We took our usual large contingent to Wallingford Head. Two full trailers required for the four womens eights, two mens eights and various coxed and coxless fours. As usual there was very strong competition provided in the form of the many Oxford Brookes crews, for whom this is home water, as well as Oxford University, Cambridge University and Leander. No place to hide here!
We came away with two wins; Mens Open coxless four (which was also the fastest coxless four overall) and Women's Vet A eight. We also had a couple of second places for the junior girls in their WJ16 eight and for the mens open coxed four who lost to a Goldie crew by 3 seconds. Honourable mention to the junior girls racing in the band 1 U23 coxless four division where they placed third behind much older university crews.
It was all a bit too much for Nick in the afternoon division. He decided that the row to the start was quite enough so hitched a lift back in the safety launch leaving the remaining seven members (sorry cox, eight) of the first eight to race back up the course without him. Happy to report that the boat does indeed go much faster when he is in it.
Richard Ellis
27 January 2019