In this sport we spend a huge number of hours training and sometimes the worthwhile bits come and go without anybody really taking it in. As the outgoing coach of the junior squad at Molesey it has been very satisfying to see the fruits of the season's labour begin to ripen.
Last Sunday there was the J18 girls beating some skinny adults at Henley Womens, on Friday the boys' quad of Tom Oades, Alex Keenes, Aaron Wilkins and Patrick Graham had to qualify for Henley Royal. 77 crews have entered this event (the Fawley Cup) this year, 16 pre-qualified leaving 61 crews going for 8 places (there are 24 places in total). The Molesey crew got together on the Saturday before qualifying (the lads had been involved in seat racing for the 8 and one of them had been out of a boat for a month).
In training they have looked fairly sharp and produced a good turn of speed but when it comes to doing the worlds most expensive head race between the booms on a Friday evening anything can happen, and often does. The boys duly performed a consistent piece down the course, there was then the nervous wait for 'Here is an anouncement, the following crews in alphabetical order have qualified for the Fawley Challenge Cup... Abingdon School, Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club, Malvern Preparatory School B, Marlow Rowing Club, Molesey Boat Club..' Cue much man hugging and slaps on back, an excellent result, only Molesey's 4th time in this event.
The draw, always done on Saturday afternoon in the Town Hall has put Molesey against Walton 'B', what a great venue for a local derby!
Sunday, today, saw the Molesey J16 girls racing off to represent Great Britain against the French. A coxless four of Lilly Cocks, Seren Orsman, Sophie Hughes and Helen Brown travelled up to Nottingham. The winner of the first race would represent GB as the 4-, the second place crew would represent as the first half of the 8. In this race Molesey got off to a decent start but let LEH and SWPS gradually pull away (and it was very gradual) to gain the 4 (SWPS) and the first half of the 8 (LEH).
There is then a race off for the last 4 seats in the 8, this allows crews that have raced in other events on the day to come together and try out. Once again Molesey got a decent start, but this time they gradually built on it to pull away from Headington to win their heat. There was then a nervous wait to see what the time of the next heat was. 8 seconds slower was the answer, the Molesey girls are off to the Sunny Docks to race the French.
A great week for the Molesey juniors, the hard work is beginning to pay off, I say beginning because for the J18 boys and the J16 girls the main events are still to come, oh and then there is final trials... bring it on.
Last Sunday there was the J18 girls beating some skinny adults at Henley Womens, on Friday the boys' quad of Tom Oades, Alex Keenes, Aaron Wilkins and Patrick Graham had to qualify for Henley Royal. 77 crews have entered this event (the Fawley Cup) this year, 16 pre-qualified leaving 61 crews going for 8 places (there are 24 places in total). The Molesey crew got together on the Saturday before qualifying (the lads had been involved in seat racing for the 8 and one of them had been out of a boat for a month).
In training they have looked fairly sharp and produced a good turn of speed but when it comes to doing the worlds most expensive head race between the booms on a Friday evening anything can happen, and often does. The boys duly performed a consistent piece down the course, there was then the nervous wait for 'Here is an anouncement, the following crews in alphabetical order have qualified for the Fawley Challenge Cup... Abingdon School, Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club, Malvern Preparatory School B, Marlow Rowing Club, Molesey Boat Club..' Cue much man hugging and slaps on back, an excellent result, only Molesey's 4th time in this event.
The draw, always done on Saturday afternoon in the Town Hall has put Molesey against Walton 'B', what a great venue for a local derby!
Sunday, today, saw the Molesey J16 girls racing off to represent Great Britain against the French. A coxless four of Lilly Cocks, Seren Orsman, Sophie Hughes and Helen Brown travelled up to Nottingham. The winner of the first race would represent GB as the 4-, the second place crew would represent as the first half of the 8. In this race Molesey got off to a decent start but let LEH and SWPS gradually pull away (and it was very gradual) to gain the 4 (SWPS) and the first half of the 8 (LEH).
There is then a race off for the last 4 seats in the 8, this allows crews that have raced in other events on the day to come together and try out. Once again Molesey got a decent start, but this time they gradually built on it to pull away from Headington to win their heat. There was then a nervous wait to see what the time of the next heat was. 8 seconds slower was the answer, the Molesey girls are off to the Sunny Docks to race the French.
A great week for the Molesey juniors, the hard work is beginning to pay off, I say beginning because for the J18 boys and the J16 girls the main events are still to come, oh and then there is final trials... bring it on.
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