokes after the start. To Drew it is a time when you start paying attention to the direction of boat travel in order to miss the big wooden boom and bollard things that hold in place said ‘wooden boom’. Just before we hit the big wooden boom like thingy I lightened off my stroke, Conrad fortunately stoped rowing, Sam managed to pull in his oar and Drew smashed his into the big wooden bollard. We probably only lost a couple of strokes but fortunately didn’t lose the lead. Although we did damage one oar. 

The rest of the race proceeded fairly comfortably. The boat travelled straight and we let the rating drop to 30 spm over the last half of the race.  Our opposition were congratulatory and wished us, ‘but not too much’ luck since we are racing team mates ‘London A’ in our next race.  During the race Mum (riding in the umpires launch) was asked by the London coach what our average ergo scores were. Mum, having no idea what an ergo is stated that we average around 40 or so 41, 38, 39 etc. After a couple of confused moments and further requests for clarification in dawned on the London coach (Richard) that she was quoting our ages and was shocked into the realization that we are a masters crew.  

Tomorrow we race the cream of the London RC Wyfold contingent. Due to a freak occurrence of the draw we’ve managed to be selected in the same side as all 3 London RC crews. Like Sam said ‘we have to commit total London RC genocide’ to get through to the final, fortunately we’ve already raced the London B and C crews. Unfortunately since London A have already beaten all current opposition this year left in the competition, they are probably the crew to beat. Today they put on a show by setting one of the fastest times (6.47) for a 4- today, this time is within a few seconds of the international crews. They came came down the course approximately 20 seconds faster than us. Could we have gone 20 secs faster than we did today if really pushed? Perhaps not, but the obvious question is why did they feel the need to demonstrate such an obvious display of chest beating when they, also not pushed, had no need to waste energy in doing so. A crew totally confident in their ability would not have acted in such a way. Also, since we are the only crew they have not raced and had the measure of this season we can only conclude that the message was intended entirely for us. Everyone knows they have considerable speed, everyone knows they are hungry after the same crew was beaten over the closing stages of the Wyfold last year. But could they be (even ever so slightly) lacking in confidence. Could the fact that they know nothing about us, have never raced us be enough to bring some of this lack of confidence to the surface when it really counts? Within 24hours we all know!

Shane.

Note:  I probably should have noted that, ironically after yesterday's blog, I did in fact hit a timber bollard during today's race, exactly where I have been fearful of doing so ever since I started steering this course 2 weeks ago.  I can only guess that the Race Radio did not mention it, because none of you have given me any grief!  To my (and the crew's) great good fortune, I was already turning back to the centre when we struck, it was only my oar, and I was almost at the catch, so was able to absorb most of the shock.  Rad and Shane were right on to it and dropped that stroke so I wasn't pulled further into the booms.  Sam pulled his blade in the required 3 inches and missed the bollard I hit.  It all seemed to take for ever and my god was it loud, but watching the video later, we hardly seem to miss a beat.  Again, the great irony was that other than that one near disastrous incident, I steered my best course of the regatta.  Of course.  Jeff, damage to the oar is minor (promise) and is being fixed overnight by the Croker guy on site.  With half an ounce of luck, it'll be ready to go by 2pm tomorrow!

Which is the next point - tomorrow's race is against London A crew at 2:00pm GMT or 11:00pm EST, probably just after the Geelong finish smacking Essendon all around the park!  Go Cats!  And go us.

Cheers, Drew