Wimbleball Regatta 2024

Wimbleball Regatta 2024 – captains report

The adventure started at Friday evening’s boat loading. There was unexpected rain and moments wondering where Adrian had got to, when he left the trailer at COACH to get diesel. He inadvertently had locked himself out of his Land Rover after filling up! All went well with the trailer journey however and sure enough the boats were waiting in the Taunton section of the rally field on Saturday morning. Club captain Chris was busy frying bacon while other members – Si R, Achraf, David, Tim, and juniors from Taunton School, Amy, Tristan, Daniel, Simon, Leo and Anderson with their teachers Chris and Graham worked to rig our boats. There was also the amazing addition of the satellite Wi-Fi that one of them brought along. The first club member on the water was in fact our newest and youngest member, Al. Rowing for Wimbleball she rowed like a master winning the J 13 event.

Our next member on the water was Sarah. Again rowing for Wimbleball, with some practice gained at Taunton, she was off and on the water in various crews winning a handful of medals. Alice having returned from university was also on the water frequently and competently in a single as well as in demand as a cox for Wimbleball.

Following them was our men’s coxed quad consisting of Anderson (cox), Tim, Achraf, Si and Chris. An uneventful row to the start ended with an official warning for not having a number! Captain Chris’s fault, despite being reminded by Si. Anderson did brilliantly with our senior crew giving him a bit of guidance as practice for his later race. Side by side racing against Exeter no handicap, adrenaline lead frenzied start (not as fast as Swanny’s) set us off down then course. We had a few missed strokes and wobbles after clipping some waves but with a gritty row came in close second (podium finish?) Good effort lads!

Next off was Chris in a single, having been entered rowing for Wimbleball, in the men’s open masters, despite it being his first event. Obviously intimidated, two of the opposition scratched. The course was still rough at the start but thankfully for Chris his opposition was considerate and was quickly out of his way. A tight grip saved Chris when he hit a buoy with a blade, but he carried on and finished second.

Then came were Achraf and Si in their double scull. Interviewed afterwards by your correspondent, the crew seemed quite pleased with their row. They were keen to point out the finer points of a recent holiday to Scotland and recovering from a long cold. They put the club’s best double through its paces and finished a few places behind the eventual winners. Report from the stroke seat: One hour later DW and I were up against the same chaps from Exeter but split into two doubles. After a bit of discussion with the starter regarding our handicaps, we set off shortly followed by the two younger Exeter crews. By the half way marker I would happily have stopped, but we were sculling very tidily and were still in the lead. By the time we reached the 750m mark even though Exeter A had given a big push, we were still in the lead, so we pushed on to the finish, gasping, very grateful to stop. Taunton/Exeter one all!

Our juniors then put in a showing. Tristan put in a great effort in the J18 single coming in a
respectable 4th not far behind the leaders. He then jumped straight into the J18 4x+ who were waiting for him on the water. Despite having not rowed as a crew before and with some members having only started learning to scull this summer, they put in a good effort to gain second place behind Westminster School. Well done to to Tristan, Daniel, Simon and Leo. Also well done to our now veteran cox, Anderson. Our other junior Amy then competed in the sculling games. A series of drills involving rigger dips, backing down, pivot turns and weaving. The judges were very complimentary and said that ability in these skills is shown to improve overall results in racing too. Thanks must be given to Wimbleball Club for loaning Amy a boat to allow her to take part. In a very competitive single scull race Chris M was narrowly edged into third by a man mountain from Wimbleball, but another sculler just pipped them both on the far side, almost in a line as they crossed the finish. Chris K then doubled with Misha from Wimbleball club. Comments at the finish about how drenched
Misha was sitting behind Chris were heard! Chris splashing – never! Misha had in fact capsized in his previous event. They were pleased with their row, despite not winning.

The last event saw Tim, David, Chris and Sarah rowing in a Wimbleball open eight. Tim at stroke, David at seven, Chris at six, with Sarah at bow. A quick row to the start ( official warning for being late.) saw the eight slot in to a three crew event. A rapid start, that was surprisingly together despite it being a scratch crew, progressed to a slightly slower rate as the race developed. Comments from the rear of the boat confirmed this rate change
was a good thing! The race was over, an exhilarating experience for the crew. You had to be in the boat to feel it. Dart Totnes won but there was not much between Exeter and us at the finish. And that was it – the day was over. Races had been rowed. Cakes, burgers, bacon and more cakes had been eaten. Wellies had been wanged, tea and coffee had been drunk. Tales of near victories and near capsizes were told. Boats were loaded, with Annette and Kieran assisting. Goodbyes were said and everyone went home.

To quote the old saying “ a good time was had by all.”

EXETER REGATTA RACE REPORT JULY 2023

Thanks to Geoff and his towing expertise we gathered at Exeter Quays, after a light shower, to unload the boats. If you have not been to a regatta then Exeter is a great way to start because there is parking, pubs, food, cafes and easy viewing of the race course. This is 400-500m in length but feels like 600m!

With nervous anticipation, particularly as it was the very first race of the day, the Taunton men’s coxed quad of Swanny, Achraf, Si Ridge, Chris K and Cap’n Wingers coxing, were up against Teign Scullers and Paignton. As the older crew we were given a 3 second head start. After a false start (not our fault, but we were terrible) we were called back. On the second attempt the guys were ready and we set off brilliantly and at half way were still a length ahead of the younger experienced crews. At 100 yards from the finish (that’s like 100m but in old money), Si caught a crab (or should we now say “released a lobster” in order to not offend crabs) and he lost his left blade. Teign Scullers started to catch us, I screamed blue murder at the lads, 10 more strokes and some expletives, we kept moving, one blade parallel to the boat, while the other crews (probably thinking they would easily win) went completely to pieces, with us crossing the finish line by a good half length. The commentator announced that he had never seen a crew win with only 3 men rowing before! This was Ach and Si’s first sprint race and first sprint medal, well won, while as cox, I received a medal for just sitting there and shouting a lot!

Next up was Geoff in a single trying to chase down an ancient Exeter chap who was given many seconds head start. It was a great effort and actually pretty tidy sculling for a sweeper.

Arsenij had his first sprint race and was up against some very experienced J16s, great effort and invaluable experience.

The men’s four were off after lunch so I suggested some pre-race fluid therapy and met with very little resistance. I can recommend the Swamp Monster!

The four finally lined up with Greenbank Falmouth, our regular nemesis, and put in a very sprirted effort, just losing their rhythm about three quarters the way down the course and were caught before the finish line, but a great effort. (Coaching note: 2 pints next time?

We staggered out onto the quayside, after the post race fluid therapy, to witness our two Taunton men’s double sculls in a side by race. Swanny and Geoff in the spirit of good sportsmanship had waived their handicap to make it a head to head with the fastest Taunton crew going in to the final round. Si and Ach won, just pipping the Chuckle Brothers by half a canvass. They had a solid row against an experienced crew but no second medal.

Finally, Charlotte in her first sprint race put in a solid performance with good quality sculling and like Arsenij gaining valuable experience.

Nearly eight hours later, approximately, I might have exaggerated a bit, well ages later anyway, Chris and I collected the medals for the chaps, and Gill got hers for her Exeter mixed quad.

A grand day out!                                                                                            

Cap’n Wingers