This was the first year for a while that we were able to attend Wallingford Regatta, which has recently clashedwith Avon County. Wallingford is an excellent Thames regatta where it is possible to gain important racing experience early in the season. We double entered in Senior III and School/Junior Eights. This made the time-table very tight, but it was worth it to give us a better chance of getting several races. The weather was glorious for spectators but too hot for competitors who had to find shade as much as possible when they were not on the water.

The crew launched on time half an hour before the first race which was against The London Hospital. This medics' crew included Adam Howard rowing at two. He stroked Monkton to victory in two races at Henley in 1987; the rest of his crew looked meaty, and if they shared some of his determination, we would have been in for a hard race. We went up on the start by about half a length, but the hospital crew fought back, and continued to do so throughout the race. We did not get into a good stride, and had to fight hard with several 'tens' to keep in front. There was no let up all the way, and we got home with a length to spare. Not an easy introduction to racing at senior level! There is a good bay just downstream of Wallingford Bridge where the crew was able to park the boat, get out and rest in the shade of the bridge while taking on a gallon of water. After a short five minutes off their feet, they got on board again to go down for the next race, against Radley II in School/Junior Eights. One never knows who will enter School/Junior Eights. We have before now met (and beaten) Eton First Eight; on other occasions, we have entered, only to find that the competition was poor. This time, the event was used by several crews as a second string to allow racing experience. Radley produce neat oarsmen, and they have a sufficient base (200+ in their Boat Club) to produce good Second Eights who usually give Monkton 1st Eights tough races. We had an excellent start, going up by about a length in the first sixteen strokes. After that, the Monkton crew was able to dominate the race with increasing confidence, and the result was never in doubt. Once again, we took shelter under the bridge for a few minutes before going down for the third race, against Eton II in Senior 3 Eights. By now, the crew had been on the water in very hot conditions for the best part of two and a half hours. They had already raced the 1500 metre course twice, in fast times. This was the stage where we would rely on the training routine which started in September and on the commitment which had been been built up during six months of training. This Monkton crew was ahead of its predecessors in this respect, and there were no worries about their determination and fitness. Experience was lacking, however, with one man on board who had never taken part in a side by side race and two others with only two years' racing behind them. This race would test all aspects of our preparation. Eton held us on the start and then went up gradually to over a length ahead. The Monkton crew had to learn quickly how to cope with being down. They maintained power and technique, not letting the Eton crew slip into the distance. Special tens were rowed with good effect, and the final effort took the rate up to 38, reducing Eton's lead to half a length: a brave and worthwhile attempt, in the fastest heat of the event. (It is risky to produce a 'finishing order' in a knock-out event, because each race is different, but our time placed us in the best three or four out of 24 entered for Senior III eights.)

At last, with the time around 3.30, the crew came off the water for a rest and a little lunch. The conditions were so hot that no-one ate much before finding shade under which to rest before the next race, which was against Hampton 11 in School/Junior Eights,. By this stage, the heat and the distance rowed in a short time were beginning to sap energy. The crew went down to the start in good humour and good technical work was done. They had already rowed three races, of which two were close ones, but were well motivated for this fourth one. Hampton II had beaten us at the Head of the River Race by some 15 seconds, so a tight race was likely; Eton II had beaten them earlier in the day by the same margin that they had beaten us. Hampton did a 'flier' off the start, squeezing the blades through on the word 'Set'. This does not gain much ground, but it put the Monkton crew off, causing our start to be less certain than usual. The first slight bend was in Hampton's favour by about a third or half a length, but we held them until the bend turned the other way, when we should have gone ahead by half a length or so. Unsteadiness, tiredness, lack of experience and maybe a badly adjusted rigger all combined to cause a boat-stopping crab at this crucial stage of the race. The crab routine which had been practised about ten days before was used for the first time by a Monkton 1st VIII, and it worked well; we lost only a couple of strokes and a length of water, but the rhythm of the row took longer to recover, and Hampton did not give up the lead that this mistake gave them. Monkton could have given up, but they did not, and towards the end of the race they put in an excellent burst, raising the rate to about 39 and coming back to lose by only just over a length. It was a pity to go out in this way when the two crews were well matched, but such is racing! The day had been thoroughly worthwhile. Four races - all very different - had given the crew experience that is impossible to get either on home waters or on multi-lane courses. They were much stronger than a few days previously and could tackle further events with much greater confidence.