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From training to racing: Coalporters Women’s crew takes on the historic Thames Boat Race course.
After a record wet and windy winter, the sun came out over London for the first time this Spring, inviting 325 women’s crews (over 3000 of the country’s best female rowers) to the Thames at Putney. The Coalporters Women’s crew were delighted to join them in their new boat generously donated by irrigation and lighting specialist Waterwell.
The Race.
The race is The Women’s Head of the River following the world-famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race course. It was an ambition for all the Coalporters Women squad to race this year. The Head of the River competition attracts crews from all over Britain and Europe, and racing this weekend were women’s crews from Oxford and Cambridge alongside internationals, Olympic medallists, and Henley Royal Regatta winners.
The Challenge.
The course is almost 7 kilometres long, with difficult and changing wind and stream conditions throughout. So it was with some anxiety that we queued in our start position. But Jelly Babies lifted our spirits, and distracted us from the task ahead.
The Start.
The call of GO as we passed the start was met with acceleration from the crew, as the power from months of gym and water training took over, and we passed the crew starting ahead of us. Unfortunately, the crew directly behind us was also quick off the start, and passed us within the first 3 minutes. But the Coalporters dug in, refusing to let Exeter row away from us. Blood and sweat were shed along the 22-minute race, each member of the crew supporting the team effort, to cross the finishing line.
Teamwork and training.
By the time we stopped, the Women were spent. But the crew that had passed us at the start were right next to us again, proving that with passion, determination, teamwork and no little skill, the crew were able to fulfil their goal, finishing with tired limbs, but smiling faces.
What’s next?
This weekend we’re back to our home river - The Itchen - for the last long-distance race of the Winter season, and the curtain raiser to the forthcoming coastal racing season. Our lovely Vlll – ‘Waterwell’ - will be cleaned and polished, and carefully put away for a few weeks, until we get it back on the water to race at Henley Masters Regatta in July.
We’ll let you know how we get on at the start of coastal racing.
