The second race in this series was held on this day. In contrast to two weeks ago, it was held on a warm summer's evening with flat water. The race was a tale of the two Marks, with Mark O’Brien posting the fastest time of the evening, closely followed home by Mark Chatwin (rating 22 – so he tells us). After allowing for handicaps MO'B was the winner with the Hine/Bramah pair in second place.
You can download the results (.xlsx) here.
There is a short video (155 MB .mov) of the last part of the race you can download here. From foreground to background (at the start of the video): Graham Bagnall, Charles Harrison, Malcolm Cook, Mark Chatwin (to Malcolm's bowside), Andrew Bramah/Roger Hine pair. Mark O'Brien and Tom Bishop had already finished.
Our Thames Cup eight battled bravely in their first round heat on Wednesday, but were beaten by a more accomplished crew which progressed to the quarter-finals.
In the Diamond Sculls, Tom Solesbury was included in the draw after qualifying but then had to withdraw through injury.
Details of the Thames Cup crew may be found in our Henley Records together with a link to a video of their race.
The Henley draw was carried out this afternoon. Our Thames Cup eight have drawn the City of Bristol, a selected crew. In the Diamond Challenge Sculls Tom Solesbury has drawn SJ Devereux of Leander.
The club has two entries for Henley Royal Regatta this year, both of which are involved in qualifying races today. The races are being held without spectators at Dorney Lake. Our Thames Cup eight's race is at 11:20 (14 ffrom 23 to qualify) and Tom Solesbury competes in the Diamond Sculls at 3:10 (4 from 35 to qualify). Good luck to all!
Stop Press - 12:00 noon
The eight has qualified.
Stop Press - 16:00
Tom Solesbury has qualified.
In keeping with Bar Flies tradition, once the Covid pandemic allowed us to do so, we resumed our summer tour, this time in England to avoid travel uncertainties with our usual overseas trip. The 2020 trip had been cancelled so we were eager to ensure 2021 should take place, and Simon and Lucy Wood ensured a very well organised and faultlessly detailed schedule to allow a group of 13 Bar Flies and 3 of the Woods’ friends in alternating crews to complete the 134-mile trip from Lechlade in Gloucestershire to Quintin BC in 7 days. The boats used were the Wood’s Banham’s Cambridge tub “Frogge” and our two lake boats, rigged as 4x+ and 3x- respectively.
Accommodation was in pubs along the way (tradition!) with the odd bit of camping by the Woods, blessed with the obligatory rainstorms. Weather was mixed with some hot sunny days early in the trip and we finished in the rain at QBC.
Four of our number completed the whole distance, Simon, Lucy, Mike Harris, and Adrian Ballardie. The bar was closed on arrival, but the Woods had thought to supply beers from their car boot to celebrate journeys’ end. A memorable trip for all those who took part and another satisfying tour.
Adrian Ballardie
Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=3151.
The combined Barnes and Mortlake and Borne@ChiswickBridge Regatta suffered from heavy rain and thunderstorms which caused suspension of racing for some time and consequently some of the events to be cancelled, including Dov Ohrenstein's Masters C/D single sculls. Our Open eight did get a race, but in a close-fought contest lost to Putney Town in the semi-final by ¼ length.
This year Borne @ Chiswick Bridge Regatta and Barnes and Mortlake Regatta, which are normally held in May and June, have combined and moved to a late July date - this Sunday, 25th July. Quintin has two entries. In Open Eights we race Putney Town RC in a semi-final at 10:36. The winners take on East India Club or Twickenham in the final at 12:00. In Open Masters C/D single sculls Dov Ohrenstein has a three-boat semi-final against Stromberg of Cygnet and Mitchell of Mortlake Anglian and Alpha at 14:36. The final will be against Burmester of Tideway Scullers or Benton of Fulham Reach at 17:36.
Tom Bishop wsa competing at Molesey Amateur Regatta on Saturday in Masters G/H/I single sculls. His first race was the semi-final against Green of BTC Southampton, which he won, but he had a back spasm and had to be helped out of his boat at the end of the race. He had to scratch from the final. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he will be racing again soon.
The club scored five wins at Henley Masters Regatta on Saturday:
- Open Masters B 1x
- Open Masters B 2x
- Women's Masters B 8+ (composite with Tideway Scullers School)
- Open Masters G 4x
- Open Masters G 8+
But first, Dave King reports on the exploits of the Barflies on Friday:
"Without the prospect of a Summer Tour to the Continent this year the Barflies decided to have a crack at the Masters F8 event at Henley Masters Regatta. Under the very patient coaching of Nick Ryan the crew got steadily fitter and faster over May and June and were ready for the big day. As we paddled down to the start the general mood of the crew was confident and it felt great to be back at Henley with the sun on our backs.
Nick (now coxing) got us safely on to the start boat and we lined up next to Bentham (UCL alumni ) waiting for the flag to drop. On the shout of “Go” from the umpire we got off to a poor start and Bentham took half a length off us very quickly, increasing to a length by the 500m mark. However having now got up to race pace, the crew responded magnificently to Nick’s calls, and began to come back on Bentham in the second half, finishing the race three quarters of a length behind.
After a decent interval to let heart rates return to normal the crew retired to the bar for a debrief in the traditional Barflies fashion. Many thanks to Nick for getting us up to speed and we will be back!"
The following race reports from Steve Aquilina.
Racing Vets
The racing vets started the regatta having lost Fred Jefferies and Pete Meaney to injury earlier in the season and Charlie Harrison to enforced Covid isolation that week. Unfortunately, the depleted squad had no choice but to scratch from the G4- event and row the G8 with two subs on the day.
First up at 15:36 on Friday was the Brown/Bagnall H2x. A bye put them into the semi-final against an established and well-drilled double from Upper Thames RC. The result was a loss by 3 lengths to UTRC in 4:23. UTRC went on to win the final by 4 lengths.
Saturday saw an early 08:08 start for the G4x of Hyslop, Peel, Bishop & Aquilina. Moving into an early lead against Nottingham, the Quintin crew came in 5 lengths up in a time of 3:51. The final was against local rivals Putney Town, whom three of the crew had beaten at Hammersmith Regatta. In a relatively untroubled race Quintin eased clear to win by 3 lengths in 3:50.
The G8 - Hyslop (stroke), Peel, Aquilina, sub (Stewart), Ferris, sub (Andrews), Bishop, Jones (bow). Cox: Jane Adams - began in fine style against Bradford-on-Avon and were 5 lengths up at halfway when the BOARC cox’s rudder-lines snapped. The official verdict was NRO and Quintin were able to drop to light, finishing in 3:45. The last race of the day was the G8 final against Reading, who had earlier beaten 2019 winners Bedford Star by a canvas. The eagerly anticipated race saw Reading initially move to a 1/4 length lead before an impromptu call from stroke Hyslop pushed Quintin back level before the halfway point. The spirited Reading crew had no response and, with the crews rowing stroke for stroke, Quintin pulled increasingly clear to win by 1 2/3 lengths in a time of 3:30.
Scullers
Quintin was represented in three singles events; MasB (Solesbury), MasD (K Almand & M O’Brien).
First up at 10am on Friday was Almand who beat his Reading counterpart by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 4:24. Moving to the semi-final, Kenny met Shirley (MBC) who beat him by 3 lengths in 4:24. Shirley eventually went on to win the final easily in 4:01. In the other semi-final, Mark O’Brien met the accomplished Boileau (PTRC), losing by 3 lengths in 4:30.
Tom Solebury’s MasB 1x event kicked off with untroubled wins over Jepherson of Notts County (3 lengths, 4:07) and Innett (Poole) by 5 lengths in 4:06. In an impressive final, Tom lit the afterburners, beating Maher of Commercial Ireland easily in 3:48. As evidence of his class, Tom’s time was the only single sculls win in under 4 minutes.
Tom also partnered club captain Mark Chatwin, recently recovered from injury, in MasB 2x. In an exciting semi-final Tom kept the rate at least 35 over the whole course to beat an even higher rating Dart-Totnes crew by a mere 2ft in 3:39. The final against Poole/Cambois was a more sedate affair, with Quintin putting in a stylish row to win by 2 lengths in 3:43.
Women's MasB Eight
Our fifth win came in a composite WMasB eight with Tideway Sscullers School - Lorna Cardwell in the stroke seat. Their first race, a semi-final against Auriol Kensington, was won easily in a time of 3:53. The final against St Andrew BC was more closely contested, with the composite prevailing by 1/2 length in 3:38.
Here is a video of the G eights final against Reading. There is a video of the G eights final against Reading on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Kd8SY9bm4
It's been a thin year for competition due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but this year's Potwinners Chart is beginning to look healthier.
Photographs of the event may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=3144.
The club has a good showing of entries for Henley Masters Regatta, which takes place this coming Friday and Saturday over a 1000m course on the world-famous reach. Our entries and first races are as follows:
- Fri 10:00 Mas D 1x Kenny Almand vs. Coneybeare (Reading)
- Fri 10:03 Mas D 1x Mark O'Brien vs. Farley (City of Sunderland)
- Fri 13:28 Mas F 8+ vs. Bentham
- Fri 14:52 Mas B 1x Tom Solesbury vs. Jephcote (Notts County)
- Fri 15:36 Mas H 2x vs. Upper Thames or Carrick Cornwall
- Fri 16:44 Mas B 2x vs.Vesta or Dart Totnes
- Sat 08:08 Mas G 4x vs. Nottingham
- Sat 11:24 Mas G 4- vs. Reading
- Sat 13:04 Mas G 8+ vs. Bradford on Avon
The club also has an interest in a composite women's B eight with Tideway Scullers. Their first race is a semi-final against Auriol Kensington at 08:04 on Saturday.
The full timetable of racing may be found at https://henleymastersregatta.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HMR-2021-Race-Schedule-Actual-times-06Jul2021.pdf and the draw is at https://henleymastersregatta.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HMR-2021-The-Trees-Actual-times-06Jul21.pdf.
Chiswick Regatta took place this Saturday on what would normally be a typical Henley Saturday, cloudy with sunny periods but not too much rain. There was some close racing to rival Henley, particularly the final of the premier event, Open Tier 1 Eights. This was won by our resident East India Club, pictured above, who held off St. Paul's School to win by ¼ length.
Our own eight, in Tier 2 also had a close race, losing to Hampton School by ¾ length, with Lea RC 2 lengths behind. In Open Tier 2 single sculls Mark O'Brien won his semi-final against Brookhouse of the University of Westminster by 3½ lengths, but lost the final to Stewart of Cygnet by 1 length.
The victor ludorum prize of a CoxBox donated by the Chiswick Rowing Trust was won by Hampton School. The picture above shows the Quintin captain, Mark Chatwin, presenting the prize to the winning J18 double scull representing the school. Their win secured a one-point margin over Putney High School in second place.
The leading clubs and their points were:
- Hampton School — 10
- Putney High School — 9
- Team Keane — 6
- East India Club — 5
- St. Paul's School — 5
All-in-all, things went pretty smoothly and we would like to thank Beks Edgar, the new chair of the regatta, plus all the umpires and volunteers who helped to make it a successful day.
It's our local regatta this Saturday and there is a full timetable of racing from 8:30 in the morning until 5:15 in the afternoon. As well as club members helping with the running of the regatta we have two entries in competition. At 12:25 pm there is a straight final in Open Eights Tier 2 between Lea RC on the Surrey station, Quintin on centre and Hampton School on Middlesex; then at 1:55 pm Mark O'Brien races Widmayer of UCL in a heat of Open Single Sculls Tier 2, for which there are six entries.
For full details of racing visit the Chiswick Regatta Competitors' Information page to download the draw and timetable. Unfortunately no spectators are allowed at the regatta site due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Somewhat belatedly your editor has learned that we had a couple of entries at the Bristish Rowing Masters Championships on June 12th (formerly known colloquially as National Vets). Racing took place over 1000m at the Home Pierrepont course in Notiingham. Pete Meaney was competing in Masters G single sculls and won his heat comfortably in 4 min. 17.9 sec. and went on to win the final in 4 min. 19.5 sec, a second ahead of Milligan of Poplar, Blackwall and District RC. Tom Bishop had entered Masters H single sculls and won his heat in a time of 4 min. 37.3 sec. However, in his final he was beaten into second place by the Rod Stewart of Dart Totnes. The winning time was 4 min. 17.8 sec. and Tom was just under 8 seconds behind in 4 min. 25.6 sec.
Full results of Pete's heat and final may be found at ../news/2021 Masters Race140.pdf and ../news/2021 Masters Race156.pdf while those for Tom's heat and final may be found at ../news/2021 Masters Race141.pdf and ../news/2021 Masters Race158.pdf
Pete jumps to the top of the 2021 Potwinners Chart.
Our Masters G eight had a great disappointment on Saturday, missing out on a win at the Metropolitan Regatta by one second after enduring a boat-stopping crab with just 400 metres to go on the 2000m Dorney Lake course. After taking place in the time trials the crew, who must have been the oldest at the regatta, found themselves in a final against the three other masters crews (Upper Thames MasD, Upper Thames MasC and Oxford Academicals MasB), Putney Town, East India Club and Tyne RC all entered in Championship Eights and a Manchester University crew, entered in the Academics event. It was always going to be tough racing against much younger crews, so the crew was not surprised to find itself in seventh place with 500 metres to go, with Putney Town 15 seconds behind. But then, as mentioned above, disaster struck with Huw Jones at bow catching an inexplicable boat-stopper which left our crew trailling over the finishing line with an 8½ second deficit to our near-neighbours. After handicaps had been computed the Upper Thames Masters D eight were given a handicap time of 6 min. 17 sec. while our eight were given 6:18, with the Upper Thames C crew way behind on 6:37. Such is life!
The full results of our final may be found here.
The club has an entry for the Metropolitan Regatta, to be held at Dorney Lake this weekend. Our Masters G eight has entered the Open Masters Handicap event on Saturday, for which there are three other entries - Oxford Academicals (MasB), Upper Thames (MasC) and Upper Thames (MasD). There will be a time trial for the masters at 14:33. Crews will then be seeded across all open eights events into finals, which take place between 16:35 and 17:33. We wish the crew good luck!
Full details of the regatta may be found on their website.
Some semblance of normailty returned to the Thames on Saturday - it being the last Saturday in April crews turned out to compete at Hammersmith Regatta. Things were not quite normal though, as the bridge is still closed to river traffic and this had an effect on the prescribed course. Quintin's sole entry was a Masters G quad scull, which raced against our neighbours across the river, Putney Town, in a straight final. The revised course resulting from the bridge closure found Quintin out of the stream and Steve Aquilina found himself being warned by the umpire throughout the race as he tried to find the faster-flowing water. Putney Town put in a strong start, but in the end it was a comfortable win for Quintin.
Pictures of the two crews are available on Ben Rodford's website.
This first win of the regatta season opens our Potwinner Chart for 2021. Let's hope there will be the opportunity for many more wins.
We have recently gained access to two photograph albums from past members of the club, each album containing rowing memorabilia. The first was discovered by Lionel Bailey in a secondhand bookshop in Henley-on-Thames and had belonged to EW Bingham, a member of the club from the 1920s and still active, predominatly as a coxswain, into the 1940s. Most of the photographs from this album are from the 1930s and so swelled the ranks of our Early Days album that it was considered necessary to create a new album just for the 1930s. So this new album contains all our existing photographs from that decade, plus those from Mr. Bingham's album. The album also contained a picture from Henley in 1946 (added to the 1940s album) and a trio of pictures from the 1920s, one of which features the Head of the River Race in March 1927, the second race in its history and only three months after the first.
We are currently researching the story behind each of these photographs but in the interim the captions are based on the captions from the original album.
The second album was from an old member who now lives in Australia, Mike Cadiz. He was active in the late 1950s and early 1960s and stroked our Thames Cup crews at Henley in 1960 and 1961. Photographs from his album will be added to the Gallery in due course.
Footnote 23/04/2021
The photographs from Mike Cadiz's scrapbook have now been added to the 1960s album.
Because of the coronavirus restrictions, 2021's Chiswick Regatta has been moved from its scheduled date of 1 May to Saturday 3 July.
Further information will follow in due course and details will be posted on the Chiswick Regatta pages.
In these covid days World Rowing has organised a virtual World Indoor Rowing Championships, and on Wednesday (day 2 of the event) Quintin member Tom Solesbury was in action in the men's 40-49 age group 2000m event. He won the bronze medal in a time of 6 min. 3.3 sec. The winner was Anton Grassl of Slovakia in a time of 5 min. 58.7 sec. According to Martin Cross, commentating, Grassl is a former flat water canoeist and it is interesting to notice that his ergo technique involves pulling the handle right up to his shoulders, unlike Tom with the conventional rowing style. Anyway, congratulations to Tom on his Bronze medal!
Here is a video containing the race, which starts at about 1 hour 16 min. There is a video containing the race, which starts at about 1 hour 16 min., on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkdnYj92r7g
We have sadly learned of the death in December of Monry Brown, who was an active Quintin member, particularly in the 1980s when he arrived at Quintin with John Hankin and Miles Malleson on a "free transfer" from Dacre RC. Monty was elected a vice-president of the club and was a regular in the crew that became known as the vice-presidents' VIII. He was born on 25th Septembe 1925 and died on 21st December 2020, aged 95. He was also a member of the Good Companions, a Barnes group of oldie men that in normal times got together on a regular basis for lunch at each other’s houses. Monty's funeral was held on Friday, 29th January.
An image of Monty rowing in the Head of the River race in 1983 may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=244.
Last Saturday the following announcement was published in the Daily Telegraph: "The engagement is announced between Michael James, youngest son of James Edward and Emer Ewing, of Malone, Belfast, and Joanna Charis, daughter of Ian and Hilary Gapper, of Stourton, Stourbridge."
Congratulations to Mike and Joanna.
It is with regret that, owing to the current Covid situation in London, the Quintin Head due to be held on January 23rd 2021 has been cancelled. See the update at http://quintinboatclub.org/quintinhead/.
We have just received the news that Quintin member Deborah Mallinson gave birth to a girl yesterday. More details to follow.
Rowing Comes out of Lockdown: Quintin Head to Go Ahead
As of December 2nd we can put rowing back into our appointments diaries, although with these chilly December days we shall miss the hot shower and leisurely pint by the fireside in the club room afterwards. Unfortunately, as expected, this year there will be no plum puddings event nor Christmas party to follow, but plans are currently going ahead to run the Quintin Head in January, Covid permitting. In view of Tier 2 restrictions being in force, entries will be limited in number and priority given to local clubs. Details will be published on this site shortly.
Progress on Construction Works
For those who have not visited the club recently and take an interest in these matters Adrian Ballardie has taken a few photographs of the progress being made on the new car park and rugby facilities. A couple of these pictures have been added to the photo gallery, the first of which may be seen here. Click on it to view the second.
Photographs of the construction works may be found at http://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=3040.
Here we are, back in a national Covid lockdown which started at the end of October. All rowing competition has been cancelled for the forseeable future and the club is only being used by Kew House school (own boats and foreshore only). We hope that the nationwide restrictions will end on December 2nd as promised, but shall have to wait and see whether any rowing will be allowed after they are lifted.
The club's keen scullers took to the upriver waters of Walton and Weybridge this Saturday to take part in the Weybridge Silver Sculls. Whereas originally this event was for single sculllers only, nowadays it includes double sculls and even coxed double skiffs. The winner of the top single sculls category is still awarded the eponymous Silver Sculls and this year it was our own Mike Ewing who claimed the prize, completing the course in 14 min. 1sec, 47 seconds ahead of the next sculler in the Senior Singles Band 1 division. Earlier in the day Mike had also sculled in and won the Band 3 division in a time of 13 min. 44 sec.
Pete Meaney and Charles Harrison got together to form a Masters G double and were placed in a G/H handicapped division with two "H" doubles, so they had what turned out to be a 26 second handicap to contend with. Undaunted, they finished the course in 14 min. 44 sec. with a 65 second margin over their closest rivals after the handicapping had been applied.
Pete also doubled up, coming second in the Masters F singles division in 16 min. 29 sec, and Steve Aquilina was also second in Masters E in a time of 15 min. 42 sec..
Full results may be found at https://www.weybridgerowing.club/wss-results/2020.
The 2020-21 Pennant Winners Chart is growing.
The club has four scullers competing in the Weybridge Silver Sculls next Saturday. The race is split into four divisions. Division 1, starting at 9:30 am, includes Steve Aquilina in Masters E single sculls with a starting number of 65. Division 2, at 11:30 am includes Mike Ewing (start No. 111) in Senior single sculls band 3. Division 3, at 1:30 pm has Pete Meaney and Charles Harrison (No. 164) as a Masters G double in the G/H handicap category. Mike Ewing and Pete Meaney then scull again in Division 4 at 3:30 pm, Mike in Senior singles band 1 (No. 253) and Pete in Masters F singles (No. 281).
Club member Tom Solesbury has entered for this year's Wingfield Sculls. Due to the lack of racing this year the organisers have not been able to select the entries based on form and so they are holding a time trial this coming Sunday to reduce the competition to manageable numbers. The fastest six over the course from Auriol Kensington to the University of London boathouse will then take part in the race proper on Thursday, 29th October over the same course.
There were 96 finishers in this year's Pairs Head which, due to the coronaavirus pandemic, was limited to local clubs. The fastest crew were the double scull of Bourne and O'Mahony of Tideway Scullers School in a time of 14 min. 17.38 sec. and the fastest women were Craig and Grant of the University of London and Cambridge University in 14 min. 50.97 sec, also in a double. The fastest Quintin crew were the Miller/Ewing coxless pair in a time of 15 min. 9.71 sec, placing them third in the Championship category and eighth overall. Steve Aquilina and Ian Hyslop won the Masters F double sculls with a 10+ second margin over Sons of the Thames and Geoff Peel and Graham Bagnall were the faster of the two Masters G/H doubles, with or without the handicap to which they were entitled. As there were only two entries in this event we were not sure if it qualified for a pennant, but we have now been informed that Geoff and Graham were awarded one.
Results for the five Quintin crews are given below:
| Finish | No. | Crew | Category | Time | Cat. Posn. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 32 | Miller/Ewing | Op Champ 2- | 15:09.71 | 3 |
| 23 | 27 | Aquilina/Hyslop | Op MasF 2x | 16:04.37 | 1 |
| 28 | 38 | Coldwell/Turakhia | Op Club 2- | 16:16.87 | 4 |
| 51 | 42 | Ryan/Nash | Op Club 2- | 17:00.05 | 6 |
| 60 | 29 | Peel/St. John Bagnall | Op MasG/H 2x | 17:23.48 | 1 |
The full results may be found at https://www.bblrc.co.uk/results/pairs-head-2020/.
With their wins Steve, Ian, Geoff and Graham open this year's Pennant Winners Chart.
Surprise, surprise! We have a race on Sunday, the first for the club since the Quintin Head in January. The Pairs Head is due to kick off at 11:00 am this Sunday, pandemic restrictions permitting. Because Hammersmith Bridge is still closed to river traffic the course has been altered to start at "the UL petrol pumps" (the pumps themselves long since gone) and finish at Sons of the Thames (Corinthian Sailing Club). The number of entries has also been limited to 99. The club has five entries, listed below in starting order:
- 27 - Ian Hyslop and Steve Aquilina (Mas2x - 3 entries)
- 29 - Geoff Peel and Graham St. John Bagnall (MasG/H 2x - MasH - 2 entries)
- 32 - Alex Miller and Mike Ewing (Championship 2- - 6 entries)
- 38 - Jonathan Coldwell and Sachin Turakhia (Club 2- - 6 entries)
- 42 - Oliver Ryan and Will Nash (Club 2-)
Owing to the pandemic for once we must tell you not to support our crews along the riverside.
The full list of entries may be found at http://www.bblrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pairshead-prov-start-order_v2.pdf.
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