The JUNIOR 16 have been a most pleasant group to coach - always willing to do all the necessary jobs like loading boats without complaint. Possibly they were the best group we have ever had at this level, but they found the transition to 'A' class racing a difficult step. This is the problem with the rowing in general at Monkton - it is quite easy to win Head Haces and small regattas in our area but quite another matter to take on the strong Thames schools at Nottingham or other major regattas.

The J16 group have learned a great deal this year - the importance of good technique which needs to be re-inforced all the time - the importance of race build-up - and the need to be always that bit fitter. Their one weakness, in my opinion, is that they do not yet have the experience to pace races correctly. At Nottingham we simply found the sustaining pace too difficult after the first half of the race, but at Llandaff we made our effort too late in a race we could have won.

In the Lent term the VIII from 1981 was re-built around the same squad of people, leaving a IV of similar ability. Experiments with a 'B' VIII failed by the end of term, although they raced well at Bristol Ariel, since it included the IV who preferred to row as that unit. Below the IV were some oarsmen with potential as 2nd/3rd VIII members next year, notably Forbes, Richards and Knapp.

With the VIII, Hutchings moved to six where he was paired with the dependable Askew, with Humphreys and Carruthers at bow and two. This meant changing sides for Deakin who had difficulty in adapting but became a solidthree. A new cox was needed and Lee quickly learned a great deal in a few weeks to become a valued member of the crew. At Exeter Head the crew won their class (Novice) with a solid row despite no-one being clear where the finish was to be. A time of 12.33 was nearly a minute behind the 1st VIII who had an excellent row, and about 15 seconds slower than our potential at that stage.

The VIII went next to Worcester and produced a very disappointing row -the technique went after a good start, and instead of propelling the boat with each stroke, we were starting to scrape at the water. Stroking was not doing Winder's rowing any good at all and I was half-inclined to move him away from that seat after Worcester. On the bonus side, at Worcester, the IV had a good row with Catcheside coxing well on a difficult river.

The VIII was re-rigged to give a fuller finish to the stroke and the rowing improved immediately. The aim was to prepare well for the Schools' Head in London and this race went quite well -48th overall and 12th in J16 class. The IV again produced a fine row finishing 3rd in their class despite getting out of the tide across the Fulham flats.

At the Avon Head, 'A' and 'B' VIIIs were boated, with Turner back in the 'A' crew. After a great start the 'A' crew were overtaking St.Edward's 'B' and pursuing Pangbourne when disaster struck. The VIII struck the bank and took some time to get going again. The 'B' crew again rowed with credit although it was clear that some of their number were disenchanted with rowing.

For the H.O.R.R. in London, after end of term, Turner and Carruthers were not available and so Deakin and Rees were selected. This was a good opportunity to move Winder away from stroke, to give him time to repair his technique, and so Gibson was tested at stroke. So well did he combine with Kett-White that this looked the best bet for the future. The Head crew produced an excellent row to finish 6th in the Novice class, and a respectable position overall, despite having very little tide left to help. So ended avery interesting term.

For our first regatta we went to Coate in J16'A' VIIIs and J16'B' VIIIs. The 'B' crew learned a lo t about racing in their race, but the heat affected Turner badly and we withdrew from a repechage. It was obvious that as an VIII the 'B' crew were very much beginners. The 'A' crew had a very poor first row which never got going over the short course. In the repechage, though, it was a different story and in losing by 1 length to the good Emanuel crew the VIII were well satisfied with their efforts.

At Wallingford the VIII entered as Novices and were really quite untroubled to win three races and take the trophy. The three rows got better each time and the crew could not have done more. In winning so early in the season it raised a new problem because we would have to enter J16A events at National Schools and subsequently. The crew were never afraid of this level of racing, nor over-awed by the competition. The IV would also only be able to find 'A' events to enter.

Into a strong head-wind at N.S.R. we struggled after half-way in both the VIII and the IV. The VIII had another race in which they beat Monmouth easily but lost to King's Chester, in a good row, by 1 ¼ lengths. This crew had beaten us by a long way at Hereford the previous year and so this was a measure of our overall improvement.

At Tewkesbury we rowed with a re-shuffled crew, as Kett-White was ill. Turner rowed very well at bow and we recorded the fastest time of the day, but lost the final to Cheltenham from the 'impossible' lane. It was disappointing not to repeat our good win of the previous year, but considering the lack of outings we were still able to compete well.

With one last regatta, at Llandaff, the VIII trained hard to race in Senior 'C', while the IV would aim for Novice IVs. The VIII had to race a 1st VIII /J16 composite from King's Worcester and in a very exciting finish the boats crossed the line level. On the stagger the Worcester crew were given the race by a few feet in a race that we would have won in another few yards. A final winwould have rounded off the season very nicely but it was not to be. The IV raced magnificently to win two races against men and only lose the final to a very good Monmouth School IV. They must be the unluckiest crew of the season.