2 Days to go, one more outing for the Molesey crews at base camp then it's trailer loading and off to Nottingham for one of the biggest Junior rowing events on the planet. If no one else knows that it's National Schools this weekend, the weather Gods certainly do, 2 days of head wind, yes please..
Travelling up to Nottingham this weekend are 17 athletes, one very unathletic coach, a chaperone and dozens of parents. There are 4 boats racing on each day under the MBC flag. On Saturday Tom Oades will be first off in the Champ 1x time trial (0930), a large field of 31 scullers, 18 will go through to the semi-finals (of which there are 3, 2 crews go through from each to the final). Tom has come on hugely this season and I look forward to watching him take another step on Saturday. Second up at 10am is the Champ 2x of Aaron Wilkins and Paddy Graham, these two have been rowing together since 3 years before they were born and have found a way to move their boat which occasionally fits a rough description of what some coaches call rowing. Having spent most of their season sweeping it is interesting to note that they are more technically sound in the double. With no form in this boat class this season this is a 'bonus' boat for the boys as Paddy's single was last year, and that didn't go too badly...
The final time trialling boat (for entries of 12 boats and over) at 10:45 is the Girls School 4+ of Cox: Sarah Markey, S: Maddie Thew 3: Sophie Hughes 2: Martha Godfrey and B: Alice Harper. This crew and the Champ Girls 8 are the least tried combinations out of the MBC entries, but are made up from the best prepared group I have yet taken to a major regatta with Molesey. 12 crews will progress from the timetrial out of 18. The final Saturday crew is the Girls Champ 8 of Cox: Charles 'Chizzle' Harrison, S: Frankie Hughes, 7: Becky Thompson 6: Helen Brown 5: Susanna Carr 4: Lilly Cocks 3: Seren Orsman 2: Grace Prigmore and B: Courtenay Hallwood, racing in the first semi-final at 11:35. Their opposition are Sir William Borlase, Headington B and LEH, the top 2 will go straight to the final while the rest will go to the repechage. Whatever happens in this race you can be certain of one thing, commitment. It's great to see a Girls Champ 8 field with a number of quality crews. Racing should be close and fast, exactly what you want in the eight.
Day 2, Sunday, is small boats day, first up at 9:35am is the Girls J16 4+ of Cox: Katie Winter S: Maddie Thew, 3: Sophie Hughes, 2 Seren Orsman and b: Martha Godfrey. This crew has found some form recently, winning at Poplar and improving with every outing. 12 will progress to semi-finals from 23, should be some good racing for a good crew.
At 10am the Girls J16 4x of S: Susanna Carr 3: Lilly Cocks 2: Helen Brown and B: Alice Harper race off against 17 crews, 12 will progress to the semi's. This crew has caused me to check my rate watch on a number of occasions, easy rate, if they remember to start they could be a threat. The final Sunday timetrial crew is Aaron and Paddy, this time in a pair racing 13 other crews for 12 places. Kriss-Kross as they are known (sit behind them in a launch) are in another tough field, however these boys have some form coming 5th last year (who came second in that one having had clear water at 750m gone??). Last Molesey racing crew of the weekend is the Girls Champ 4- of S: Frankie Hughes 3: Becky Thompson 2: Courtenay Hallwood and B:Grace Prigmore. A straight final at 5:35pm for this lightweight power-bucketed up foursome.
At the beginning of the season one of the objectives for the squad was that they should be sat on the start line of important races knowing that they are as prepared as they possibly can be at that point in time. This is the case, good racing to all of them.
Travelling up to Nottingham this weekend are 17 athletes, one very unathletic coach, a chaperone and dozens of parents. There are 4 boats racing on each day under the MBC flag. On Saturday Tom Oades will be first off in the Champ 1x time trial (0930), a large field of 31 scullers, 18 will go through to the semi-finals (of which there are 3, 2 crews go through from each to the final). Tom has come on hugely this season and I look forward to watching him take another step on Saturday. Second up at 10am is the Champ 2x of Aaron Wilkins and Paddy Graham, these two have been rowing together since 3 years before they were born and have found a way to move their boat which occasionally fits a rough description of what some coaches call rowing. Having spent most of their season sweeping it is interesting to note that they are more technically sound in the double. With no form in this boat class this season this is a 'bonus' boat for the boys as Paddy's single was last year, and that didn't go too badly...
The final time trialling boat (for entries of 12 boats and over) at 10:45 is the Girls School 4+ of Cox: Sarah Markey, S: Maddie Thew 3: Sophie Hughes 2: Martha Godfrey and B: Alice Harper. This crew and the Champ Girls 8 are the least tried combinations out of the MBC entries, but are made up from the best prepared group I have yet taken to a major regatta with Molesey. 12 crews will progress from the timetrial out of 18. The final Saturday crew is the Girls Champ 8 of Cox: Charles 'Chizzle' Harrison, S: Frankie Hughes, 7: Becky Thompson 6: Helen Brown 5: Susanna Carr 4: Lilly Cocks 3: Seren Orsman 2: Grace Prigmore and B: Courtenay Hallwood, racing in the first semi-final at 11:35. Their opposition are Sir William Borlase, Headington B and LEH, the top 2 will go straight to the final while the rest will go to the repechage. Whatever happens in this race you can be certain of one thing, commitment. It's great to see a Girls Champ 8 field with a number of quality crews. Racing should be close and fast, exactly what you want in the eight.
Day 2, Sunday, is small boats day, first up at 9:35am is the Girls J16 4+ of Cox: Katie Winter S: Maddie Thew, 3: Sophie Hughes, 2 Seren Orsman and b: Martha Godfrey. This crew has found some form recently, winning at Poplar and improving with every outing. 12 will progress to semi-finals from 23, should be some good racing for a good crew.
At 10am the Girls J16 4x of S: Susanna Carr 3: Lilly Cocks 2: Helen Brown and B: Alice Harper race off against 17 crews, 12 will progress to the semi's. This crew has caused me to check my rate watch on a number of occasions, easy rate, if they remember to start they could be a threat. The final Sunday timetrial crew is Aaron and Paddy, this time in a pair racing 13 other crews for 12 places. Kriss-Kross as they are known (sit behind them in a launch) are in another tough field, however these boys have some form coming 5th last year (who came second in that one having had clear water at 750m gone??). Last Molesey racing crew of the weekend is the Girls Champ 4- of S: Frankie Hughes 3: Becky Thompson 2: Courtenay Hallwood and B:Grace Prigmore. A straight final at 5:35pm for this lightweight power-bucketed up foursome.
At the beginning of the season one of the objectives for the squad was that they should be sat on the start line of important races knowing that they are as prepared as they possibly can be at that point in time. This is the case, good racing to all of them.
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