Quintin Head 2012: Just a week after the club had had its 5km test, both halves of the squad shone in the first Tideway race of 2012. Quintin Head, run with the stream from Chiswick to Harrods, was the first opportunity for Imperial to show what they were made of. IC1 were the fastest crew of the day and brought home the IM1 pennant while the women’s crew took their category win, along with the title of second fastest women.
With three Imperial men’s crews entered in the race, competition within ICBC was rife. The two IM1 boats fought it out in training for bragging rights but on race day, the Fieldman Express took the prize. The crew (cox: Henry Fieldman/Jonny Rankin/Josh Butler/Ben Spencer Jones/George Whittaker/Matt Whaley/Ali Hudson/Jack Cadman/Leo Carrington) began the day with uncertainty. Wilf “Team Kimberley” was indisposed due to a stomach bug attaching him to the facilities in the flat and “Cad the Lad” was drafted into the 2 seat that morning. Starting seventh in the running order, they caught up the Thames Tradesman boat ahead in ten strokes [possible slight exaggeration courtesy of Mr Carrington]. Fieldman took no prisoners as they passed with blades clashing; a phenomenon that cannot have phased the grey [or more accurately, salt and pepper] fox, George Whittaker, who returns to the black, silver and blue fold after winning last year’s Boat Race. Once passed, it was plain sailing all the way to the finish in 12mins 38.2s.
Photo Courtesy of ImperialPhotos.co.uk
The other IM1 crew (cox: Jess Johnson/Jonathon "JPD" Davies/Tim Richards/Mark Patterson/Rory Sullivan/Matt Pointing/James Hobhouse/Will Todd/Alex Gillies) were to take fifth place overall (12mins 45.2s) and second place in IM1 behind the Imperial winners. Had the crew not been pushed out of the stream and forced wide round the Hammersmith bend by multiple simultaneous overtaking manoeuvres, the fight between the two IC crews would have been much closer. The IM2 crew were also blighted as 7 man, Sam Cottrell, was also struck with sickness the morning of the race. A hasty reshuffle of sides and a couple of new additions were needed but the line-up (cox: Connie Pidoux/Danny Bellion/Paddy Hudson/Adam Seward/Dan Powell/Sam Lea-Gill/Pav Dimitrijevic/Simon Steele/Gareth Brown) still performed well, taking eleventh place overall and third in their category (13mins 12.0s).
Photo Courtesy of ImperialPhotos.co.uk
The fairer half of ICBC were also given the chance to practice racing ahead of their big race on March 3rd. Setting off second in their category (WIM1), the SI/IC composite (cox: Libby Richards/Rosa Atkinson/Louise Connell/Clio Aubugeau-Williams/Hannah Patterson/Amy Propsting/Christina Duffy/Georgie Phillips/Chloe Symmonds) had overtaken the Mortlake Anglian and Alpha crew well before half way and continued to romp home until faced with an unusual obstacle. On exiting Hammersmith bridge and entering the final stages of the race, cox Richards was faced with a marshalling launch sat in the middle of the racing line. Evasive steering manoeuvres were required and inches separated bowside’s blades and the side of the launch. In video footage taken from the bridge, spectators could be heard questioning the position of the launch.
Photo Courtesy of ImperialPhotos.co.uk
Fortunately, it did not matter as the amazing prowess of the crew meant they won their category [a mighty 30s ahead of closest WIM1 rivals, Durham University] and were the second fastest women’s crew of the day (14mins 23.8s). The unbelievable tekkers of crew was captured in all its glory from the bank as Miss Aubugeau-Williams and Miss Patterson were obviously extremely keen to get their weight out over the rigger in perfect synchronisation [Speculation from Mr Todd suggests it may be a Coupe de la Jeunesse lean].
Photo Courtesy of Jamie Kirkwood, taken from the camera of Iain Weir
In the first race of 2012, Imperial has shown strength across the board taking two pennant wins and the Quintin Headship. The club’s focus now moves to preparing for GB trials and BUCS Head races in February and the Heads of the River in March.
Libby Richards