National Championships - Nottingham 2009: Coach Stu Whitelaw and Captain Erica Thompson made their way to the registration window to enter the women’s 8+, women’s 1x and men’s 4- before scratching the women’s 2x, men’s 2x, men’s 2- and men’s 1x as rowers succumbed to injury and illness after the long season. The men’s coxless four of Simon Hislop (stroking!), Henry Goodier, Claudio Petrillo and steersman Josh Butler came third while the women’s IC/TSS composite 8+ also won bronze completing a sucessful weekend for IC.

While the women’s squad were battling tent logistics at the regatta campsite, the men’s E4- were living the high life at the local Travelodge. On Saturday the E4- finished second in their heat behind Tideway Scullers and qualified straight into the final. The IC 4- fought hard on Sunday’s final and a gutsy sprint in the last 500 metres brought the crew just 2 seconds behind silver medallists Star Club (7:32.41), while pre-race favourites Leander took gold in 7:26.65. Coach Steve Trapmore was pleased with the results: “Bronze in the Elite 4- was a fantastic result for Imperial’s heavyweight men, competitive now against stronger crews from big clubs such as Leander and Molesey.”

The composite women’s 8+ was a similar line-up to the crew entered into HRR qualifiers composed of IC (Rachael Davies, Erica Thompson, Ro Smith & Cox Connie Pidoux) and TSS rowers. The crew comfortably won their heat on Saturday in a time of 7:39.23; over seven seconds ahead of Wallingford in second. Smith had already competed that morning in the OW1x defeating a Leander sculler, but did not qualify for further rounds. In the final of the 8+ a Henley/Leander composite took an early lead leaving the battle for second place between IC/TSS and a Scottish composite. In the final sprint the Scots edged into a silver medal position finishing less than a second ahead of Imperial/TSS who took bronze.

Rachael Davies was also racing in a composite double with Thames rower Lizzie Hodges and came second in the opening heat on Saturday behind Mortlake Anglican & Alpha. Sunday’s final was a tall order with Olympic Silver medallist Debbie Flood racing in the same event.  Flood’s Leander 2x won gold while Davies & Hodge finished a credible fourth having only jumped into the boat together the week before.

Scratched from this event was the Duffy-Thompson Superdouble and POD was particularly gutted in having to pull out due to a rib injury. Sleepfighting is being investigated as the root of the injury as this is not the first time unexplained bruises and fractures have appeared. It is a well documented fact that God took a rib from Adam to make Eve so this latest injury is merely the result of defective male rib genes. Amputation is being considered. Although not present in person, PODato was there in lycra since two of her all-in-ones were loaned out to the women’s 8+. The National bronze-winning lycras have in fact had a more successful season than their owner who is still recovering from a series of unfortunate rowing related events this year.

Rachael Davies will be racing for Wales at Home Countries next week in the 2x and 4x and we wish her the best of luck.

Christina Duffy

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