Women’s Eights Head of the River Race 2010 (THE HEAD): ICBC’s Mel Wilson, Lenny Kennedy, Ro Bradbury & POD’s lycra became Head of the River in a composite 8+ (Gloucester/IC/Marlow/Reading Uni./Thames/UL) at WEHORR this weekend. They won by 20 seconds (18:10.67) over nearest rivals and hotly tipped Leander Club (18:30.39). The GB crew was stroked by triple Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger and have been training out of ICBC and coached by IC’s Steve Trapmore in the run up to the Head. The Imperial club first 8+ came 15th overall (19:31.16) while the alumni composite came close-by in 18th (19.34.9).
The IC Smith Sisters were also in action in the alumni crew with the elder initially unwilling to forgo her six seat for the stroke seat… until she was informed her replacement was Beijing silver Olympic medallist Annie “I might be an international but still like to beat the scum” Vernon. Their cox Rebecca Dowbiggin (CUWBC 2006 CUBC 2007-09) stated after the 2009 Boat Race that she was retiring from major event coxing. However when Dowbiggin got wind of the Big Deals she would potentially be coxing in the Sport Imperial/1927 BC crew, she had to retract. Overqualified and undertrained the crew had faith in their motto: “There’s no training like… no training.”
Although not containing any Olympic Medallists, the Imperial first 8+ was strategically chosen to include the bowside Bedford Massive (Symmonds/Holloway/Duffy (honourary)/Davies) and an international bow four (Germany, Ireland, Canada & Kashyyyk/Wookiee Planet C). When stroke Chazz Moultrie was discussing rate changes she was assured by seat six Zoë Lee that there was enough power behind her: “You’ve got a stacked middle four backing you up.” Coach Brian Steele was less convinced: “She does? Where’s the stacked middle four?” Clearly he hasn’t seen Kat “The Lat” Holloway at weights training, few have.
In the weeks leading up to the Head the crew were not performing as expected in the absence of their cox Tom Fieldman. Just seven days before the Head Race the crew crashed their brand new (< five outings) Stämpfli into a coxed four during a time trial, rendering the boat out of action through no fault of their own. It was not repaired until the day before the Head. Coach Steele was as observant as ever noting that: “There isn’t exactly a party atmosphere in the boat.” Tensions were high amongst crew members in the build-up; seat seven Chloe Symmonds requested some teabags from POD: “Yeah sure, but I only have Sainsbury’s basics.” As Symmonds was responding she was interrupted by Lee: “Your face is Sainsbury’s basics.” Touché Ms. Lee.
At last year’s WEHORR the Imperial first eight finished 22nd overall. However, due to the foundation of “Sport Imperial” (for non-student members at ICBC), the 8+ was this year entered as a Sport Imperial/Imperial composite and deemed a new entry resulting in a starting position of 214. The crew had boated a full two hours before turning to race enduring long periods of inactivity. Seat two Christina Matteotti was unphased by being repeatedly asked by cox Fieldman to touch it at the front during marshalling; “Luckily I love touching it at the front.” At the last minute before spinning, a bag of Haribo was passed down the boat from seat seven. Confiscate *THAT* Stu.
The plan was to stay loose and lively to Barnes where the race would be mentally started again for the long stretch to Hammersmith Bridge. Fieldman knew exactly how to motivate his crew: “Now coming under Barnes Bridge and the race starts again. HERE WE GO: Briiiian Steele, Briiiian Steele, Briiiian Steele, Briiiian Steele, (WTF?) Briiiian Steele, Briiiian Steele…” The crew pushed on leaving several other boats in their wake.
As they rounded St. Paul’s bend the crowd support from Hammersmith Bridge came into range. Rehearsed “YOU CAN DO IT! ” chants were well appreciated as was a giant bedsheet draped over the railings repeating the sentiment. Anstiss has far too much time on his hands, especially when Dick gets involved.
But there was no time for acknowledgment and Fieldman called focus back into the boat: “Coming past Harrod’s now, LET’S MOVE: Steeeeve Trapmore (POD could see where this was going), Steeeeve Trapmore, Steeeeve Trapmore, Steeeeve Trapmore…” A good race plan by all accounts.
Never has the line of boats along the embankment seemed so long and it was with great relief that the crew were called down at the finish. Mentally and physically destroyed there was nothing left but to paddle back, hit the rum and wake up on Sunday with a moustache wondering what’s occurrin’? Operation Damage Limitation by Alcohol Soakage (via carbs) may have slightly backfired: POD is still picking pieces of Dorito and pitta bread out of the flat sofa.
Coach Steele described the results as “A very very good day for ICBC,” but acknowledged the disadvantage of high starting numbers racing on a slacker tide. Any excuses are welcome at this point of reflection.
The Men’s Head of the River is in less than two weeks… March 27th! Best of luck to all crews in their final preparations.
Christina Duffy
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Crew Lists:
Sport Imperial/1927 BC (18th): Cox: Rebecca Dowbiggin/S: Nicky Smith/Rachel Smith/Annie Vernon/Elly Kingma/Julia Parker/Ro Smith/Jane Ilyinskaya/Hannah Bill.
Sport Imperial/Imperial (15th): Cox: Tom Fieldman/S: Chazz Moultrie/Chloe Symmonds/Zoë Lee/Kat Holloway/Mathilde Pauls/Christina Duffy/Christina Matteotti/Rachael Davies
Gloucester/IC/Marlow/Reading Uni./Thames/UL (1st): Cox: Caroline O'Connor/S: Katherine Grainger/Alison Knowles/Natasha Page/Mel Wilson/Jess Eddie/Ro Bradbury/Lenny Kennedy/Beth Rodford