After the disappointment of the Head of the River race in London being cancelled, VMBC sent a mens eight to Tyne regatta. On a sunny spring day with an uncharacteristically flat Tyne the eight were put through to a straight final against Newcastle Uni Boat Club and Tyne Rowing Club. The crew (Tom Arney, Pat Clark, Hugh McCrea, Ben Gascoigne, Jon Sanderson, Ed Fox, Dan Thompson, Ollie Poynton, coxed by Charlie Dowdle) leapt into a boat length lead off the start before being held by the opposing crews for a short period. As the other crews tired Crew Arney stayed strong and pulled away to take victory by 2 boat lengths.
The brilliant result will hopefully set the tone for the 2013 regatta season and will be joined by several more victories in the coming months.
Web Camera
VMBC Win IM3 8+ at Tyne Regatta
Novice racing at Yorkshire Head
Yorkshire Head saw eight members of the VMBC Novice Squad venture out of Durham for their first taste of competitive racing. It was a day of high drama, collective effort and controversial marshal decisions.
Unfortunately crew Clark (Heydari, Vidler, Fleming, Main coxed by P Clark) were victims of a questionable disqualification after boating slightly late and just missing the cut off time for reaching the start line. They were sent back and regrettably missed the race. However this should not deter from their commendable training preparations and enthusiasm. Had they been allowed to race they would no doubt have achieved a good result.
Similarly crew Poynton also boated slightly late and were forced to warm up with a 5km sprint to the start line. After a strong start crew Poynton (Cunningham, Windscheffel, Kacperek, Hipkin coxed by Poynton) looked poised to engage the IM3 four that set off one position ahead in their first overtake…and then strokes seat came of its slide dashing their chances. With Stroke holding his seat in his hands in disbelief bow three continued on rowing valiantly. After a few minutes of blank staring and unbelievable bad luck stroke was reunited with his seat. All four, clearly traumatised by the experience, did well to beast the second half of the race and cross the finish line in 22 minutes 14 seconds. Of course had they not spent themselves just reaching the start and managed to stay on their seats they obviously would have won. However according to ‘official’ results they came 8th…out of 8. Yet an impressive display of technique and endurance must not be overlooked and given the epic nature of the race this can only be seen as a good result and a promising foundation for the future.
Having displayed their resilience, enthusiasm and ever improving technique both crews did well and surely look destined for VMBC greatness….
Unfortunately crew Clark (Heydari, Vidler, Fleming, Main coxed by P Clark) were victims of a questionable disqualification after boating slightly late and just missing the cut off time for reaching the start line. They were sent back and regrettably missed the race. However this should not deter from their commendable training preparations and enthusiasm. Had they been allowed to race they would no doubt have achieved a good result.
Similarly crew Poynton also boated slightly late and were forced to warm up with a 5km sprint to the start line. After a strong start crew Poynton (Cunningham, Windscheffel, Kacperek, Hipkin coxed by Poynton) looked poised to engage the IM3 four that set off one position ahead in their first overtake…and then strokes seat came of its slide dashing their chances. With Stroke holding his seat in his hands in disbelief bow three continued on rowing valiantly. After a few minutes of blank staring and unbelievable bad luck stroke was reunited with his seat. All four, clearly traumatised by the experience, did well to beast the second half of the race and cross the finish line in 22 minutes 14 seconds. Of course had they not spent themselves just reaching the start and managed to stay on their seats they obviously would have won. However according to ‘official’ results they came 8th…out of 8. Yet an impressive display of technique and endurance must not be overlooked and given the epic nature of the race this can only be seen as a good result and a promising foundation for the future.
Having displayed their resilience, enthusiasm and ever improving technique both crews did well and surely look destined for VMBC greatness….
WeHoRR 2013
On Saturday 9th March, VMBC Women's 1st VIII (Jess Barton, Mairi Shepherd, Imogen Baylis, Anne-Marie Graetz, Heather Reay, Ellie Willett, Charlotte Bambridge, Fran Nuttall, cox: Anna Fawcett) competed in the Women's Eights Head of the River. The crew trained hard for this event throughout Epiphany Term, with weekly outings on the Tyne (the current location of Trust in Mildert) as well as focused land training and other races in the North East as preparation. The crew was very lucky to be joined by Anna Fawcett (Men’s Captain) as cox for WeHoRR and the races running up to it, who was invaluable to the morale and training of the group.
Mildert went into WeHoRR with a strong standing amongst the other Durham colleges, having finished 3rd at Hayward Cup, behind Hatfield and John Snow, and 5th at snowy Tyne Head, with Grey and Hatfield being the only colleges to finish ahead.
Trailering, as ever, was not without its complications, with the eight arriving in Barnes to discover that the foot stretcher of VII seat had completely vanished. Thanks to a foot stretcher loaned from Emmanuel School BC and some spare bolts from Marlow RC, the crew were unphased by this minor setback, and calmly prepared to race, with a crowd of VMBC parents and supporters providing great support.
Disadvantaged by the draw, which was done in alphabetical order by category, VMBC went off at number 185, behind University College London BC. Mildert powered through the first section of the race, helped by a strong stream, and held off a challenge from the University of Worcester BC between Hammersmith and Fulham, and finished in style, overtaking another crew on the line.
The crew finished 188th, with a time of 21.27.22, narrowly missing out on the 3rd place of the Durham colleges, with Hild Bede finishing a frustrating 0.32 seconds ahead. This result was a very respectable finish from the crew, and a great end to the head season for the women’s squad. VMBC has shown that it is a force to be reckoned with, so the regatta season promises further success for the women!
Mildert went into WeHoRR with a strong standing amongst the other Durham colleges, having finished 3rd at Hayward Cup, behind Hatfield and John Snow, and 5th at snowy Tyne Head, with Grey and Hatfield being the only colleges to finish ahead.
Trailering, as ever, was not without its complications, with the eight arriving in Barnes to discover that the foot stretcher of VII seat had completely vanished. Thanks to a foot stretcher loaned from Emmanuel School BC and some spare bolts from Marlow RC, the crew were unphased by this minor setback, and calmly prepared to race, with a crowd of VMBC parents and supporters providing great support.
Disadvantaged by the draw, which was done in alphabetical order by category, VMBC went off at number 185, behind University College London BC. Mildert powered through the first section of the race, helped by a strong stream, and held off a challenge from the University of Worcester BC between Hammersmith and Fulham, and finished in style, overtaking another crew on the line.
The crew finished 188th, with a time of 21.27.22, narrowly missing out on the 3rd place of the Durham colleges, with Hild Bede finishing a frustrating 0.32 seconds ahead. This result was a very respectable finish from the crew, and a great end to the head season for the women’s squad. VMBC has shown that it is a force to be reckoned with, so the regatta season promises further success for the women!