Twickenham Regatta 2009: Heartthrob Matt Lunt took first place in the IM3 1x event after an inspirational win from Erica Thompson and Rachael Davies in the W IM1 2x event earlier in the day. Glorious sunshine glistened off the pewter tankards as the winners collected their well-deserved prizes. The 1,250 metre course lies on a stretch of the Thames between Eel Pie Island and Richmond Bridge and offered many of IC’s novices their first taste of small boat racing. Confident steering proved the catalyst for success with many crews falling victim to the course’s bending profile.
Reuben Boggs and Tara LaForce were first to arrive at the course at 08:30 due to early race starts. After a communication failure between coaches and athletes the novices found themselves alone staring at a trailer full of boats and unsure of what to do. Both LaForce and Boggs were racing in the N1x and were unable to retrieve their boats which were loaded onto the top rack of the trailer. After much kafuffle, eye-lash fluttering and sweet smiling they were helped by the neighbouring trailer who also supplied rigger jiggers to the distressed athletes. The novices boated alone and without a clear race plan but coped extremely well considering the circumstances, putting in valiant efforts off the start. Unfortunately neither made it through the first round.
The novice men of Rory Fallon, Tom “Horsebox” Walshe, Alistair Larsson and Ben Fahs were entered as a coxed four (Int3 4+: Deepika Reddy) and a coxless four (Int2 4-), but lost out to UL in the 4+ and Staines in the 4-. Julia Hong and Ella Burroughes raced in the W NOV 2x and suffered an early crab which lost them ground from the start. They recovered impressively and hung onto the race by settling into a steady rhythm. No further ground was lost against the Twickenham 2x but they could not overcome the lost distance. The duo were sculling well as they passed the IC cheerleading squad near the finish.
Captain Erica Thompson once against set the standard for the club winning the W IM1 with partner Rachael “Chewy” Davies. The first race was against Davies’ former lightweight crewmates at Tideway Scullers. Davies was very nervous at the start despite having beaten one of the girls (Katy Smith) by 30 seconds at Welsh trials. She showed true team spirit assuring Thompson that her contribution would only slow Davies down by a maximum of 25 seconds; so it should still pan out fine. They won their heat in 5:01 and were described by the announcer as “cool, calm and collected” as they passed the enclosure.
After a brief encounter with UL in the semi they faced another Tideway Scullers’ crew in the final. The TSS boat had Lindsay Muir in the strokeseat; the same Lindsay Muir who collected the S2 pennant at Sculler’s Head last December beating Thompson to first by 1.4 seconds. The IC crew were starting on the advantageously staggered Surrey side but sacrificed the perceived lead after a synchronised air-stroke. Quickly regaining composure they pulled away cleanly holding the lead until the finish. The crew won in style and were cheered on from the bank with calls for Davies to “release the fury” proving helpful. Upon crossing the line the crew crashed somewhat inelegantly into a tree and without the aid of a finish-line hooter Davies was unconvinced that they had actually crossed the line. Minor panic ensued until the large FINISH sign was spotted ahead and they were confident of their win. At the awards ceremony the crew were presented with a pewter tankard each, and to their surprise and delight, a large trophy with “Schoolboy Eights” engraved on the side. The trophy was swiftly taken back after the photograph much to their disappointment. It was a day of firsts for Davies who drove to the Twickenham course without getting lost once. Passenger Ben Anstiss described the successful journey as “monumental”.
The women’s quad (Stef Menashe/Christina Matteotti/Clarice Chung/Franca) raced in the Int2 4x event but did not progress falling victim to Marlow in the opening round.
Ben Anstiss and Matt Lunt teamed up as doubles partners with Anstiss proving a worthy coach for the youngster since training camp. Following a successful weekend at Putney Town International Regatta where they won their event, the crew had high hopes for Twickenham success. Whilst rigging the double Lunt’s amazing wrist strength managed to shear a rigger bolt and Anstiss had to bodge-job something in its place so that the boat could actually be used. They faced Marlow in the final but lost a few lengths from the off when Lunt panicked at the start. As they recomposed themselves and started to gain back ground the crew found themselves on a head-on collision course with a wall on the bank next to the island, having completely failed to take the corner. The jousting occurred despite warning cries from the ICBC cheerleading division. Meanwhile the umpire following in a launch refused to caution the crew for regulation purposes. In the singles both Lunt and Anstiss were entered in the Int3 1x event. Anstiss lost out in the opening round to a Marlow competitor and although wanted to forget all about it was subjected to photographic evidence of his form by head coach Steve Trapmore; “Do you see what you were doing wrong here? And here. And here. And…here”
It was a case of the student becoming the master when Matt Lunt stepped up to the plate and won his opening heat in the Int3 1x against Saunders of London RC. As Lunt headed out for his semi-final against Twickenham RC all other IC racing was finished and the trailer was loaded. Although coaches had full confidence in Lunt reaching the final the trailer was pushed over and hitched onto the Shogun. When Lunt arrived off the water victorious there were forced smiles as the trailer was detached again. But it was worth the wait as Lunt won the final over Marlow in 5:03. Lunt’s father and grandfather were there to witness the triumph having gotten the day off from working down in the mines. Lunt is well on his way to collecting enough points to enter and win the Diamond Sculls at Henley this year. He was bare happy with the performance and celebrated promptly at Duke’s Head. This would be gravely regretted within a matter of hours when the men’s squad were ushered into the club room on Sunday morning for “a little tinkle on the ergo” instead of normal training. It slowly dawned on the squad that this was a surprise 2km test.
The Metropolitan regatta takes place next weekend and crews from all squads will be competing. The season focus of Henley Regatta for both men and women is fastly looming. This adds further pressure on athletes to deliver as part of a tough and rigorous crew selection process.
Christina Duffy