How to recover from Coate Water, we were down at the river on Monday, but it was too high there was no chance of any practice at all. Still we met and discussed and decided that we would continue and Florence would row, so who would cox? Jessica Dewes took this place and we were ready to practise on Thursday, but the river wasn't so it was an untested crew that went to Nottingham on Friday, but again practice was ruled out so it was bed time.

Saturday arrived and on the dot the crew assembled to return to Holme Pierrepont and the National Schools Regatta. The boat was ready, the crew was ready, but we were untested. Still moral was high and we were as ready as we could be. We boated on time and Jessie familiarized herself with the boat as she practised the crew on the way to the start. It looked good, our strokes were more efficient than the crew following us and we were ready. Getting onto the stake boat was accomplished with skill and we were first.

The race started and we were off. A very good start put us up, but the wind put us in the wrong lane and so rudder had to be applied, in fact continual rudder was necessary for the whole race and this slowed us. However, the crew responded and we remained in contention with Kings Worcester, leaving Evesham behind us. The crew was together and was working well. Jessie called for a push and - - - it came, it was beautiful we were holding Kings Worcester. However the extra age of the other crews were beginning to tell and we needed more. Jessie called for it and it was there, however she had already used up her 'pushes' and we were not quite halfway. What was to be done, had the crew really the staying power that PGB claimed or not Jessie was to put it to the test as she called for another push.

It came and it was beautiful, this happened at least three times more before the 'take it home' and every time it was good, but the older crews were leaving us behind and Evesham were grinding us down, and the wind and rudder were not helping. So we finished last in the semi-final of the Womens J16 VIII's race, but they were good and I was so..so..SO proud of them, they had been put to the test and had passed it.

Excellent, the chips had been played against them, but they fought through and had a splendid moral victory. Next year the victory itself beckons, but it will need this dedication to be continued and built upon, they can do it and it remains to be seen if they want it as much as they wanted to be brilliant today, if they do the victory will follow. But to summarize I am so..so..SO PROUD of them I could have asked for nothing more.
Coach : P G Bossom