The first baking hot weekend of the year saw Wallingford take over 40 crews to this highly competitive pre-Henley Women’s and HRR regatta. Racing from 9 am through to nearly 7 pm, there seemed to almost always be a Wallingford crew on the course to cheer.
There was a great Wallingford camaraderie off the water too, everyone supporting and encouraging each other, especially at the end of Sunday when lightning curtailed racing and we had to load boats quickly as the heavens erupted around us. By the time racing was cancelled we had won no fewer than 8 events (with 10 more finalists yet to race.)
These were Dan Harvey and Sam Chard in O 2x, winning the Harrison Jones Challenge Trophy in just their second regatta together; Ruth Haigh, Lucy Walker, Sam Burrows and Emma Butler eclipsing their opposition in W4-; Sam and Emma again in WMas B 2-; Laura Forrest, Mary Murray, Emily Booker, Karen Walker, Julia Wilks, Jenny Taylor, Alice Brown, Rachel Edge cox Georgia Dowdeswell putting on a powerful show in WMas E 8+; Rosie Powell (getting a much deserved, first ever win) and Emma Moroney in WJ18 2x; Martha Hudson, Lily Clayton, Zara Richardson, Charlotte Hermsen cox Nell Peters demonstrating our strength in depth in this age category by winning WJ16 4+; Orla McNulty and Holly Stafford smiling like crazy as they chalked up a first ever win in WJ15 2x; and Hollie Dickinson, Naomi Bell, Lauren Fiddy, Charlotte Hermsen cox Nell Bowden in an exciting WJ15 4x+ competition.
It was a glorious mix of Seniors, Masters and Juniors in a whole club effort at a classic upper Thames regatta. Special thanks to Keith Settle for putting in a magnificent shift including boat loading, towing and managing our senior squad, and to Neil Moroney for his unsurpassable trailer management skills.
Wallingford Rowing Club 