Henley Thames Cup Quarter-finalists

Club Sculls Photos

The Club Sculling Championship was held on Sunday over the usual course from the Pink House to the boathouse. After missing last year's race Mike Ewing re-established himself as the club's fastest sculler and Sakti Narayan flummoxed the handicappers and took the Finlayson Cup for the sealed handicap race. Mark O'Brien got the better of Tom Bishop for the first time and finished second overall, but Tom still managed a top-five placing. Willy Almand tweeked his back setting off from the boathouse and was unable to compete, but his son, Ken, finished third.

Full results of the sculling race may be found at ../sculling/results.php?ref=2016.

With all competitors back on the shore and washed and changed the club's annual general meeting commenced at 12:00 noon and followed the usual format with the exception that a new president was elected to fill the vacancy created when Dick Hylton-Smith died last year. With a rule change to allow the president to be elected for a term rather than for life as previously, John Peters was elected president for the next five years. Mike Kidd was elected as a vice-president to replace John. For the remaining posts, as the number of nominations matched the number of vacancies on the committee, there was no need for any voting, and the following were duly elected to assist Mark Chatwin, who takes up his position as captain after being elected in July:

• Vice-captain: Rob Williams
• Honorary Secretary: Malcolm Cook
• Honorary Treasurer: Bill Burbage
• Committee:
  • Anthony Briggs
  • Duncan Hughes
  • Dave King
  • Graham Lloyd
  • Geoff Peel

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2431.

We are awaiting first-hand reports from Copenhagen, but meanwhile here are the raw statistics and the results of all our races (as shown on the official website).

Copenhagen Photos

Tom Bishop won seven events (Masters G eights, Masters G coxed fours, Masters F & G double sculls, Masters F & G single sculls, Mixed Masters F quad sculls) while Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel and Ian Hyslop won Masters F coxed fours. There was also a near-miss for Geoff, Tom, Steve and Ian in Masters F quad sculls, when they came second to a Danish crew by 0.43 of a second (a canvas).

Thursday, 8th September

Event 117 Heat 2 - Men's F4-

Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop.

Event 122 Heat 4 - Men's G4x

Charles Parry (Wallingford RC), Tom Bishop, Sean Morris (WRC), Colin Cusack (WRC).

Event 132 Heat 10 - Men's F1x

Tom Bishop.

Event 139 Heat 2 - Men's G4+

Charles Parry (WRC), Tom Bishop, Sean Morris (WRC), Colin Cusack (WRC, Raechel Haycock (WRC).

Friday, 9th September

Event 211 Heat 2 - Men's F2x

Steve Aquilina, Ian Hyslop.

Event 211 Heat 9 - Men's F2x

Charles Parry (WRC), Tom Bishop.

Event 216 Heat 3 - Men's G4-

Charles Parry (WRC), Tom Bishop, Sean Morris (WRC), Colin Cusack (WRC).

Event 235 Heat 7 - Men's G1x

Tom Bishop.

Saturday, 10th September

Event 304 Heat 2 - Men's F4+

Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop, Emily Booker

Event 311 Heat 8 - Men's G2x

Charles Parry (Wallingford RC), Tom Bishop.

Event 315 Heat 3 - Men's E4-

Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop.

Event 326 Heat 3 - Men's G8+

Charles Parry (WRC), Steve Banks (Ardingly RC), Ian Andrews (ARC), Colin Barratt (ARC), Robert Milligan (Poplar b & D RC), Tom Bishop, Sean Morris (WRC), Colin Cusack (WRC), Rachael Haycock (WRC).

Event 336 Heat 5- Men's F4x

Geoff Peel, Tom Bishop, Steve Aquilina, Ian Hyslop.

Sunday 11th September

Event 412 Heat 1 - Mixed E8+

Tom Bishop in a composite with MAABC and WRC.

Event 423 Heat 2 - Mixed F4x

Hilary Cook (MAABC), Tom Bishop, John Appleby (Durham ARC), Âilie Ord (Strathclyde Park RC)

Take a look at the final position of the 2016 season Potwinners Chart where Tom Bishop yet again reigns supreme with thirteen wins.

Some photographs from the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2425.

The Cup Returns to QBC

This Sunday, as well as being the first day of our autumn Learn to Row Course, was also occupied by the annual Hilda Mitchell Cup races, followed by a barbecue. The Hilda Mitchell Trophy was originally donated in 1921 for an annual best-of-three competition between QBC and our then neighbours, Ibis. A couple of years ago we resurrected the trophy for a similar competition against Putney Town. Putney Town had won two years running, and we wanted revenge. The races are held over the Chiswick Regatta course, with the statuses and boat types agreed each year between the two clubs. This year's races were for an IM2 eight, a Masters E eight (i.e. average age over 55) and a women's IM3 four. We are happy to report that Quintin won all three races and the cup has returned to the club's safe keeping.

A photograph of the preentation of the cup may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2423.

The draw is out for the World Masters, to be held this year in Copenhagen and a small Quintin contingent of five male athletes will be competing. Between them they will be taking part in thirteen men's events plus who knows how many mixed events (which are arranged during the course of the regatta). Here is a list of the men's events we are involved in:

• Thursday, 8th September
  • Event 117 Men's F4- Heat 2 - 11:31 (Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop)
  • Event 122 Men's G4x Heat 4 - 12:47 (Tom Bishop in a composite with Wallingford RC)
  • Event 132 Men's F1x Heat 10 - 15:34 (Tom Bishop)
  • Event 139 Men's G4+ Heat 2 - 17:03 (Tom Bishop in a composite with Wallingford RC)
• Friday, 9th September
  • Event 211 Men's F2x Heat 2 - 9:29 (Steve Aquilina and Ian Hyslop)
  • Event 211 Men's F2x Heat 9 - 9:50 (Tom Bishop and Charles Parry of Wallingford RC)
  • Event 216 Men's G4- Heat 3 - 11:13 (Tom Bishop in a composite with Wallingford RC)
  • Event 235 Men's G1x Heat 7 - 15:41 (Tom Bishop)
• Saturday, 10th September
  • Event 304 Men's F4+ Heat 2 - 9:00 (Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop + cox)
  • Event 311 Men's G2x Heat 8 - 10:29 (Tom Bishop and Charles Parry of Wallingford RC)
  • Event 315 Men's E4- Heat 3 - 11:29 (Huw Jones, Steve Aquilina, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop)
  • Event 326 Men's G8+ Heat 3 - 14:17 (Tom Bishop in a composite with Ardingly, Poplar B & D and Wallingford)
  • Event 336 Men's F 4x Heat 5 - 16:40 (Geoff Peel, Tom Bishop, Steve Aquilina, Ian Hyslop)

The full details of all races may be found at http://wrmr.dk/startlist/.

It was, as usual, a busy weekend at Stourport Regatta this year with plenty of racing and celebrating a great season to be done.

Across the weekend, QBC picked up wins in a number of small boat events. In mixed double sculls, Matt Denley with Caris Marsh (MAA) won Seniors on Saturday and Max Murdock with Emily Walters (TSS) were successful in IM2 on both days. Also on Saturday over the 1100m course, Mark Chatwin and Rob Williams overturned a 5 second head start to comfortably beat Stourport in their Masters B/C coxless pairs final, Josh Healey Lapena and Alex Burton won the IM3 double sculls and in an excellent row, Kierhan Brown and Phil Theron topped off their first season with a win in the Novice double sculls, despite very little time spent sculling. Congratulations to Josh, Kierhan and Phil who all won their novice sculling point.

Unfortunately, our other boats were a bit too mixed or scratch (or inventive with steering!) to come away with a win, the most ‘varied’ being a mixed VIII with QBC, MAA, TSS and Bewdley making up the crew, coxed by Stourport.

It was good to welcome Rob Forster and Lewis Protheroe, joining our men's squad, in their first QBC races. They'll be training with a number of other new members adding to our growing and increasingly successful intermediate and senior squads. Thanks to Graham Lloyd for towing and Stourport for being as welcoming as always, in particular Jo Fuller for her assistance with a crew injury.

Could this be the final position for the 2016 Potwinners Chart?

(Rob Williams)

It's the annual pilgrimage to Stourport this weekend, with 1100m racing on Saturday and 650m racing on Sunday, with much self-indulgence in between.

Our Saturday entries and first races are as follows:

• 09:12 - a heat of novice single sculls for Josh Healey Lapena against James Evry of Wadham College, Oxford
• 10:33 - a semi-final of novice double sculls for Phil Theron and Kierhan Brown against Stourport
• 10:39 - a semi-final of mixed IM2 double sculls for Max Murdock and Emily Wlaters of TSS against Monmouth
• 10:45 - mixed Senior quad semi-final against Stourport
• 11:42 - a straight final in IM1 double sculls for Alex Miller and Gregory Flower of the University of the West of England against Stourport
• 11:45 - a straight final in mixed Senior double sculls for Caris Marsh and Matt Denley against Loughborough
• 11:48 - a straight final in Masters B/C coxless pairs for our 'B' pair of Mark Chatwin and Rob Williams against a Stourport 'C' pair
• 12:15 - a semi-final of IM3 single sculls for Alex Burton against the winner of Nottingham RC and Yarra Yarra RC (Australia)
• 12:24 - an IM3 coxed fours semi-final against Grosvenor
• 14:36 - the final of IM3 double sculls for Alex Burton and Josh Healey Lapena against the winners of Nottingham and Evesham
• 16:24 - a mixed IM1 composite eight with Bewdley racing a 100% Bewdley eight in a straight final.

And on Sunday:

• 09:15 - a heat of mixed IM2 double sculls for Max Murdock and Emily Wlaters of TSS against Loughborough
• 09:19 - a heat of IM3 coxed fours against Hereford RC
• 10:27 - a semi-final of women's masters 'A' double sculls for Caris Marsh and Beks Edgar against Loughborough
• 10:30 - a semi-final of IM3 double sculls for Alex Burton and Josh Healey Lapena against Worcester
• 11:48 - a semi-final of mixed IM1 double sculls for Caris Marsh and Matt Denley against Bewdley
• 12:12 - a semi-final of novice single sculls for Josh Healey Lapena against Upton RC
• 12:30 - a semi-final of open IM1 double sculls for Caris Marsh and Matt Denley against Bewdley
• 14:57 - a final in IM3 single sculls for Alex Burton against the winner of Saturday's event or a Stourport sculler
• 15:57 - a straight final of novice double sculls for Phil Theron and Kierhan Brown against Upton RC
• 16:54 - mixed IM1 eights final of a QBC/ TSS/ Bewdley/ MAA composite against Warwick

Good luck everybody and take it easy on the curry!

Winners of IM1 quad sculls

Alex Burton is still trying to win his first IM3 single sculls race! Today he came third to G. Piggot of Southampton Coalporters and T. Brook of Wallingford RC. Piggot beat Brook by 3 lengths in 3 min. 38 sce, with Alex a further 1½ lengths behind. But today's good news is that our IM1 quad scull of Mark Chatwin (bow, steers), Anthony Briggs, Matt Denley and Alex Miller won their event in a straight final against two crews from Stratford-upon-Avon RC. Mark reports, "We had a quick start which established an early lead, interesting steering from the top Stratford quad which pushed across into the middle (Quintin's station). We then sat a length up and controlled the race and won by just over a length." The time recorded was 3 min. 2sec. and the official verdict was one length over the faster Stratford crew, with the second Stratford quad a further three lengths behind.

the 2016 Potwinners Chart now has 32 entries.

A photograph of the winning IM1 quad may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2419.

The club has two entries for Henley Town & Visitors' Regatta on Saturday. Alex Burton has entered Intermediate 3 single sculls and has a first heat in a field of seventeen entries against T. Brook of Wallingford RC and G. Piggot of Southampton Coalporters ARC. Our other entry is in Intermediate 1 quadruple sculls where our crew has a straight final against two quads from Stratford-upon-Avon RC.

Rusty in the 1965 HoRR

We have heard of the recent unexpected death of Peter "Rusty" Palmer, who was a prominent oarsman in the club in the 1960s and, as a veteran, in the 1970s and early 1980s. Rusty won Junior (IM3) eights at Chiswick in 1965. Chiswick was at the end of May and Bob Slade held the crew back for a hometown win at Chiswick. This almost backfired as the B crew (probably coming up through Novices), coached by Bob's pairs partner Norman Webster took them to ¾ of a length. The B crew was obviously in inferior equipment.

Rusty in the 1981 HoRR

Rusty in the 1976 HoRR

Rusty was a regular in the lower order eights that Quintin fielded in the 1970s and 1980s head races and was usually to be seen rowing with Tim Firminger, Ray "Tubby" Lawrence and Alec Field, among others.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=137.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=220.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=172.

Alex Burton is sculling at Molesey Regatta on Saturday, in both novice and IM3 single sculls. His novice first round heat is against Lindstrom of London RC at 9:34 and his IM3 heat is against Coxhead of Weybridge RC at 14:11.

The full race timetable may be found at http://moleseyregatta.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016-Saturdaytimetable-2.pdf.

Alex Burton was competing in IM3 single sculls at Kingston Regatta on Saturday. He lost in the first round to Langstone of the University of London Boat Club. Alex was also stroking an IM3 coxed four which lost to Kingston RC in the semi-final. Results may be found at http://www.kingstonregatta.co.uk/results.htm.

This year's Henley Masters Regatta did not entirely produce results the club has come to expect. This was partly because entries had closed three days after opening and before the Quintin entry had been submitted. The upshot of this was that the squad were eventually offered places in two events as a result of scratchings - 'E' eights and 'F' coxed fours. These were not events that would have been entered out of choice and the squad was also depleted by the non-availability of personnel to race on the Friday.

The 'E' eight, which was actually eligible for the 'F' category, had a tough race against Marlow RC, with Marlow gradually edging out to a 2/3 length margin at the finish. Marlow then went on to beat Star Club, bronze medal winners at Nottingham a month ago, by one length before losing to a German composite by one length in the final.

The 'F' coxed four had had little opportunity to train in the coxed boat and were well beaten (2¼ lengths) by Crabtree in the semi-final. Crabtree went on to beat a German composite by a canvas in a closely contested final.

Our saving grace, as ever, was Tom Bishop, whose entries in Quintin / Wallingford composite 'G' double sculls and quadruple sculls had beaten the early closure deadline and resulted in two victories. In the double sculls Tom and his Wallingford partner Charles Parry beat Llandaff RC easily in the semi-final and Ardingly by 4 lengths in the final. In the quad they beat Mortlake Anglian and Alpha easily in the semi-final and Crefelder RC from Germany by 1 1/3 lengths in the final.

Tom has taken a firm grip at the head of the Potwinners Chart.

Full results of all the races on Friday and Saturday may be found at http://www.henleymastersregatta.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HMR-2016Results-Final.pdf.

1960 Senior Four

(from Cedric Nowell)

Sad news from Ottawa. Brian died at 6 a.m. this morning and both his daughters were with him at the hospital. Cause of death was complications following an elective hospital procedure. During the last five months he had many struggles following three strokes during January that left him unable to move without assistance. His eldest daughter moved him to Ottawa from Montreal, closer to friends and family and he was making good progress in recovery. Last week I was with Brian and we watched the England vs. Iceland football match together. He was in good spirits despite the score. He learnt to row at the Quintin Grammar School and during 1958 - 1964 stroked successful IVs and VIIIs for Quintin Boat Club.

A photograph featuring Brian may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=113.

The club is once again competing at Henley Masters Regatta next weekend, although this year it was a close-run thing as we failed to get all our entries in before they were closed three days after opening due to over-subscription. Fortunately we were able to get on the waiting list and, as the result of other crews scratching, have entries in men's 'E' eights and 'F' coxed fours as well as the 'C' quad sculls composite and 'G' double sculls composite that had beaten the early closure. Our first crew to compete is the 'E' eight, which has drawn the Berkshire station against Marlow Rowing Club at 10:16 on Friday morning. The winners of this race have the Bucks station against Star Club in the semi-final at 16:32. Next on is the 'C' quad of Ken Almand, Don and Dave Dickson and Richard Radcliffe, who take the Berks station against Favorite Hammonia from Germany at 17:32. Our last race on Friday is the semi-final of 'F' coxed fours, where we meet the winners of the earlier heat between Star Club and Crabtree, again taking the Berkshire station.

On Saturday Tom Bishop and his Wallingford partner Charles Parry take on the winners of Llandaff vs. Leichhardt RC from Australia in the semi-final of 'G' double sculls. The final for this event is at 17:08. Times for other finals: 'E' eights 13:48; 'C' quads 14:20; 'F' coxed fours 14:32.

The full timetable of racing may be found at http://www.henleymastersregatta.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2016-Schedule-@-280616.pdf.

Our first eight took on University Barge Club from Philadelphia, U.S.A. this afternoon in a quarter-final of the Thames Cup and in a memorable race took an early lead to pass the Barrier in 1 minute 58 seconds. University Barge Club then got back on terms and edged a lead of about a canvas, passing Fawley in 3 minutes 21 seconds, a lead which barely changed until the final spurt along the enclosures. Only in the last 40 strokes did University Barge Club really exert their dominance to squeeze out a victorious margin of one length, in a time of 6 minutes 54 seconds. It was a gallant performance by an ever-improving Quintin crew, as the race video testifies.

Here is the video of today's race: ... the video of today's race may be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/v/UAoQGjVd0iQ

For details of the crew and a summary of their three days' racing see our Henley Records.

Quintin Boat Club rowed themselves into the quarter-finals of the Thames Cup today with a convincing win of 1½ lengths over the selected German crew from the Rudern, Tennis und Hockey Club Bayer Leverkusen. Their time to the barrier of 1 min. 55 sec. was the fourth fastest of the day in the event, consolidating on their fine performance in yesterday's heat when they had clocked the fourth fastest times to the barrier and to Fawley and then relaxed their 2½ length lead over University of Bristol alumni Nonesuch BC to win by ¾ length. We wish them the best of luck in tomorrow's quarter-final against the Americans from the University Barge Club, Philadelphia.

(Editor's note: In the first edition of this article it was stated that Quintin's time to the Barrier was 1 minute 50 seconds, as shown on the Henley Royal Regatta website live results feed. This proved to be inaccurate: the actual time was 1 minute 55 seconds.)

Here is the video of today's race: ... the video of today's race may be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/v/P3c7y9JP6iQ

... and here is the video of yesterday's race: ... the video of yesterday's race may be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/v/MEpZHL53vSQ

It is with sadness we announce the death yesterday afternoon of one-time Quintin member John Muir. In his heyday John's main club was Thames RC but in the 1970s he featured from time to time in the Quintin first eight and he represented the club at Henley Royal Regatta in the Wyfold Cup in 1975. John was also a prominent member of the Skiff Club in the 1970s, with John Peters as his doubles partner.

For those of you who have not looked up the Henley draw, our Thames Cup crew will be racing Nonesuch BC (University of Bristol alumni) at 6:30pm on Wednesday.

We have three scullers competing at Richmond Regatta on Saturday - Holly McEllhone, Mark O'Brien and Alex Burton. All support gratefully received.

The club has two eights entered for Henley Royal Regatta, both in the Thames Cup event. The first eight has been accepted directly into the regatta proper but the second eight has to qualify through a time trial. This will take place this coming Friday. There are 55 entries for a 32-boat event and so the Stewards have organised three groups of twelve crews with the fastest thirteen crews qualifying. Our eight is the last crew in the second group, whose time trial commences at 2:53pm. All support along the towpath would be greatly appreciated.

Quintin sent both their Thames Cup crews to Marlow Regatta at Eton Dorney on Saturday, with our first VIII racing Senior and the second in the IM3 (club) category. The format for racing was that all crews in each event took part in a 1900m time trial and were then allocated to the appropriate "final" (A, B, C, etc.) based on this performance.

The IM3 VIII, many of whom joined through last year's Learn to Row programme and racing in their first multi-lane regatta, had a strong time trial, finishing fifth just seven seconds behind the fastest crew and qualified for the A final. They completed the final to finish in the same position (fifth).

Our Senior crew didn't fair quite so well in their time trial, finishing seventh to miss out on the A final by one place (less than one second). A mixture of crew focus and a substantial distance gained on preceding crew Nonesuch leading to a long period rowing in their wash, resultied in the disappointing position. Out to prove they should have been an A final crew, Quintin led the B race from the start, moving away from the field over the course to finish six seconds ahead of second placed University of London. Comparable to the A final which followed, their time would have been very competitive in that race too, placing them fifth.

Editor's Note

The above times are taken from the official results, but we have been reliably informed that the Quintin crew were in the lead with clear water by the 500m mark. Given that throughout the programme a number of split times were not recorded it wold appear that the timing system was experiencing difficulties and it is suggested that all times be digested with a large pinch of salt.

Molesey won the 'A' final with a 3½ second margin over Westminster School in a time of 5:48.984.

Full results from the regatta may be found at http://www.themarlowregatta.com/results/results/2016/, but beware, they are quite cumbersome to navigate.

Quintin had six entries in this local regatta on Saturday. Early on, race 4 saw our IM3 coxed four racing Tideway Scullers and HSBC. A disappointing row meant a third place but only by a small margin to HSBC. TSS went on to win the event. Mark O'Brien was up next racing a previous IM3 opponent, sculler Chapman from Vesta and Foden from Sons of the Thames. As before this tough category meant Mark had an early exit from the regatta. Our women's IM3 coxed four competed with Putney High School and Team Keane. Our girls raced well but could not hold on for a win losing by just over 2 lengths. Alex Burton then raced in novice sculls losing to Watkins of Barn Elms. Early in the afternoon, our women's novice double scull raced Putney High School (again) - and unfortunately with a similar result. The final club interest involved a novice coxed four. Our crew got off to a decent start but lack of fitness meant the early lead could not be sustained and the result was a loss by 2½ lengths to Vesta.

Editor's Note: 500m split times added to results since first publication.

Celebrating our wins

This year's British Rowing Masters Championships proved quite a challenge for our "supervets" squad as the programme format had been changed from previous years, with boat categories being raced in divisions. This had two effects on our entries: we were unable to double up on boat usage and we were unable to construct crews for a particular boat class in different age categories using personnel common to more than one crew as had been our practice. In previous years we had been able to enter (and win!) three eights events using just twelve oarsmen and one boat. When the timetable was published a third effect was observed - some of the events had very short intervals between heats and finals. It was not going to be easy to maintain our normal high standard of successful races and yet we managed to collect eight gold medals and one bronze from a squad of twelve oarsmen and two coxswains. Not only that but we clinched second place in the Victor Ludorum table, which was topped by Wallingford RC with a considerably larger squad.

And so on to the race reports - eighteen in total! As was established last year the programme was divided for the championship events into sculling races on Saturday and sweep oar events on Sunday. Saturday was overcast but warm and humid with, if anything at all, a slight tail wind. Our first race was a heat of Masters F quadruple sculls with arch-rivals Ardingly in the same heat. This heat was just to eliminate one crew and so no great fireworks were expected, however Quintin and Ardingly were neck-and-neck all the way and at the finish just 0.64 sec. separated them, Ardingly with their bows in front.

Saturday Race 111 - 09:44: Masters F 4x Heat - 4 to final

The final was an hour and forty minutes later - not much of a rest - but Quintin beat Ardingly by a convincing four seconds with Star Club squeezed in between. The winning crew: Geoff Peel (bow, steers), Graham Bagnall, Steve Aquilina, Ian Hyslop (stroke).

Saturday Race 136 - 11:24: Masters F 4x FINAL

Steve and Ian were back on the lake after a quick turnaround for the 12:00 heat of Masters F double sculls, this to eliminate one crew from a six-boat heat. They commanded this heat from the start and did just enough to cross the line first.

Saturday Race 142 - 12:00: Masters F 2x - Heat - 5 to final

Half an hour later Tom Bishop cruised to qualification for the final in a heat of Masters G single sculls, crossing the line a comfortable six seconds ahead of his closest rival.

Saturday Race 151 - 12:36: Masters G 1x Heat 2 - 3 to final

An hour and a half later Tom was back at the start to contest the final, which he won handsomely by 9½ seconds.

Saturday Race 174- 14:08: Masters G 1x - FINAL

Steve and Ian then raced their F doubles final, with a comfortable win over Weybridge, who had been closer to them in the heat.

Saturday Race 186 - 14:56: Masters F 2x - FINAL

The next race involving the club had a double interest, with Tom Bishop and his partner Charles Parry from Wallingford RC racing against Geoff Peel and Graham Bagnall of Quintin in a four-boat race. The winner automatically qualified for the final, but, in a three heat elimination round, the three fastest losers from all the heats would also qualify. Tom and Charles won their heat comfortably, beating Geoff and Graham by 11 seconds, but the latter's time was good enough to see them into the final. This was won by Tom and Charles in a battle-royal against Colin Barratt and Ian Andrews of Ardingly, beating them with a final push by 2.48 seconds. Geoff and Graham finished fifth.

Saturday Race 199 - 16:00 Masters G 2x - Heat - Winner to final + 3 fastest heat losers

Saturday Race 231 - 18:00: Masters G 2x -FINAL

So, the Quintin tally after Saturday's racing, two gold medals for Steve, Ian and Tom and a gold each for Geoff and Graham.

The Sunday weather followed on from Saturday although a slight head wind picked up during the morning. This was followed by intermittently persistent rain, although the wind died down to perfectly still racing conditions later in the afternoon. First to compete for Quintin after an early departure from London was the Masters E coxless four, racing in a heat at 9:24 with three to progress to the final. This heat was very close with less than two seconds coverling all four crews, but Quintin held back a little, just keeping a Wallingford / Upper Thames composite at bay to qualify in third place.

Sunday Race 306 - 9:24: Masters E 4- - Heat 1 - 3 to final

An hour and a half later Quintin had another race with double interest. This was the final of Masters G coxless fours, a three-boat race with Tom Bishop and his Wallingford buddies racing against Ardingly (again) and the all-Quintin crew of Andrew Bramah, Graham Bagnall, Geoff Peel and Roger Hine. Tom's crew just held off a strong challenge from Ardingly to win. The all Quintin crew had a disappointing race, were dropped at the start and were never in the mix.

Sunday Race 327 - 10:48: Masters G 4- - FINAL

At 11:20 our Masters E coxless four were at the start for their final. From the start, Quintin leapt from the blocks to a commanding lead within 30 strokes. By halfway, the four were two lengths up on the field and were able to ease off to win with something in hand.

Sunday Race 335 - 11:20: Masters E 4- - FINAL

The same four oarsmen returned to the start pontoon less than an hour later, joined by coxswain Hilary Cook in a heat of Masters E coxed fours. Only the winning crew automatically reserved a place in the final in this event and Quintin managed to grab the place over Nottingham RC with a 1½ second margin.

Sunday Race 347 - 12:34: Masters E 4+ - Heat 3 - Winner to final + 3 fastest heat losers

Eight minutes later our Masters F coxed four were racing in their eliminating heat (fastest three to the final) and they qualified in second place behind Upper Thames.

Sunday Race 349 - 12:42: Masters F 4+ - Heat 2 - 3 to final

Our two coxed fours finals took place about an hour later, but with the F four going off before the E four. There was a fierce battle for the gold medals, with Star Club just squeezing out Upper Thames by 0.24 seconds, with Quintin third a further two seconds behind. The bronze medal winners: Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop, Charles Harrison, Pete Meaney, with Jane Adams coxing.

Sunday Race 365 - 13:46: Masters F 4+ - FINAL

For the E coxed four, the final was just one race too many. The close proximity of the races was too much and they didn't have the legs to make it another win with such quality opposition. The gold medals went to York City and the silver to Grosvenor, with Upper Thames taking the bronze, squeezing Quintin out of the medals by just 4/100ths of a second.

Sunday Race 368 - 13:58: Masters E 4+ - FINAL

At last, the big guns! A heat of Masters E eights, followed by the final of Masters F eights and then the E final. Because of the programme restrictions Quintin teamed up in the E eights with their colleagues from the Tyrian Club, much as they had done in the Veterans Head of the River, with Quintin in the bows and Tyrian in the stern. Prospects were good as the Quintin four had already won E coxless fours and the Tyrian four had won D coxless fours. After the hard racing in the fours the eight took it steadily in the heat as only one crew was to be eliminated. The London / Crabtree / Jesus composite contrarily went pretty hard, winning by over five seconds, but looked distinctly tired after they had crossed the line.

Sunday Race 381 - 15:06: Masters E 8+ - Heat - 5 to final

The Masters F eight was an all-Quintin affair and had a straight final against three other crews. These notably included Durham ARC whom we have raced in either E or F category at the National Masters every year since 2010, always as the faster crew! This year was no exception, but Durham always give you a hard race and they took an early lead of "one man" which they maintained until the 500m mark. At this point Quintin started to creep ahead, taking the boat home with forty strokes to go. Durham had a late surge but the final deficit was 1.07 seconds. As has often been the case in these clashes the other opposition were ten or more seconds behind. The winning crew: Graham Bagnall (bow), Roger Hine, Andrew Bramah, Tom Bishop, Geoff Peel, Ian Hyslop, Charles Harrison, Pete Meaney (stroke), Jane Adams (cox).

Sunday Race 403 - 16:34: Masters F 8+ - FINAL

Then the last race of the day, the final of Masters E eights, where the Quintin / Tyrian composite proved too strong for London / Crabtree / Jesus. Despite some very weary QBC bodies, a very exciting final race developed. Tyrian/QBC made a strong start and settled well over the first 500m, where they found themselves neck and neck with London and also Star Club. A really effective rowing stroke and rhythm gave our Tyrian/QBC crew a real sense of confidence. The crew then surged ahead, and as planned surged ahead again with an increasing rate over the second half of the course. Tyrian/QBC won by clear water for a final magnificent and memorable victory. Note the "negative fade" over the second half of the course! The winning crew: Huw Jones (bow), Steve Aquilina, Fred Jefferies, Richard Lonergan, Jeremy Page (Tyrian), Julian Rodd (Tyrian), Bill Downing (Tyrian), Graham Faultless (Stroke, Tyrian), Andrew Probert (cox, Tyrian).

Sunday Race 412 - 17:10: Masters E 8+ - FINAL

Victor Ludorum Points

Wallingford: 433; Quintin 312; Monmouth 303; Upper Thames 230.

Congratulations to all the winners, in particular to Steve Aquilina and Tom Bishop who bagged four gold medals each. They had to work for their rewards: Steve had ten 1000m races over the weekend and Tom had six. Take a look at the Potwinners Chart.

Results of all the heats and finals may be found at http://www.masterschamps.org/downloads/brmc16-Long-Results-Saturday.pdf and http://www.masterschamps.org/downloads/brmc16-Long-Results-Sunday.pdf.

A photograph of most of the squad may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2406.

The club has a number of entries for the British Rowing Masters Championships, which are to be held over two days next weekend. Sculling events take place on Saturday and sweep-oar events on Sunday. The order of racing for Quintin crews is as follows:

Saturday 11 June - Sculling

• 09:44 Race 111: F 4x- against Ardingly, Putney Town and Star Club - first 3 to final at 11:24
• 12:00 Race 142: F 2x (Steve Aquilina and Ian Hyslop) against Yare, Runcorn, Derby/Derwent, Weybridge and MAABC - first 3 to final at 14:56
• 12:36 Race 151: G1x (Tom Bishop) against John McMahon (Grosvenor), Andrew Westcott (Greenbank) and David Wragg (Nottingham) - first 3 to final at 14:08
• 16:00 Race 199: G2x (Geoff Peel and Graham Bagnall) against Stourport, Sudbury and QBC/Wallingford composite (Tom Bishop and Charles Parry) - winner to final plus 3 fastest losers from the 3 heats
• 16:28 Race 206: F 1x (Jonathan Ferris) against T. Kitto (Upper Thames), Andy Jaggard (Durham ARC), Brian Chapman (Grosvenor), Duncan Ferguson (Tyne United) and Robert "Migsy" Milligan (Poplar B & D) - first 3 to final at 18:20

Sunday 12 June - Sweep Oar

• 09:24 Race 306: E 4- against Wallingford/Upper Thames, Greenbank and Broxbourne - first 3 to final at 11:20
• 10:48 Race 327: G & H 4- FINAL our G 4- against Ardingly/Poplar (G), Wallingford/QBC (Tom Bishop) (G), Weybridge/Nottingham (H) and Minerva/Ardingly/Upper Thames (H)
• 12:34 Race 347: E4+ against Warwick, Nottingham, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Bentham/Shoreham - winner and fastest 3 losers from 3 heats to final at 13:58
• 12:42 Race 349: F4+ against Ross, Durham ARC, Upper Thames and Broxbourne - first 3 to final at 13:46
• 15:06 Race 381:E8+ our composite with Tyrian against London/Crabtree/Jesus Coll, Oxford, Grosvenor, Marlow, Star Club and Tees - first 5 meet Thames/Vesta in the final at 17:10
• 16:34 Race 403: F & H 8+ FINAL - our F8+ against Durham ARC (F), Bristol Ariel (F), Belfast (F), Weybridge/Nottingham (H) and Monmouth/Bewdley (H)

Alex Burton was competing in Intermediate 3 single sculls at Peterborough at the weekend. In his four-lane heat in a field of sixteen scullers on Saturday he finished third in a time of 4 min. 8 sec. The strong head wind meant that times were fairly slow. The eventual winner in the final was Parker of Nottingham, with Richardson of Globe fourth.

Saturday: IM3 Single Sculls: Heat 1

On Sunday the conditions were even less favourable, but Alex fared somewhat better in the field of eight, winning his two-man heat but then finishing fourth in the final.

Sunday: IM3 Single Sculls: Heat 1

Sunday: IM3 Single Sculls: Final

Full results of all of Saturday's races may be found at http://www.peterboroughcityrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sat-4th-June-2016-Results.pdf and for Sunday at http://www.peterboroughcityrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sun-5th-June-2016-%E2%80%93-Results.pdf.

The club had a number of entries at the two-day Metropolitan Regatta this year. We await an eye witness report, but meanwhile here are the results for Quintin crews and single scullers:

Saturday Race 25: Intermediate 3 1 x- Heat 1

Saturday Race 55: Intemediate 1 1x - Heat 1

Saturday Race 111: Senior 8 - Final

Sunday Race 35: Elite 8 Semi-final AB2

Sunday Race 72: Elite 8 Final B

Sunday Race 88: Intermediate 2 4+ Final

Full results of all the races may be found at http://metregatta.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-Saturday-Results-Provisional-1.pdf and http://metregatta.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Met16-Sunday-Results-3.pdf.

Regatta Photos

It was a glorious spring day for Twickenham Regatta this year, with favourable rowing conditions. Here is a report from Huw Jones:

The day started early for QBC with Mark O'Brien racing McGovern of Vesta in IM3 sculls. Unfortunately that was a loss for Mark. Next up was Luke Moneley with a semi-final in IM1 single sculls against Wooller of Twickenham. Luke recorded an impressive and comfortable win. Soon after, Luke then sat at bow in our IM3 coxed IV and they too also recorded a comfortable win against Vesta. With just a short break, the IM3 IV were back out, racing HSBC in the final. After an unsettled start, the emerging composure and power of our crew kicked in causing HSBC to flounder, allowing our boys to ease away and record a good win of several lengths. So far so good!

With Luke still to race his IM1 sculls final, the final of the IM3 VIII's was the clubs' last-but-one race of the day. The crew was made up of three of the successful IM3 IV, two of our new learn-to-row members, a cameo appearance from the very talented Toby Lonergan, his dad Richard and one other veteran ('master') rower. So in true Quintin style, this 'mixed bag' scratch crew set out without a previous practice row, but brimming with confidence. After a couple of shaky practice starts the crew was on the stake boat. The opposition was Kingston who had earlier beaten Furnivall in a heat. Quintin made light work of the start, overhauling their half-length deficit due to the bend advantage stagger in some 25-30 strokes. Quintin then continued to ease away in a reasonably accomplished style to win by some 4-5 lengths. Willy Almand remarked 'like taking candy from a baby', but nonetheless, the crew and coach Duncan were very satisfied with the result.

Luke then had his IM1 sculls final against a very strong sculler, Deerlove from PTRC. Despite a very competent scull, Luke could not hold off the imposing PTRC sculler and unfortunately succumbed to all of the 6'8" of his opponent!

The winning IM3 four: Luke Moneley, Huw Davies, Josh Healey Lapena and Richard Byrne-Smith, with Hazel Wilson coxing. The winning IM3 eight: Huw Jones, Will Shrieve, Phil Theron, Toby Lonergan, Richard Lonergan, Huw Davies, Josh Healey Lapena, Richard Byrne-Smith and Hazel Wilson.

Take a look at the photographs, and also take a look at the 2016 Potwinners Chart with Hazel Wilson in the lead with three wins.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2389.

The club has four entries for Twickenham Regatta on Saturday. Mark O'Brien starts the day for us with a heat of IM3 single sculls at 09:53 against McGovern of Vesta. Our IM3 coxed four has a semi-final against Vesta at 13:41 and Luke Moneley has a semi-final in IM1 single sculls at 16:29 against Wooller of Twickenham. Our IM3 eight has a bye to the final at 17:49, when they meet the winners of Furnivall vs. Kingston. All support on the riverbank would be greatly appreciated.

The memorial service for Ron Needs will be, as mentioned before, on Tuesday, 21st June. It will be held in St. Mary's Church, Henley-on-Thames (the church by the bridge) commencing at 11:30am. There will be a reception at the Leander Club afterwards.

No first-hand accounts from Putney Town Regatta, so here are the results. In IM3 single sculls Mark O'Brien lost easily to Jackson of Barn Elms. In novice single sculls Alex Burton won his semi-final against Flynn of London RC by five lengths, but lost to Hockey of Westminster School in the final, the verdict being "easily". In the straight final of women's IM3 coxed fours Thames were the winners with an easily verdict. Quintin came third, 1¾ lengths behind HSBC.

Full results from the regatta may be downloaded from http://www.putneytownregatta.org.uk/sites/default/files/PTR 2016 timetable + results.xls.

The Bar Flies have been on their travels again. Dave King reports:

The Bar Flies arrived on a not too promising rainy Friday in Venice for the 32k Voga Longa .The crew was Dave King (bow), Duncan Hughes, Simon Wood, Richard Ware, Adrian Ballardie, Roy Macavoy, Mike Harris , Aubrey Capel and Diane Pengelly (cox). By Saturday the sun had come out for a morning practice row and an evening drinks reception at Querini Rowing Club had set us up for the race.

A 7am depart from Querini on Sunday morning was required to get to the start on time, and was not helped by a broken gate at 6 after a collision on the way through the Arsenale. However Mike's trusty spanner sorted it out and we arrived in good time with the 2000 other boats taking part. In true Italian tradition we drifted up on the tide with the other bigger boats until all hell broke loose with the start cannon sounding. The first leg up to the end of San Marco island was extremely hectic but we were up with the front runners until bow's gate gave way with a bang as we turned the corner. Fortunately a spare shoelace and some boy scout knots effected a temporary, if crude, lash up.

Having lost a few places whilst carrying out running repairs, we cracked on, passing a lot of dragon boats, 16-man gondolas etc. on the way up to Burano. After passing through the narrow Burano canal we had the benefit of a tail wind on the long pull to Murano. Coming out of Murano Diane steered a masterly course to cut the corner and get us past six or seven crews before we entered the Grand Canal.

The Recommended Course

Our Actual Course

More images

The final row up the Grand Canal is one of life's great experiences, surrounded by superb architecture and the applause of the large crowds ringing in your ears! We completed the course in 2 hours 17 minutes and then retired to one of Venice's many bars to re-hydrate before departing to the airport in style in a super-fast water taxi.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2377.

The funeral for Ron Needs is a private occasion but a memorial service is being held for him on Tuesday, 21st June in Henley-on-Thames. More details to follow.

The club has three entries for Putney Town regatta on Saturday - a women's IM3 coxed four, Mark O'Brien in IM3 single sculls and Alex Burton in novice single sculls. Mark races Jackson of Barn Elms in the semi-final at 10:02 while Alex races Flynn of London in their semi-final at 12:30. The women's race is a straight final and is at 11:41, on the centre station against HSBC and Thames.

The full draw may be downloaded at http://www.putneytownregatta.org.uk/sites/default/files/PTR 2016 Draw.xls.

Christening Photos

The excellent weekend weather experienced at Borne Regatta continued on Sunday with temperatures hitting 28°C in the shade - the perfect day for a barbecue!

Earlier this year the club said goodbye to its first wing rigger eight, "The Lady Nina", which was replaced by a similar craft which had won the Universities Boat Race in Oxford colours. Shortly after taking delivery of the boat we received the news that club member Anne Wilkinson had died of cancer at a tender age. Before she died Anne was aware that the committee had decided to break with tradition and name the new boat for her rather than honouring a prominent club member through the name of his partner as is normally the case for our eights.

The boat naming was well attended, with Anne's parents and non-rowing friends present as well as her crew buddies Nanyamka, Tamsyn, Hayley and Elli. Quintin Captain Mark Chatwin said a few words of introduction, followed by Anne's father and then Anne's mother christened the new boat "The Lady Anne" with (Anne's choice tipple) a bottle of "bozo" (cheap French lager to the uninitiated).

The christening was followed by an excellent barbecue, expertly cooked by Duncan Hughes and Mike Ewing, and "puddings" included a cake in the shape of a women's quad scull especially baked by Hayley Short.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2372.

Novice VIII Photos

After a promising debut performance at Chiswick Regatta the QBC men's novice eight were looking forward to having another go at Borne. In their first race, against St/ Georges Hospital, they got off to a poor start, but, on the upstream course, drew level by Putney Town, and went on to win by an Easily verdict. In the final they were up against a powerful looking Vesta crew but, stroked by Kierhan, got off to a very smooth start. After some aggressive steering by Hazel they were a third of a length up by Putney Town and went on to win by 3½ lengths.

This is great performance by a crew which has been coached over the winter by Huw Jones, contained five of the Learn to Row intake plus two students from the University of Westminster and the evergreen James Oscroft. (Report by Dave King).

The club had another success on the day - William Medlicott beat Debois of Putney Town by four lengths in a straight final to win Masters E single sculls. Well done, William!

Full results for the regatta may be found at http://www.borne-regatta.org/documents/Borne@CB-Final-results-2016.pdf ...

... and our novices and William have kicked off the Potwinners Chart for 2016

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2363.

The club had two entries at Wallingford Regatta, Alex Burton racing the Club Single Sculls (for intermediate entries) and the senior VIII in the Challenge (senior and elite) event.

It was an early race to start, with the sun just about burning off the mist which could have delayed proceedings. Our VIII came second in their heat, rowing through St Edward’s School in the final 250m but trailing to University College Dublin, who'd got off to a sharper start, by around 1 length. As one of the six fastest non-winners, this qualified them for the repechage which ended up being a five-boat race (two to final) after Lea scratched.

In probably the closest race of the day, all crews were overlapping for most of the 2km. Despite a much better start, QBC unfortunately finished 5th, less than 1 length behind winners Abingdon School, with Royal Chester, London A and Hampton School all in between. Disappointed to have missed the final by so little, on reflection the crew were pleased at the result considering progress made on time against other top club crews between the two races and clearly at being competitive in the category. The effort needed in the repechage clearly showed in the final as Royal Chester and Abingdon were both trailing at the finish.

The VIII crew was Beks Edgar (cox), Mike Ewing (stroke), Mark Chatwin, Rob Williams, Alex Miller, Max Murdock, Donald Evans, Luke Moneley, Matt Denley (bow). (Report by Rob Williams)

And the results:

Challenge Eights - Heat C: Race 3 - 7:42

Challenge Eights - Repechage: Race 29 - 10:18

Due to some rigging problems, Alex Burton completed his singles heat but was some way behind the pack. Good racing experience none the less.

Full results may be found at http://wallingford-regatta.org.uk/2016-results/.

The sun shone on Chiswick Regatta again this year, with glorious blue skies in the morning, if the air was a little cold blowing down the downstream course. With 93 races planned, mostly on the ebb tide some good racing conditions were expected. It clouded over intermittently in the afternoon and there were a couple of short showers before the tide turned at about four o'clock leaving a dozen or so finals to be raced in the choppy conditions created by the wind against the flood tide.

There was a good entry in both Intermediate 2 and Intermediate 3 men's eights with King's School Canterbury winning the more senior event and Eton College winning the IM3. Tideway Scullers juniors had a good day, winning J15 and J14 coxed quads, novice double sculls (both finallists), J15, J14 and WJ15 double sculls.

Our own club had a relatively small entry this year: just two IM3 single scullers, a women's novice double and a men's novice eight. Our two scullers both went out in their first-round semi-finals, William Medlicott losing to Folkard of London, the eventual winner, by two lengths and also to Brinker of Sons of the Thames by 1½ lengths, while Mark O'Brien lost to eventual runner-up Antar of Poplar, Blackwall & District by ½ length, with Debois of Putney Town a further 5 lengths behind. The women's novice double lost in their semi-final to St. George's College by three lengths.

The men's novice eight returned the club's best performance, winning their heat against Putney Town by a comfortable five lengths. In the final they came up against Thames, whose time in the Head of the Rver Race this year was over a minute faster than our crew's, so they knew that things were not going to be that easy. Also in the final was a crew from St. Paul's School. Thames soon took a commanding lead and looked very strong as they crossed the finishing with a two-length lead. Behind them, Quintin and St. Paul's were battling it out for second place and Quintin passed the clubhouse with a slender lead. Unfortunately they stopped racing when the hooter went for the winners and St. Paul's finished a canvas up. A valuable lesson learnt there! Here's to better success next week at Borne Regatta.

The international coach and Quintin vice-president Ron Needs died on Monday, aged 90.

Ron Needs competed as a rower for Quintin Boat Club at Henley Regatta in the early 1950s. He made his mark as a coach at Quintin Boat Club between the mid-1960s and the early 1970s. He worked mainly with rowers who came up through the club from Novice and IM3 (then called Junior) level and took what appeared in some cases ordinary club oarsmen to a very high level. Several went on to represent Great Britain. He set in place both on the river and in the gym a culture that served Quintin well through the 1970s.

Ron with our 1964 Wyfold Four

During the period 1964 to 1971 crews coached by him regularly finished in or around the top ten in the Tideway Head and won the Fours Head. At Henley the crews were contenders in the Thames Cup and Wyfolds reaching a final, 2 semi-finals and several quarter finals. Ron’s 1968 eight won the Home Countries International.

Between 1968 and 1970 the Leander 'Cadet' squad had three successive wins in the Thames Cup. During this period Quintin were the only club to beat Leander and with marginally better luck Ron might have claimed one or more of Leander's Henley wins for Quintin.

Ron went on to coach GB men's and women's crews. He continued to organise Quintin land training sessions at Chiswick School until 1977. On the river Ron's legacy carried on with his rowers providing the core of the crews that won the National Championship in eights in 1973, reached the Thames Cup semi-final in 1974 and final in 1975. (John Peters)

A 1964 photograph of Ron may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=132.

Crew Photos

The club had an interest in a number of crews in this year's Veterans Head of the River: as well as two all-Quintin crews (Masters E and Masters G) there was a Quintin / UL Tyrian composite Masters E crew and a Wallingford / Quintin composite Masters G crew and Willy Almand and Pete Meaney were rowing in Upper Thames colours in a 'G' eight.

After yesterday's excellent result from the first eight in the main race, expectations were high for the veterans, and the club was not disappointed. Our Masters E composite, starting at 142, finished 13th overall in a time of 19 min. 39.19 sec, winning the Masters E pennant with a five second margin over their nearest rivals, a composite Irish crew. Not to be outdone, our remaining "supervets" making up the 'G' eight and starting 178th, finished 33rd overall in a time of 20 min. 8.28 sec, winning the 'G' pennant with a margin of five seconds over Wallingford / Quintin (with Tom Bishop on board). Upper Thames, with Willy Almand and Pete Meaney on board, were the third 'G' crew.

The Winning Masters E Eight

• Huw Jones (bow)
• Leif Jacobsen
• Steve Aquilina
• Richard Lonergan
• Fred Jefferies
• Bill Downing (Tyrian)
• Jeremy Page (Tyrian)
• Graham Faultless (stroke, Tyrian)
• Andy Probert (cox, Tyrian)

The Winning Masters G Eight

• Graham Bagnall (bow)
• Dick Findlay
• Andrew Bramah
• Roger Hine
• Geoff Peel
• Jonathan Ferris
• Charles Harrison
• Ian Hyslop (stroke)
• Jane Adams (cox)

Bringing up the rear, the "barflies" 'E' crew finished 131st overall in a time of 22 min. 4.21 sec.

The "Barflies" E Eight

• Dave King (bow)
• Simon Wood
• William Medlicott
• Roy Macavoy
• Adrian Ballardie
• Ian Stephenson
• Mike Harris
• Aubrey Capel (stroke)
• Diane Pengelly (cox)

For those who like some statistics: the winning E crew beat all but three of the Masters D crews, all but four of Masters C and all but two of Masters B; the winning Masters G crew beat all but one of the Masters F crews (Crabtree!), all but four of the Masters E and beat thirteen of the Masters D crews and fourteen of the Masters C crews. Applying the handicap rules, the G eight came first OVERALL with an adjusted time of 17 min. 58.28 sec, with Wallingford / Quintin second on 18 min. 3.54 sec. and the Quintin / Tyrian E crew seventh on 18 min. 23.19 sec.

The overall results may be found at Vets-Head-2016-Results.pdf, while results by category are at Vets-Head-2016-Results-by-category.pdf and results by adjusted time are at Vets-Head-2016-Results-by-adjusted-time.pdf.

Unless anyone can find another head race to win (Bedford Spring Fours and Small Boats?) then this is the final position on the 2015-16 Pennant Winners Chart with Andrew Bramah top on four wins.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2358.

Race Photos

Another mixed bag of results for the club in a head race, but this time the place of honour goes to our first eight who finished 22nd overall in today's Head of the River Race in a time of 18 min. 35.01 sec. over the Championship course from Mortlake to Putney. This is the highest placing for the club since the 1979 and 1980 seasons.

The first eight had a solid row in changeable conditions, with the cross headwind chopping up water in places before swinging to a very welcome tail wind beyond Hammersmith. The crew passed Star club comfortably before Barnes and managed to get clear water on Marlow passing the Putney boathouses. Their cox, Beks Edgar, also reported gains on both Durham University crews ahead of them. All of the crew were really pleased with the result and the row overall.

QBC I crew

• Mark Chatwin (bow)
• Max Murdock
• Alex Miller
• Rob Williams
• Eoin Mcdomhniall
• Dave Kempsell
• Matt Denley
• Mike Ewing (stroke)
• Beks Edgar (cox)

After the excellent result from the second eight last year, it was hard to expect a similar result this year, given that the crew has had difficulty in scheduling regular training outings. Still, a time of 20 min. 04.11 sec. and a position of 160th is not bad, considering the lineup was pretty scratch.

QBC II crew

• Josh Healy Lapena (bow)
• Luke Moneley
• Marc Knight
• Richard Byrne-Smith
• Adam Draycott
• Tim Morton-Humphreys
• Anthony Briggs
• Nick Clay (stroke)
• Michael Wale (cox)

The QBC novice VIII, rowing as Quintin III, were well prepared for the 'Head' and were able to put out arguably their best current combination for this race. In tricky conditions for a very recent Learn-to-Row squad, with head and cross wind conditions, the crew performed with great confidence. The core of the crew has been training hard and their ever improving stamina paid off by pipping Sean Pitt's experienced "bar larvae" QBC VIII by one position in a time of 21.28.05. The novices finished 8th in their specific club category, ahead of a third of other club crews and also beat an astonishing 26 boats from Academic institutions. An excellent result.

QBC III crew

• Henrik Hannus (bow)
• Phil Theron
• Cameron Waugh
• Will Shrieve
• Nicklas Dackheden
• Sakti Narayan
• Lawrence Keltie
• Kierhan Brown (stroke)
• Hazel Wilson (cox)

As mentioned above, the "junior barflies" or "bar larvae", rowing as Quintin IV, were just beaten one place by our novices, in a time of 21 min. 31.72 sec, finishing 285th overall.

QBC IV crew

• Mark Boyd (bow)
• Sean Pitt
• Alex Burton
• Chris Stott
• Mark Pascoe
• Ashley Scott
• Tom Spicer
• Richard Miller (stroke)
• Sarah Wharton (cox)

A summary of the club's results may be found on our Head of the River web page and full results are available at http://www.horr.co.uk/wordpress/results-2016/

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2349.

The funeral for Mick Gates will be at Mortlake Crematorium at 2pm on Thursday 24th March and afterwards at Quintin. If you would like to send flowers, please send them to the funeral director, G.S. Keates & Co, 49 High Street, Hampton Hill TW12 1NH to arrive no later than 12 noon on the day of the funeral. No donations requested.

The starting order for the Veterans' Head is now available and Quintin has a close interest in four crews. This year the "supervets" have split their forces between two crews: with the help of three members of the Tyrian Club they are fielding an 'E' eight and the remainder are forming a 'G' eight. Completing the quartet are the "barflies", also in category 'E' and Tom Bishop is competing in a Wallingford / Quintin / Oxford composite 'G' eight. The composite 'E' crew start at number 142, with the "barflies" at 147, the composite 'G' crew at 175 and the all-Quintin 'G' crew at 178. There are 34 Masters 'E' entries and 10 in Masters 'G' in an overall field of 221.

The full starting order may be found at http://www.vestarowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/Vets-Head-2016-Draw.pdf.

The start order for the Head of the River Race has been published. Quintin I (Senior category) starts at number 31, Quintin II (IM2) starts at number 55, Quintin IV (IM2) starts at number 157 and Quintin III (novice) starts at 175. There are 360 entries altogether. The race starts at 13:30. All support along the course welcomed.

The full start order may be found at http://www.horr.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/HORR-FINAL-start-order-2016.pdf.

Due to the fast flowing river conditions ("red boards") tomorrow's race has had to be cancelled.

The "supervets" are the club's sole representative at Kingston Head on Saturday. There are two divisions, starting at 11:00 am and 2;00 pm and our crew is number 271 in division 2, where numbering starts at 251. They are in the Masters F/H handicap category, together with fellow Masters F crew Walbrook and two Masters H crews, from Wiking Berlin and Weybridge.

Chris Adams, Roger Griffiths, Mick Gates and Dave King at the Remenham Club, Henley in 1998

Photo by Alec Field

Barflies in action

Winning Four

More barflies' action

It is with sadness that we have learnt of the death on Sunday of Mick Gates. He had been ill for some time. He was a member of Quintin for over twenty years from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s and served on the Quintin committee for several years. He will be remembered by many as part of the original barflies crews in the 1980s. He introduced your correspondent to skiing in 1975 with a memorable Easter weekend trip to the Cairngorms. He was a gifted story-teller and I recall from that same skiing holiday Mick performing a stand-up routine to great effect in front of a hundred or so après-skiers. (Roger Hine)

A photograph of the barflies crew may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=229.

A photograph of Mick in a winning Veteran B four at Richmond Regatta may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=245.

A photograph of Mick at the Quintin bar may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=336.

Our novices were competing in the United Hospitals Head on Sunday and we had high hopes for them after their good showing in the Hammersmith Head. Unfortunately things didn't go according to plan. Their coach, Huw Jones, takes up the story:

After a strong start, it was a disappointing result in the end as this still inexperienced crew rowed with just six men for three or four minutes along the Brentford Reach following a 'crab' and a sticking seat. After resolving this, unfortunately another 'crab' was caught along the islands just before Kew Bridge, bringing the entire crew to a halt. Both before and after these incidents the crew had gained well on the crews around them, so encouragingly it does seems that they have good boat speed. Clearly, a few technical issues still need to be ironed out!

It is hard to know just how much time was lost, but one or two observers agree they would have been very close to the winners but for these boat stoppers. Nonetheless the crew were in good spirits afterwards as they reflected in the club bar on the better aspects of the row late on a Sunday afternoon. With hindsight, the crew agreed that it was better to have had these issues in this race rather than in the main Head of the River race in two weeks time.

The crew completed the course in 14 min. 13 sec. The winning novices were University of Warwick B in a time of 13 min. 45 sec. with University of Warwick A second in 13:57.

Our men's novice eight has been entered for the United Hospitals Head which takes place next Sunday on a course from just below the Pink House to the Chiswick Quay Marina. There are two divisions, starting at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Our crew is in division 2 with a bow number of 50. Numbering in division 2 starts at 30 and so they are the twenty first crew out of twenty eight. There are twenty five crews in division 1.

Note: This is a revised order from that first published and includes two extra crews in division 2.

Quintin vs. Oxford Brookes

The club's first eight took part in the Reading University Head on Saturday. This is the first time the club has competed in this event for many years. Nowadays the race is run in two divisions, to accommodate the increase in the number of entries. The entries are divided by category, with elite, IM1, IM3, J18 and J15 eights starting at 10:30 am, together with quads and Seniors, IM2, novices, J16 and masters starting at 3:00 pm. Our crew was entered in the Senior category and so rowed in the afternoon, finishing eighth overall in division 2 and sixth out of eight in a very strong Seniors field which was headed by two fast Oxford Brookes University eights. Other main contenders included Molesey and St. Paul's School.

The full results for division 2 may be found at http://readinguniversityboatclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/RU-head-ResultsPM_2016.pdf and for division 1 at http://readinguniversityboatclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/RU-Head-amresults_2016.pdf.

A photograph from the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2342.

The club has an eight racing in the Senior category at Reading University Head on Saturday. This places it in division 2, which starts at 3:00 pm (division 1 starts at 10:30 am). The club's starting number is 205, with the first crew in the division going off at number 201. The course is the usual one from the Roebuck Ferry to the Reading University boathouse. Let's hope the river allows the race to take place. The prediction at the moment is that conditions will be favourable.

The full starting order for division 2 may be found at http://readinguniversityboatclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/RU_head_2016_Div2.pdf.

Hammersmith Head suffered a failure of their computer timing system on Saturday and have at last published final results (made available on the evening of 24th February). These differ from the provisional results in that the majority of times have been reduced by exactly one minute, due to a perceived sychronisation error between start and finish on their manual systems. In addition a 5 second penalty has been applied to crew 165, Mortlake Anglian & Alpha Women's Masters C, and the times for crews 114 to 118 have all been adjusted, presumably due to initial misidentification of these crews at one of the timing points. This latter affects our men's novice crew, number 118, whose time changes from 12:20.57 to 11:55.1 and whose overall position drops from 32nd to 62nd. This is still a good result for the crew and placed them fifth out of the seventeen men's novice eights. Their increase in performance since the Quintin Head only a month ago, speaks volumes for their rate of improvement and commitment. As a squad, they are on track to do still better in the main Tideway Head and they serve as a great advertisement for the Club and for others to come and join this flourishing squad, based on recent learn-to rows and existing novices.

Sean Pitt now feels that the "junior barflies" have retained "a modicum of pride" as their time, 11:46.0, is now nine seconds faster than the novices rather than 45 seconds slower! Their position changes from 56 to 58 however, as they have now been leapfrogged by crews 115 and 116.

The "senior barflies" move up a place from 88 to 87 with a time of 12:21.9, because crew 114 has now dropped to 103rd. The "supervets" are unaltered at 22nd apart from their time going to 11:10.0 and they still win the Masters F pennant by a handsome margin.

The final results may be found at http://akrowing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Hammersmith-Head-2016-Results-Final.pdf.

Our pennant-winning masters are recorded here.

While our senior squad was spending a weekend in Wallingford, entertaining the Oxford University lightweights, other sections of the club were competing at the Hammersmith Head. After a promising start to the day the weather turned pretty drear and with an hour to go before race start at 2:00pm the rain had set in. With the added chill of a strong WSW wind marshalling was not much fun, but eventually the race got underway and there were 147 finishers from the 174 entries, with some fast times aided by the tail wind.

Fastest Quintin crew over the course were the "supervets" Masters F crew, in a time of 12 min. 10.05 sec, who overtook four crews from their lowly start position of 161 and were overlapping a fifth as they passed under Hammersmith Bridge at the end of the course. Comparisons with the times at the Quintin Head indicate that this was a much better performance from this crew than back in January, albeit with a change of two personnel. The crew won the Masters F pennant comfortably from Tideway Scullers with a margin of 38 seconds and also beat all the Masters D and E crews, to gain a finishing position of 22nd overall.

Also greatly improved were our men's novices, just 10½ seconds behind our masters in a time of 12 min. 20.57 sec, which just missed the men's novice pennant, finishing in second place 5.46 seconds behind Thames RC and placing them 32nd overall.

Our "junior barflies" IM2 crew finished 56th in a time of 12 min. 46.04 sec, with the "senior barflies" Masters E 88th in 13 min. 22.01 sec.

The winning Masters F crew: Huw Jones (bow), Roger Hine, Andrew Bramah, Tom Bishop, Geoff Peel, Steve Aquilina, Fred Jefferies, Ian Hyslop (stroke), Geoff Garbow (cox). The prize giving will be at Auriol Kensington RC in the evening of Wednesday, 2nd March.

The full finishing order may be found at http://akrowing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Provision-Results-2016.pdf. Please note: these are the provisional results and we are awaiting confirmation following a number of queries.

Anne, second from right, with her team mates in 2012

We sadly announce the death of Anne Wilkinson, who died peacefully from cancer yesterday. Anne joined QBC through one of our Learn To Row courses in 2011 and had regatta wins in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Last week our latest Empacher eight, which was bought just before Christmas, was named The Lady Anne in her honour.

Anne's funeral will be at 3:00 pm on Thursday, 25th February at Tetbury church in Gloucestershire. Her family have requested no flowers, no black ties and no children under 10. Instead of flowers, donations would be appreciated either to the Royal Marsden Hospital or to Dorothy House Hospice Care.

The club has four eights entered for the Hammersmith Head, which is to be held next Saturday, starting at 2:00 pm, over the usual course from the University Post, Mortlake, to Hammersmith Bridge. There are 174 entries in total. Our entries, with their starting positions, are as follows:

• IM2 - 18 (division 1, marshalling on Surrey)
• Novice - 118 (division 3, marshalling on Surrey)
• Masters E - 143 (division 3, marshalling on Surrey)
• Masters F - 161 (division 4, marshalling on Middlesex)

The full starting order may be found at http://akrowing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Hamm-Head-Draw-2016.pdf.

Due to the state of the river ("red boards"), the organisrs have had to cancel tomorrow's race.

The club has a crew entered for the Molesey Veteran Head, which starts at 2:00pm next Saturday on a course from Sunbury Lock to Hampton Sailing Club. There are 66 entries in a variety of events from open Masters C eights to "Explore" coxed quads. Our entry is a Masters F eight, which will race for the Masters F/G handicap pennant (actually a plaque), along with four other 'F' eights and a 'G' eight. Our starting number is 21.

Readers may recall that last September Leif Jacobsen, Tony Hynes, Richard Robinson and Duncan Hughes quad-sculled from Henley to Quintin to raise money for Leif's Danish rowing club, Odense Roklub, whose boathouse was ravaged by fire (arson suspected). Well Leif has just presented the cheque to the club and here is the photograph to prove it.

Leif presents cheque to Odense Roklub

Quintin Head Day - Chiswick Boathouses

Another year - another Quintin Head! Last year conditions were hypothermic and the near-collision of a junior crew with Chiswick Bridge created a large delay in the middle of the race which chilled the waiting competitors and volunteers on the river and on the bank to the marrow. Both organisers and competitors were hoping for better things this year - and they were not disappointed. The race started in bright sunshine with the air temperature in the region of 11°C and a gentle wind, and, although it clouded over later on, conditions were generally favourable for a good race to be had by all. This year the race was run on a flood tide from Hammersmith Bridge to the far end of the wall at Chiswick Quay Marina, just beyond Chiswick Bridge, and gave spectators at the finish the opportunity to keep themselves warm inside the Quintin, Mortlake and Putney Town clubhouses. There were 223 entries this year, but inevitably there were a number of scratchings due to illness or injury. Racing commenced at 11:09 GMT, just nine minutes behind schedule and the last crew crossed the start line at 12:18, albeit with only six blades rowing. Well done to all crews and to the marshals for getting 212 crews underway in just over an hour.

Pennant Winners Photos

Molesey Boat Club Senior men were the fastest crew home, in a time of 12 min. 21.0 sec, which beats the previous best time for this course, set in 2013 by Imperial College, by 48 seconds. The Oxford University Women's Boat Club entered two crews for the second year running and their Elite eight were the fastest women's crew in a time of 13 min. 28.1 sec, some 21 seconds ahead of the next women's crew, Molesey. They won the women's senior pennant in 13 min. 49.3 seconds, to complete the double in senior pennants for their club. Second fastest men's crew was the University of London, who won the Elite pennant. Only 11 seconds behind them were the St. Paul's School first eight, winning the men's Intermediate 1 category. The women's equivalent was won by Imperial College, the third fastest women's crew. Other "double" winners were Henley (WJ16 and WJ18), London (IM2 and Masters C), Thames (Novice and Masters E) and Westminster School (J15 and J18).

One innovation this year that proved popular was the publication during the race of "Latest Times" (strictly unofficial), which were displayed on a television screen in the Quintin clubroom and were also available on the web. This, together with "tweets" of potential pennant winners, gave spectators some idea of what was going on on the river and meant that most competitors knew how well they had done shortly after disembarking.

The full set of results may be found at ../quintinhead/results.php?date=2016-01-23 and photographs of all pennant winners may be found at ../gallery/index.php?ref=2311.

Quintin Crew Photos

Talking of which... the Quintin first eight finished tenth overall in a time of 12 min. 46.8 sec, the second eight were 46th in 13:48.7 and the third eight were 79th in 14:15.9. Our novices, most in their first open race, finished 162nd in 16:16.4 while the Masters F crew found it impossible to overcome the 47 second F to H handicap and so missed out on the F/H handicap pennant to Weybridge Rowing Club, whom they beat by 28.8 seconds in a time of 14 min. 27.3 sec.

Thanks go from the club to all the volunteers on and off the river: umpires, marshals, launch drivers, safety and ambulance staff and to the club members who assisted before, during and after the race. And let's not forget the competitors, without whom it would all have been rather pointless.

Photographs of the pennant winners may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2310.

Photographs of Quintin crews may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2334.

Wishing all our readers a happy and prosperous new year and looking forward to another successful racing season for the club. However, it is with sadness that we reported yesterday the death of our president, Dick Hylton-Smith. See article below.

Dick's funeral will be held at Caversham Crematorium on Monday, 18th January at 11:30am.

Dick on his 90th Birthday

Our club president, Dick Hylton-Smith, died peacefully at home yesterday evening at the age of 103.

The Winning Wyfold Four

He started rowing in 1929 when he was studying at the Regent Street Polytechnic (the forerunner of the University of Westminster). After leaving the Polytechnic he rowed for Quintin from 1932 to 1935 before moving to Twickenham RC for a year and then to Kensington RC. He represented both those two clubs at Henley. After the war he returned to Kensington and was the Kensington captain in 1946. Despite this Dick raced for Quintin for most of that season and for the remainder of his rowing career. In 1947 his Quintin four won the Wyfold Cup. He was captain of Quintin in 1954 and 1955, was on the committee for many years and was elected president in 1993.

The funeral will be held at Caversham Crematorium on Monday, 18th January at 11:30am.

A photograph of Dick on his 90th birthday, with his brother Ken, may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=1853.

A picture of the winning Wyfold four may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=51.

Our calendar year's events ended with the traditional plum puddings race on the Sunday before Christmas. There were twelve crews this year, from MAABC, Cygnet and our own members. The course was from the Pink House to the club and crews were sent off in batches of four to avoid any mishaps. The Quintin first VIII, starting fourth, overhauled the crew dubbed "Quintin Supervets" (starting third) after about four minutes, when the latter had already passed Cygnet. The first eight went on to complete the course in a time of 13 min. 42 sec, the fastest time of the day. The "Supervets" overhauled Mortlake Masters B just before Kew Bridge and posted the second fastest time of 14 min. 38 sec. More details will be revealed when your editor receives the official results, however it can be revealed that, after handicaps had been applied, the Quintin "Barflies", with a handicap of 3½ minutes, were deemed the winners, with the MAABC WIM1 quad in second place and "Sean's crew" third. There was some discussion in the bar afterwards about what "Sean's crew" should really be called. As they were seen to be the junior barflies the name "Bar Larvae" was suggested. Any thoughts?

The was a good crowd in the bar, and plenty of chilli con carne for everyone, courtesy of the Café Grove and MAABC's kitchen. A very successful raffle, organised as usual by Duncan Hughes, made sure the club's funds did not suffer from this hospitality. Our bar stewards also reported good takings on the day, with some excellent draught ale laid on for the occasion.

This weekend we welcomed to the club seven new Concept 2 ergometers, fresh from their success at the British Rowing Indoor Championships. The six oldest of our current set will be sold, leaving us with a fleet of twelve.

The club had twenty entries in Walton Small Boats Head today but unfortunately less than half were able to compete. Due to high winds causing rough water down the finishing reach the last two of the four divisions were cancelled, meaning that only our one division 1 entry and seven of our eight division 2 entries got a race. By way of consolation, Mark Chatwin and Max Murdock posted the fastest time of the day in their Senior coxless pair and Mark played a "captain's innings" by making up half of the second-fastest pair with Luke Moneley. Mike Ewing was the second-fastest single sculler, beaten only by Lawrence Wells of the Army Rowing Club. Matt Denley was the fifth-fastest single sculler and Alex Miller was the seventh fastest. The results for all the Quintin crews and single scullers who competed are given below and the full results may be found here. It can now be confirmed that the club won five pennants, as shown by the "first in category" places below. Take a fresh look at the Pennant Winners Chart.

See what effect this has had on the Pennant Winners Chart.

The start order for the Walton Small Boats Head on Saturday is now available. The bow numbers for the Quintin entries are given by division below.

Division 1 - starting at 10:00 am

• No. 2 - Senior coxless pair - Mark Chatwin / Max Murdock

Division 2 - starting at 11:30 am

• No. 153 (first boat) - Elite coxless pair - Mark Chatwin / Luke Moneley
• No. 157 - IM1 coxless pair - Marc Knight / Nick Clay
• No. 171 - Elite single scull - Mike Ewing
• No. 172 - Senior single scull - Matt Denley
• No. 175 - Masters A single scull - Alex Miller
• No. 195 - Novice double scull - Eoin McDonald / Tim Morton-Humphreys
• No. 209 - Novice coxless pair - Anthony Briggs / Richard Byrne-Smith
• No. 219 - Masters D single scull - Steve Aquilina

Division 3 - startting at 1:00 pm

• No. 332 (first boat) - Elite coxless pair - Alex Miller / Mike Ewing
• No. 340 - IM2 coxless pair - Marc Knight / Tim Morton-Humphreys
• No. 351 - IM1 single scull - Luke Moneley
• No. 364 - IM3 coxless pair - Richard Byrne-Smith / Josh Healey Lapena
• No. 265 - IM3 coxless pair - Anthony Briggs / Ian Caswell
• No. 482 - Women's Novice single scull - Holly Laidler
• No. 500 - Masters H single scull - Dick Findlay

Division 4 - starting at 2:30 pm

• No. 510 (sixth boat) - Senior coxless pair - Alex MIller / Nick Clay
• No. 511 - Senior coxless pair - Eoin McDonald / Mike Ewing
• No. 512 - IM1 coxless pair - Matt Denley / Max Murdock
• No. 513 - IM2 coxless pair - Josh Healey Lapena / Ian Caswell

The full starting order may be found at http://www.waltonrowingclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Start-order-2015.pdf.

1957 Henley Squad

We are sorry to learn of the death earlier this week of Norman Crane, who was in Quintin's Thames Cup eight in 1957 and 1958. Norman is standing second from the right in this photo of the 1957 Henley squad. Someone who rowed and won with Norman described him as being "often central to the sometimes riotous behaviour of the Quintin Henley crew of that year". We shall put the details of the funeral here as soon as we have them.

A photograph of the 1957 Henley squad may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=103.

The Vesta Scullers' Head of the River, due to take place at 11:00am tomorrow, has been cancelled due to the forecast high winds.

The club had two fours competing at Wallingford Eights and Fours Head at the weekend, an IM3 coxed four, starting at No. 123 in division 1, and a Senior coxless four, with bow number 287 in division 2. Division 1 was in the morning , starting at 10:30am and division 2 was in the afternoon, with a 1:30pm start.

The coxed four finished fifth in their class, in a time of 17 min. 26.1 sec, 33.5 seconds behind winners Oxford Brookes University. The coxless four finished second in their class, in a time of 16 min. 11.7 sec, just 0.5 seconds behind winners Oxford Brookes (again!).

Over a very windy weekend the very difficult conditions got worse for the second division. The first stretch of water was a battle for survival and then the S bend proved extra challenging with the gusts of wind trying to blow our crew into the trees. The feeling was that Oxford Brookes benefited from home advantage. The coxless four had a new line-up as two of the Fours Head crew are currently focussed on the Scullers Head. The crew was: Mark Chatwin (bow, steers), Tim Morton-Humphreys, Max Murdock, Rob Williams (stroke), which in spite of the change of personnel was still able to provide a solid result. Hopefully a sign of a good season ahead.

The coxed four was: Josh Healey Lapena (bow), Richard Byrne-Smith, Anthony Briggs, Ian Caswell (stroke), Michael Wale (cox).

The full results may be found at http://wallingford-head.org.uk/category/results/.

Wallingford Eights & Fours Head (Sunday 29th November)

The club has two crews racing at Wallingford; an IM3 coxed four and a Senior coxless four. The coxed four have start No. 123 in division 1, which starts at 10:30am and the coxless four has No. 287 in division 2, which starts at 1:30pm.

Vesta Scullers' Head of the River (Saturday, 5th December)

The club has twelve entries in the Scullers' Head, which starts at 11:00am on 5th December over the championship course from Mortlake to Putney. The starting order has not yet been published, but the following entries have been accepted: Steve Aquilina (Masters B), Charles Harrison (Masters E), Tom Bishop (Masters G), Matt Denley (IM1 lightweight), Ken Almand (Masters C), Mark O'Brien (IM3), Dov Ohrenstein (Masters C), Pete Meaney (Masters F), Jonathan Ferris (Masters F), Leif Jacobsen (Masters E), Elli Kirk (Women's Masters A), Luke Moneley (IM1).

Walton Small Boats Head (Saturday, 12th December)

The club has a large number of entries for Walton Small Boats Head: in division 1, starting at 10:00am; in division 2, starting at 11:30am; in division 3, starting at 1:00pm; in division 4, starting at 2:30pm. More details to follow nearer the day.

The club had two scullers competing in the Teddington Head today. The race was run in two divisions. In division 1, starting at 10:30am, Pete Meaney, in the IM2 category, started at No. 93 and completed the course in 21 min. 7.1 sec. Mike Ewing, also in IM2, started at No. 96 and completed the course in 18 min. 1.2 sec, which made him the winner of the IM2 pennant. In division 2, at 2:00pm Mike Ewing sculled again, this time in the IM3 category and finished second in category in a time of 18 min. 13.1 sec.

The full provisional results may be found at http://www.walbrookrc.co.uk/UserFiles/Files/Teddington_Head/2015/div_1_provisional_results.pdf and http://www.walbrookrc.co.uk/UserFiles/Files/Teddington_Head/2015/div_2_provisional.pdf.

Mike Ewing now heads the Pennant Winners Chart (equal first with Andrew Bramah and Tom Bishop).

As aniounced as few days ago, Mike Lawrence took part in the Wingfield Sculls on Thursday. In very rough conditions Mike's boat soon became waterlogged and he had a poor race, finishing well behind the other five contenders. The race was won by the holder, Tim Richards of Imperial College Boat Club.

There is a good report of the race, with lots of photographs, at http://heartheboatsing.com/2015/11/16/the-2015-wingfield-sculls-champions-all/.

The funeral was held today at Mortlake Crematorium of Miles Malleson, a vice-president of the club, who died on 4th October. Miles was born on 24th April 1928 in Somerset West, near Cape Town in South Africa, and South Africa was always his first love. Miles' first involvement in rowing was at Hertford College, Oxford, where he read Agriculture, after which he settled in London, running a series of thriving agricultural advertising agencies. His first appearance at Quintin goes unrecorded, but he was competing in the original "vice-presidents" eight by 1983 (see photograph at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/image.php?ref=244). Miles was one of the "Dacre crowd", including John Hankin and Monty Brown, who injected an atmosphere of joviality into the club in the 1980s.

Silver Skiff Prize Giving
Masters G

We have just received a brief report from Tom Bishop of his success in the Turin Silver Skiff. While we were enduring a wet and windy weekend in London, Turin was a hot and sunny 22 degrees with very light winds for the whole of the week. Shades and suncream had to be deployed.

In a star-studded field for the overall classification Mahe Drysdale was third, four seconds behind the winning Croatian Valent Sinkovic, who was one second ahead of his brother Martin. Tom won the Masters G category for the second year running in a time of 47 min. 57.65 sec. while Geoff Potts, in MAABC colours, was fourth. If Tom wins next year he will be eligible for the prize of a silver skiff (miniature) which every third-time winner is entitled to. Sean Morris of Wallingford won the Masters H pennant again this year and needs two more wins to get a second silver skiff!

The results for the Masters G category may be found at http://www.silverskiff.org/download/arrivals/2015/silverskiff/S2015_MMG.pdf and links to all categories may be found at http://www.silverskiff.org/en/arrivi-silverskiff-2015/.

See where this places Tom in the Pennant Winners Chart.

Sunday's wind conditions were much the same as on Saturday (see report on the Head of the River Fours) but not as gusty. Fortunately for all concerned the rain that soaked so many on the previous day held off, but the rowing conditions beyond Hammersmith were just as challenging for the veterans. Quintin had an interest in six entries with mixed success and a little disappointment for some of the crews.

As is so often the case our stars were Richard Lonergan and Fred Jefferies, with Huw Jones, Jonathan Ferris and Sarah Wharton coxing, who won the Masters E coxed fours pennant finishing 38th overall in a time of 21 min. 46.3 sec. The Masters E quad also had a favourable result, finsihing 15th overall and third in category in a time of 20 min. 37.7 sec.

The Masters F coxless four were disappointed to be several seconds behind category winners Ardingly as a similar crew had beaten the same Ardingly combination at both National Masters and Henley Masters in the summer.

Full provisional results may be found at http://www.vetfourshead.com/past-results/, and our pennant winners are recorded on our Regatta Wins page.

Crew Photos

Much as forecast, Saturday was wet and windy! With a gusting wind veering between the south and south west the river conditions beyond Hammersmith on the Championship course were expected, and proved, to be extremely challenging for some of the competing crews. With a minimum number of rowing points required for entry into the race and with a fairly "junior" senior squad at the moment, the club was only allowed to enter two crews, both of Intermediate 1 status and both coxless fours. Their start positions were 166 and 168 but with Stourport (crew 167) not making the start they set off one behind the other, with the heavier crew leading the way.

But it was the lightweights who prevailed, finishing a very creditable 36th overall in a time of 19 min. 37.8 sec. This placed them fifth in the IM1 category and the eleventh fastest coxless four of the whole field. Well done to Mark Chatwin, Luke Moneley, Max Murdock and Matt Denley! The heavywieghts didn't fare so well, finishing 131st overall in a time of 20 min. 46.2 sec. but still 22nd in a field of 43 IM1 coxless fours.

Full results may be found at http://hor4s.org.uk/results.htm.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2305.

Last year the club had its first competitor in many a year for the title of the Amateur Championship of the Thames - for the Wingfield Sculls. Mike Ewing put in a sterling performance in a race which developed into a hard fought battle over second place. This year Mike is taking things a little more easily on the rowing front, but the mantle has been taken up by Mike Lawrence. The race has attracted a relatively large entry of six, including the holder of the title, Tim Richards of Imperial College Boat Club.

The full draw for stations, counting from Surrey, is Sean Blake (London), John Hale (Imperial), Tim Richards (Imperial), Mike Lawrence (Quintin), Laurence Wells (Army), Niall Kenny (TSS). Lawrence Wells won the Weybridge Silver Sculls last month. The race is, of course, over the full championship course from Putney to Mortlake on a flood tide and it will be umpired by Sir Steven Redgrave and aligned by Quintin's 1976 winner Graeme Mulcahy. It is scheduled to start at 1:30 pm on Thursday, 12th November. It would be good if any club members who can would spread themselves around the various vantage points along the course to give Mike some encouragement.

The men's race will be preceded at 12:30 pm by the women's race, also umpired by Sir Steve. The competitors in this race are Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne (Reading), Mel Wilson (Imperial) and Georgia Francis (Imperial).

In the Head of the River Fours, starting at 12:45 on Saturday (November 7th) and over the full championship course from Mortlake to Putney, Quintin has two Intermediate 1 coxless fours, starting at numbers 166 and 168.

The full draw may be found at http://hor4s.org.uk/draw.htm.

In the Veteran Fours Head, starting at 13:45 on Sunday (November 8th) and over the same course, we have five entries: No. 41 - masters E coxless quad scull, 77 - Masters E coxless four, 97 - Masters F coxless four (composite with Tideway Scullers) 122 - Masters E coxed four, 132 Masters IM3 quad scull.

While pennants were being won at Kingston, Mark O'Brien and Charles Harrison were busy single-sculling at Henley. This event was also held in two divisions, at 10:00 and 13:00. In division 1, Mark O'Brien, sculling in the IM2 category, finished 61st= in a time of 13 min. 26 sec, placing him seventh out of eleven in category. In division 2 Mark sculled in the IM3 category and finished 86th overall and fourth out of ten in IM3, repeating his time of 13 min. 26 sec. from division 1. There's consistency for you!. Charles Harrison, sculling in Masters E, finished 80th= and third out of eight in Masters E in a time of 13 min. 23 sec.

The club had three fours and a single sculler competing at Kingston Small Boats Head on Saturday. The race was run in two divisions, starting at 10:30 and 14:00. In division 1 our IM1 coxed four of Marc Knight (bow), Tim Morton-Humphreys, Rob Williams and Nick Clay (stroke), with Hannah coxing, finished seventh overall and were the second-fastest coxed four in a time of 18 min. 50.3 sec. Our IM3 coxed four of Anthony Briggs (bow), Alex Burton, Richard Byrne-Smith and Ian Caswell (stroke), with Michael Wale coxing, finished fifteenth overall and second out of the fourteen IM3 coxed fours in a time of 19 min. 36.2 sec. Steve Aquilina, sculling in the Masters D category, finished 93rd and second out of five in his category in a time of 22 min. 11.3 sec, just missing out on the pennant by 0.7 sec.

In division 2 our IM1 coxless four of Mark Chatwin (bow, steers), Luke Moneley, Max Murdock and Matt Denley (stroke) finished second overall and won the IM1 coxless fours pennant in a time of 17 min. 29.5 sec. They were also the second fastest crew across the two divisions, being beaten only by a Kingston IM2 quad scull.

Take a look at the Pennant Winners Chart.

Prize Giving Photos

The prize giving for the Pairs Head was held on Saturday, with Olympic gold medallist Andrew Triggs-Hodge awarding the prizes. Quintin had two pennants to collect; Elite Double Sculls and Masters E/F coxless pairs. Unfortunately our representative in the douible scull, Mike Lawrence was unable to attend at the appointed time and neither was Andrew Bramah from the pair, so the club was represented by just Roger Hine and captain Mark Chatwin. The organisers provided a buffet lunch before the ceremony and a good time was had by all. To mark the pair's victory Andrew and Roger got together the next day for a crew photograph.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2302.

1905 Photo

Malcolm Cook has come across an old photograph of the Polytechnic Rowing Club on the internet. The original was recently up for auction in the United States of America. Unfortunately Malcolm did not discover the image until the photograph had already been sold, or he might have put in a bid for it. The framed picture is dated 1905 and gives details of the officers and committee of the club at that time.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2300.

British Rowing Senior Championships

Mike Lawrence was competing with Andrew Brown of Tees RC as an under-23 double scull at the British Rowing Senior Championships this weekend on the Holme Pierrepont course at Nottingham. All categories of men's double scull compete against each other i.e. heavyweights, lightweights, under-23s and under-23 lightweights. They first raced in a time trial to determine which final they would compete in. Mike and Andrew made the B final, finishing fourth, or tenth overall. The result of the B final:

Weybridge Silver Sculls

Meanwhile, Mike Ewing, Matt Denley and Luke Moneley were competing on the Thames at Weybridge. In division 1 at 10:00 in the morning Mike raced in the IM2 category and won, in a time of 13 min. 5 sec. In the afternoon, in division 4 at 15:30 Mike sculled in the Elite category, defending his Silver Sculls title, but was beaten into second place by Lawrence Wells of the Army RC. Wells' time was 12 min. 49 sec. to Mike's 12 min. 58 sec. Meanwhile, Matt and Luke, competing in IM1 double sculls were disqualified after an incident in which a canoeist ended up in the river.

Full results may be found at http://www.weybridgerowing.org.uk/silversculls/results.php?competition=14. Mike's win is recorded here.

Head of the Charles

Finally, DIck Findlay and Tom Bishop had journeyed to Boston, Massachussetts to compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta. Dick was stroking an Occoquan men's senior master VIII (over 50s), finishing 36th overall in that category in a time of 18 min. 46.604 sec. Tom competed in men's veteran singles I and II (over 60s) and finished fifth in a time of 21 min 53.566 sec. He was the third fastest Veteran II.

Fresh from their success in the Pairs Head Mike Lawrence and his doubles partner Andrew Brown from Tees RC will be competing at the British Rowing Senior Championships at Holme Pierrepont this weekend. They have entered Under 23 Elite double sculls. Meanwhile on the Thames at Weybridge Mike Ewing, Luke Moneley and Matt Denley are competing in the Weybridge Silver Sculls. In Division 1, starting at 10:00 hours on Saturday, Mike starts at number 2, sculling for the Intermediate 2 pennant. In Division 4, at 15:30, sculling for the Elite pennant and hoping to retain the Silver Sculls, Mike goes off first, wearing number 422. Luke and Matt, competing for the IM1 double sculls pennant, will be wearing number 485, a little further down the field.

Oh, and Tom Bishop (recovered from the Pairs Head), Hilary Cook and Dick FIndlay are off to Boston, Massachusetts for the Head of the Charles.

Pairs Head Photos

What, for people on the riverbank and riverside pubs, was a pleasant afternoon to watch the Pairs Head, for the competitors was a different matter. Although the temperature was mild and there was no threat of rainfall the strong easterly wind made rowing conditions very unpleasant on the 4.5km course from the University Stone at Mortlake to Harrods Depository. With a head wind predominating and an ebb tide, conditions were lumpy, especially shortly after the start and, of course, along the notorious stretch by Chiswick Eyot. In small boats there was nothing to be done but grin and bear it.

The fastest crew was an IM2 double scull from Thames RC, who completed the course in 13 min. 59.60 sec, with the Elite Lightweight double from Tideway Scullers and the J18 double from Westminster School second and third. Our own Mike Lawrence,, doubling with Andrew Brown of Tees RC came fourth in a time of 14 min. 9.45 sec. and won the Elite double sculls pennant. Well done Mike and Andrew!

The results for the other ten crews with Quintin members aboard were somewhat mixed, with some crews finding the conditions rather testing. Andrew Bramah and Roger Hine were the only entry in the Masters F coxless pairs category and so found themselves competing with the Masters E pairs for a pennant. They were 21.81 seconds slower than Upper Thames, the fastest E crew, but with a handicap of 22 seconds they just clinched the E/F pairs pennant. The results for the club are summarised below.

Tom Bishop and Hilary Cook, in mixed Masters F doubles, were having a corker of a row, overtaking several men's doubles, when Tom was taken ill along Chiswick Eyot. At Hammersmith Bridge Tom stopped sculling altogether and Hilary only completed the course in order to return their boat to its home at Putney. In the provisional results they were, however, given a time as they crossed the finish line and, unsurprisingly, ended up with the slowest time of the race. In the final results they were recorded as "did not finish". We hope that Tom will be back to normal soon, and wish him well in his recovery.

* Position adjusted for handicap.

Full results may be found at http://www.bblrc.co.uk/pairshead/pairs-head-recent-results/. Winning crews on our Regatta Wins page.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2286.

Some of you who follow this page may recall an article appearing briefly back in June about a sheep called Graham exercising on a treadmill in the Quintin gym. This article was quickly removed so as not to act as a spoiler, but now...

... here is the video: ... the video may be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/v/bFnVvuS90WI

Berlin Photos

While others were getting ready for the weekend to watch England's exit from the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham some of our masters were jetting off for a fleeting visit to Berlin, to take part in the "Rund um Wannsee" race. This race is held annually on October 3rd to commemorate the reunification of Germany and is rowed on a circular course of 15km, encompassing an island formed from the Groser Wannsee lake, six smaller lakes and a series of interconnecting canals.

Our Geoff Peel, Willy Almand, Tom Bishop and Hilary Cook teamed up with Peter Haining, Walter Scott, Lee Brown, Chris Howell and Nigel Read of Upper Thames Rowing Club and, courtesy of Walter Scott's private jet, flew off from Luton on a sunny Friday morning. By late afternoon they were out on the Wannsee for a practice outing in a borrowed Filippi with the sun still shining brightly.

On Saturday, with the sun still shining, the crew completed the race in a time of 56 min.51 sec. which was then adjusted for an age handicap (63 years average) to give a finish place of first in Composite Masters eights (Categories D-H) with a handicap time of 50 min. 22 sec.

After the presentation of medals it was then back to the airport to jet back home in style.

The results may be found at ../news/2015_10_03_Ergebnisbericht_RuW.pdf. Our result is on page 8. Crew details on our Regatta Wins Page.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2273.

The Pairs Head will take place on Saturday, 10th October over the new course (as of last year) from the University Stone at Mortlake to Harrods Wall. The club has an interest in eleven of the entries. In starting order these are (as amended in published version 5.0):

• 3 - Elite 2x - Mike Lawrence in a composite with Andrew Brown of Tees RC
• 14 - IM1 2x - Luke Moneley and Jon Brown
• 37 - Elite 2- - Mark Chatwin and Rob Williams
• 160 - IM3 2x - Tim Morton-Humphreys and Richard Byrne-Smith
• 165 - IM3 Lwt 2x - Alexander Burton in a composite with Jonathon Baird of Imperial College
• 305 - Masters E/F 2- - Tony Hynes and Leif Jacobsen (Masters E)
• 308 - Masters E/F 2- - Andrew Bramah and Roger Hine (Masters F)
• 473 - Masters F 2x - Willy Almand in a composite with Rob Carpenter of MAABC
• 480 - Mixed Masters F 2x - Tom Bishop in a composite with Hilary Cook of MAABC
• 491 - Masters G 2x - Geoff Peel in a composite with Graham St. John Bagnall of TSS
• 493 - Masters G 2x - Dick Findlay in a composite with Andy Kapica of Kingston RC

The race starts at 3:30pm.

Some Photos

It's been a busy weekend for the club. In addition to the Wallingford sculls and the Munich 12k we had Duncan Hughes, Tony Hynes, Richard Robinson and Leif Jacobsen sculling down the Thames from Henley to the club. Here is Duncan's report:

We had actually started this paddle five years ago sculling from Oxford to Henley on one of the hottest days of the year the weekend before Henley with the intention of completing the trip back to the club the following day. We now know that we had been overly optimistic five years ago and our decision to stop at Henley had been the right one. Our experience was that the better the weather the more pleasure boats and the more pleasure boats the longer the queues at locks etc. so we decided this time to take two days to complete our trip and do it slightly later in the season to avoid the crowds.

So we set off from Leander at about 8.45am on Saturday, Graham having kindly taken half the crew and boat there on his way to Wallingford with all the club scullers. We didn't stop, apart from for locks (of which there are 18 between Henley and Chiswick), until we got to Eton Excelsior where we had arranged to pull in and were pleased of a cup of tea and a stretch for twenty minutes or so. We then carried on, arriving at Staines Boat Club at about 3.15pm. Our "support team", who were cycling, arrived slightly later due to a couple of punctures and route deviations so we awaited them in the Swan by the bridge in Staines. We had managed to maintain our aim of about five minutes per kilometre and fifteen minutes per lock throughout the scull and the river was not too busy although our steersman Tony Hynes did complain of sore back and neck from looking round so much. Some of the scenery and houses we passed were quite stunning and we were definitely blessed weather-wise. We left the boat on trestles at Staines overnight and retreated chez Robinson for refuelling (and unfortunately the rugby!!).

On Sunday we left Staines at 8am, had a delay at Penton Hook lock due to a slight misunderstanding about lock operating and continued until we arrived at QBC just after 1.30pm having not stopped apart from to queue for locks. By the time we passed through Molesey lock with just the Kingston and Teddington stretch to go the banter had subsided and the soreness had taken over so we just paddled on through mainly in silence until the end.

The scull is about 80km (50miles) and took 12 hours on the water over the two days of which approximately 50% is actually paddling and the other half is going through locks and one short break. The London Pride in the club Bar after a nice hot shower tasted rather nice on our return.

We are still totting up the final numbers but it looks like we have raised about £700 for Odense rowing club in Denmark which was destroyed by an arson attack a matter of weeks ago. So thank you to all who contributed and supported us on what was a very enjoyable weekend and to Leander, Eton Excelsior and Staines boat clubs for assisting us raft-wise as required.

There is a short video of the crew in action, taken by one of Duncan's clients from his barge at Hampton Court.

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2253.

While Dave King was about to endure the pain at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday the remainder of the Barflies were testing their mettle on the See Starnberg, near Munich. They were taking part in a 12 km race for eights and octuples - 6 km out, then a sweeping turn round two buoys and 6 km back. This is an annual event organised by Münchener Ruder- und Segelverein "Bayern" von 1910 e.V. (MRSV "Bayern" for short) and this was a return visit for the Barflies, who had previously come away in 2012 with the trophy for being the furthest-travelled crew, dubbed, somewhat ironically, the "Visitors' Cup" (See here for report and photographs).

The row itself was rough for the second half, and not too comfortable but we regained the pot for the crew from furthest away which we last won in 2012, as mentioned above. This time, we did not take it to the Oktoberfest in recognition that it deserved better treatment than acquiring a new shape as it did in 2012! We finished in 55 mins 49.5s,and by dint of being the only entry at Masters E 8s, acquired the pennant - a proper Barflies win!

Race Photos

Thanks to Simon Wood for his organisation of the hotels, finding subs for the slightly depleted Barflies crew, providing crew shirts and obtaining a boat for the crew to row. Thanks too for the support from Jane Bramah and Jan Macavoy who helped to make the social side such fun as well as providing some great photos.

You can find a video on YouTube so that those who did not go this year can have an appreciation of the race, which is run in several divisions. you can spot our crew at 2 min. 40 sec.

Our crew finished 60th out of 70 in a time of 55 min. 49.5 sec. The crew details are listed on our Regatta Wins page.

Dave King is planning the Voga Longa in Venice for next year, if you can make that trip, I promise it will be the usual good fun. (Report by Adrian Balardie)

Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=2257.

We had six entries in the Wallingford Long Distance Sculls on Saturday, including two from Matt Denley, but on the day Mark Boyd scratched leaving us with just the four scullers.

In the morning, in division 1, Matt completed the course in 18 min. 15.7 sec, finishing second in the IM1 category, while Mark O'Brien clocked 19 min. 21.3 sec,, placing him fourth in IM3. Geoff Peel, competing in Masters F, beat Longden of Melbourne University by just 0.2 sec to take third place in the category in a time of 21 min. 13.0 sec. In the afternoon, in division 3, Matt's time was 18 min. 24.1 sec, seventh in the Senior category, and Charles Harrison was timed at 19 min. 22.2 sec, third in Masters E.

Full results may be found at http://wallingford-sculls.org.uk/2015-results/.

We have the following entries for Wallingford Long Distance Sculls on Saturday:

Division 1 @ 11:00

• 92 - Matt Denley - IM1
• 125 - Mark Boyd - IM3
• 133 - Mark O'Brien - IM3
• 204 - Geoff Peel - Masters F
• 206 - Geoff Potts - Masters F

Division 3 @ 15:00

• 417 - Matt Denley - Senior
• 436 - Mark O'Brien - Masters C
• 528 - Charles Harrison - Masters E
• 586 Willy Almand - Masters H

Wlliy is "tail-end Charlie", the last to start. The course for divisions 1 and 3 is 4,250m upstream.