Wingfield Sculls 2008; Olympian Mahe Drysdale edged victory in this year’s Wingfield Sculls having been pushed hard over the 6.8km tideway championship course by ICBC scullers. This is an incredible endurance test where racers all start together regatta style, but have to maintain power and technique over the entire head race course. The errie stillness and crisp cold air felt along Putney Embankment was reflective of the mood in anticipation of this race for the title of amateur sculling Champion of the Thames and Great Britain. Dating back to 1830 this race is one of the most physical and mental challenges a sculler can face and only a select few compete each year. ICBC, the home of tideway rowing, accounted for three of the five entries.
The final line-up was immesnse:
Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand representing Tideway Scullers, a three time World Champion just returned from the Olympics. Drysdale’s steely determination won him a bronze medal in Beijing despite suffering badly from an infection throughout the race and needing to be carried via a life raft out of his boat.
Richard Ockendon of Molesey BC, GB trialist and winner of the S1 4x- at four’s head of the river race in 2005 with this year’s Olympic gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge.
3 of ICBC’s elite scullers: Simon Hislop, Adam Freeman-Pask and George Whittaker. Hislop and Whittaker were winning crewmates in this year’s Visitor’s Challenge Cup at Henley while Hislop and Freeman-Pask were winner’s of the Pair’s Head a few weeks ago. Whittaker was also last year’s sculler’s head of the river winner while Freeman-Pask raced for GB at the Senior World Championships at Linz over the summer. It was set-up to be an epic showdown and did not disappoint.
Tension mounted with some brief warm-up sprints from the competitors and soon it was almost time for combat. The 5 racers positioned themselves in nervous anticipation of the start call . Like lambs to the slaughter, there was no helping them now. Without delay attention was called and silence fell across the river. Steering launches awaited facing their racers. Blade to blade and man to man, this is the stuff of legends. The gentle ebb of the tideway bobbed the scullers as they came forward to frontstops, hearts pounding. Onlookers watched with bated breath, fingers anxiously hovering over camera shutter buttons. GO!
The peaceful serentity was shattered. The five scullers blasted off unleashing all the energy their last minute cereal bars had provided. Engines roared as launches took-off after the racers and streams of v-shaped wash spread behind. Thus began what would be over 20 minutes of intense wrestling against each other, against the overwhelming feeling of muscle ache and against the most unpredictable of all: mother nature. But Imperial was well prepared for all these potential saboteurs and took the early lead with Freeman-Pask squeezing in front. There was little between all five competitors for the first 100 metres but eventually Drysdale settled into a steady rhythm and slipped into pole position.
All racers took the inside line on the Surrey side bar Ockendon who kept wide for a good part of the course. The Surrey four stuck close in the intial stages causing much hand waving from the steering launches attempting to prevent clashes between boats. Through Hammersmith Bridge the field had spread with Drysdale still maintaining his lead but being chased down by Freeman-Pask and Whittaker. A break in the clouds past Barnes Bridge sent sharp sunlight down on the sculler’s backs making racing lines difficult to determine against the glare.
In the closing stages Drysdale was clinging to his lead as Whittaker strengthened for the finish gaining water on each stroke as they approached Chiswick Bridge. With the gruelling race nearly at an end the 5 racers emptied what was left in the tanks and gallantly sprinted for home. The finishing order remained the order that was held throughout the majority of the race with Drysdale winning in 21:14, Whittaker second in 21:22 and Freeman-Pask third in 21:34. With the line crossed there was little celebration as pure exhaustion comsumed the racers who gave a terrific performance on the day. This year’s GB Olympic bronze medallist Elise Laverick made the presentations to Drysdale, as well as to Sophie Hoskings (London RC) who won the women’s race in 22:05.
Imperial’s performance is a testament to the commitment coaches Steve Trapmore and Stuart Whitelaw have shown to the three scullers in preparation for the racing season. Whittaker’s performance was particulary exceptional giving nothing to Drysdale who had to fight hard to keep the lead throughout.
ICBC will have crews participating in the Four’s Head of the River Race next Saturday 8th November over the same course but beginning in Mortlake and ending in Putney. This is a spectacluar event with over 500 boats passing over the course from 10:30am. All support is welcome with vantage points at Hammersmith Bridge and Putney Embankment recommended.
Finishing order: Mahe Drysdale [Tideway Sculler’s] (21:14), George Whittaker [ICBC] (21:22), Adam Freeman-Pask [ICBC] (21:34), Richard Ockendon [Molesley] (21:42), Simon Hislop [ICBC] (21:52).
By Christina Duffy