Great Ouse Marathon

With the Cantabs trailer taking juniors to race at the Lea Regatta on Sunday, there was a relatively small Cantabs contingent at the Great Ouse Marathon: ~22km upstream from Denver to Ely. Andrew Morley competed in a single scull and kindly provided this report:

To look at the draw you’d think there were just two Cantabs rowers – not crews – in the Great Ouse Marathon – me in a single and Sabrina in a double with a City rower. But actually there were a few others hiding in other crews too (I think it was Jane Gilbert in Champs and Kate Munro in St Ives). And if we can still count John Hale as Cantabs, he was there too.

We’d each managed to travel up in different groups with our respective boats on different trailers – I was indebted to Champs for my place on theirs.

I was a bit worried about how the organisation would work as there were twice as many crews as the previous year I’d done it – 2013 – which was itself a record year. Perhaps they were worried about it too as they’d put a huge amount of effort into getting things running smoothly and it went pretty well. I couldn’t quite fathom the draw – in the past they’d gone for slowest first (unlike on-Cam events) to minimise the total duration of the race, but they’d put me nineteen from last-to-boat so they can’t have been doing that this year can they? I think not. Isle of Ely (and the nascent West Norfolk Rowing club at Denver) did a great job, but they can’t take the credit for the weather – it was perfect – absolutely stunning, with cool air but warm sunshine.

On the course…22km of flat water with a moderate tailwind made for some fast times

What can I say about a couple of hours of rowing? That’s just about the right amount – enough time to get into a rhythm, but no so long you have to start really worrying about hydration and food. In 2013 I’d paced it gently so as to be sure of finishing, but this time a put a little more effort in. I was reasonably pleased to have passed more boats than passed me and ended up with a time of 1:47:00 – just a shade over 3 minutes behind the winner of my category. And there’s not many times in my life I’ll be able to say I crossed the finish line several minutes ahead of John Hale. Admittedly I crossed the start line about half an hour before him – he ended up with a stunning 1:30:14, being the second-fastest boat over-all, beaten by only one boat – an eight, and that by only three minutes. That’s class!

Andrew enjoys a recovery drink at Ely

But anyway, the important stuff. Once prised off the boat it was time to concentrate on nutrition and rehydration. I’m pleased to report that IoERC had thought it through in providing a balanced diet of beer, BBQ and – the critical ingredient – cake to munch while watching people pick up their pots. None for me but one for Sabrina in the W.Nov.2x.

Kathryn Berger (City) and Sabrina Peoples - fastest WNov2x!

Kathryn Berger (City) and Sabrina Peoples – fastest WNov2x

 

It’s a bit of a cliché but it was the perfect end to a perfect day. Well, that and the fact that someone had kindly driven the trailer to Ely for us while we raced so there was no faffing about getting back to Denver. What a grand day out!

 

Thanks to Andrew for this report, and well done to him and the other participants for completing the row. Congratulations to Kathryn Berger (City) and Sabrina Peoples who won W.Nov.2x, and to John Hale (ex-Cantabs) for being the fastest single and finishing second overall!

 

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