Vesta Veterans Head, 2009: Sydney Olympic gold medallists Steve Trapmore, Louis Atrill, Kieran West and Simon Dennis teamed up with Bronze World Rowing Champion Dan Ouseley, GB rower/Oxford blue and member of GBR Challenge's sailing team Iain Weighell, current Henley Royal Regatta winner George Whittaker and the current BUSA 4+ Novice winner John Dick. They won outright the Veteran’s Head of the River Race in 19:40.12, five seconds ahead of Danske Studenters Roklub. It’s been almost ten years since ICBC Head Coach Steve Trapmore won his Sydney Olympic Gold Medal and with a recent 34th birthday and the arrival of a new-born baby, a midlife crisis was inevitable.
Speculation of Trapmore’s mental demise has been rampant in the club and the confirmation came when it transpired that he had entered a crew for the Vet’s Head of the River Race on March 22nd. A cry for help could not come any louder. Since taking on the role as Head of Rowing at Imperial Trapmore has been surrounded by students basking in the glory of youthfulness. This daily reminder of the passing of time and the imminence of rot setting in has been traumatic for Trapmore, a once svelte and world-class athlete. Sadly this dramatic period of self-doubt has penetrated into the entire Sydney Olympic 8+ and Trapmore managed to lure four of his previous crewmates away from the daily ritual of wistfully caressing their medals. Having not trained at all for the race, or for anything, it would be an epic battle of fitness versus technique.
By 9:30 am on Sunday morning only three crew members had arrived at ICBC. Iain Weighell failed to show at all for the pre-race paddle offering excuses about being up all night with a sick baby. This kind of mental attitude would not have been tolerated back in the GB days and a late sub Gareth Brown had to be drafted in when spotted on the club balcony. The warm-up paddle caused early concerns but most of the technical issues had been ironed out by the time they came back in. Despite the joking around as to who was the most unfit, there was still a pre-race speech by Trapmore and their major opponents, the Danes, were identified.
As the crew paddled up to the start line and spun for the wind-up, the realisation that you should probably train for these kinds of things came flooding into crew members' minds. It was with great reluctance that the crew finally started to build up to race pace and only with the Marshalls’s call did they succumb to the inevitable pain that would follow. The first minute was flawless, sharp clean catches and a steady 36 strokes per minute pace. It was a bit like those first twenty strokes of an ergo test “How awesome am I..? I could nail this mother for hours”. And then you blow, so very badly. By Barnes Bridge the crew had overtaken Alexandra BC but were struggling to hold a steady rate. Cox Seb Pearse realised very early on that fitness was going to be a major issue for the performance. With core stability the first to give away Pearse quite suddenly had a clear view of the river as each member slumped down into their seat. The race-plan was altered into telling the crew repeatedly and to little effect, to “Sit-up”.
Sadly time has been a cruel mistress to Trappers who strategically placed himself at bow to avoid the mocking eyes of his crew mates. Trapmore admits to making the schoolboy error of looking behind him after passing Barnes Bridge only to get his blade caught under the water. He didn’t do it again. Dan Ouseley, renowned for shouting at everybody around him mid-race was dismissed to the stroke seat to avoid unnecessary arguments. However time has mellowed the crew and there was great camaraderie displayed with everyone giving calls of encouragement to distract from the large stitch forming in their aging hearts.
ICBC’s senior squad member John Dick was just old enough to qualify for the veteran category and was in awe with his situation throughout the entire race. By the time they came to the line of boats outside the club the crew were barely hanging on but had reeled Danske Studenters Roklub to within two lengths. Dick recalls his state of mind: “I remember thinking: this is really fun. And also really painful… but fun”. Dick had raced the same course the previous day in the Head of the River Race for IC II but was less successful finishing 76th.
As the crew landed after their heroic efforts they were bombarded by female fans in the form of wives, babies and children. The crew were delighted to hear of their victory and have actually considered training for the next race. Due to a sudden interest from jealous and desperate ex-Olympic rowers, seat racing and erg tests will be required for seats for the next alumni race, details of which have yet to be confirmed.
If you are interested in racing for Imperial as an alumnus member (regardless of your Olympic status) please contact Steve at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Christina Duffy