Sunday 31st March saw 4 Cantabs crews race at the Veterans Head of the River in London. Cantabs not only fielded 3 men’s crews, but also made up a composite crew with Marlow and 2 Cantabs women raced with the Leys School alumni club, the Peregrines.
In the Women’s Masters D Marlow composite, Debbie Morley, Judith Weik and Gill Cooper were hoping for a grand finale to their season of races on the Tideway having already notched up age category wins at Pairs Head and Vet Fours Head.
Despite the fresh northeasterly wind making the water choppy for large sections of the course, and a very limited opportunity to train together beforehand, the crew set off with determination and had overtaken 2 crews within the first kilometre of the race. Further overtaking followed and, despite being battered by waves, the crew finished knowing they had beaten many of the younger crews starting ahead of them.
Final results showed they had won their category, 23 seconds clear of the 2nd placed crew from Milton Keynes.
The race organisers had described the conditions as ‘frisky’ and at times it felt like we were battling against the elements almost as much as against the other crews, but we are delighted to have won for the 3rd time in a row on the Thames. Our success is a real tribute to the coaching and support we have received at Cantabs, as well as to our crew-mates from Marlow.
Gill Cooper
Cantabs’ Motley Crew were 5th in the Men’s Novice Masters A-D category in their first ever race on the Thames, where they raced against several overseas crews. The Aquaphobes and Poachers crews were 9th and 15th, respectively, in their Men’s Masters C event.
Sarah Cross and Jane Gilbert from Cantabs’ Intermediate Women’s Squad raced with the Peregrines, the women’s alumni crew of the Leys School, in the Women’s Novice Masters C category and won their event 24 seconds clear of the 2nd placed crew from St Andrew Boat Club.
Full results can be found here.
