Home Countries International Regatta 2009: Welsh icon Rachael ‘Chewy’ Davies has won gold in the W2x, and silver in the W4x representing Team Wales at Home Countries in Nottingham. Davies teamed up with doubles partner Lizzie Hodges, and the crew were determined to medal after a fourth place finishing at Nat Champs. Davies then jumped into the Welsh W4x and secured a silver medal for her efforts.

England were hosts at this year’s Home Countries Regatta which took place at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre in Nottingham. The international regatta sees Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales fight it out for titles of  Snr Men, Snr Women, Jnr Men and Jnr Women. England claimed all but the Jnr women trophy which Ireland took home. Despite Wales not claiming any overall awards IC’s Rachael Davies did her part collecting two medals.

Chewy played down the weekend’s success: “You’re just going to have to get over this Adam Freeman-Pask. What can I say, I am a Welsh hero.”

Davies earned the nickname “Chewy” as a result of her vocal similarities to the Star Wars character Chewbacca, who coincidentally is defined as a “gentle, hairy, non-English-speaking co-pilot”. The character’s voice is reported to have been made from a mixture of recordings from badgers, bears, camels, tigers and walruses.

Not only is Davies an inspirational athlete to all IC squads having won Henley twice (Lwt U23 1x & W8+) but she is a highly regarded humanitarian. After graduating last summer from Imperial Davies went to Cambodia to voluntarily work as a teaching assistant in an orphanage in Siem Reap. She has left a lasting impression on the community. It is because of her actions that the foundation RADOCO (Rowers Against Desertion of Cambodian Orphans) was set up by medic Simon Hislop in late 2008.

Congratulations to Rachael; a well deserving winner.

Christina Duffy

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