At the start of the new season in September 1999, things in the Senior Squad looked rather bleak. The euphoria from last year in which we had won a silver in the School First Eights category at National Schools Regatta and with Alex Partridge and Jamie Cox representing Britain for the second year running, had now waned. Despite keeping half of the 1998/9 crew, we were still two short of oarsman for the future 1st VIII and I desperately wanted to leave the small J16 Squad together if at all possible.
The arrival of Stephen Girard from Nantes came at a timely moment. Stephen had always wanted to come to England after completing his Baccalaureate and was keen to study locally and row with his Monkton friends. His acceptance on a years foundation course by a Bath College of FE, meant that he could join in with the School squad from September onwards. The eighth oarsman was found in the shape of Tom Crisford, a new Lower Sixth entrant. Tom had never rowed before, but being tall and extremely keen to learn, it was worth a try. Because of rugby commitments we did not see a lot of Tom until January, when he was immediately put on a crash course in the art of rowing!
While Tom was learning the ropes, we relied heavily on our GAP student Andrew Grant during the first part of the Lent term. His obvious strength, experience and ability helped give us some good early results in the eight, though I knew it would be difficult to emulate these later in a genuine U18 crew. Once again, there being was real competition for 1st VIII places. The success of last year's crew can partly be attributed to the larger squad available.
Encouraging head-race results in the eight at Stourport (using AG) and in fours at Avon County were followed by a poor row in the eight at City of Bristol, where we were well beaten by a mediocre Emanuel crew. I therefore decided to split the eight into two coxed fours for the Schools Head. The A crew finished third, which although not actually a bad result, was a bit disappointing, as we thought we had a good chance of winning this event.
As ever, the Nantes training camp at Easter provided the opportunity for some fast-track improvement, especially for those less experienced members of the eight. Lots of miles and lots of seat-racing in pairs and fours improved technique and certainly helped harden up individuals to the reality of competition at school 1st VIII level.
Back in England at the start of the Summer Term, we had an immediate confidence boost with a good win in J18 coxed fours at first regatta of the season at Birmingham. It needed an aggressive and determined row to beat Lancaster RGS in the final, who incidentally went on to win the School coxed fours at National Schools a month later. Even better, it was achieved without the presence of Henry who was on international duty in Munich. This was soon followed by a win in S3 eights over Bournemouth University and Gloucester RC in a straight final at Coate Water Park Regatta. The row however was rather rushed and scrappy and we actually had a better and more controlled race in J18 eights despite losing to Monmouth School by length.
Things were looking up and although I knew that we were not a particularly fast crew, I was confident that we would be competitive for a place in the final of the Childe Beale Cup for school first eights, at National Schools Regatta in Nottingham. It turned out to be a huge anti-climax. Dreadful weather conditions meant that any racing on the Saturday was restricted to timed, head-race style events. The end result was also disappointing, finishing 8th out of the nine crews taking part, with three others withdrawn. Time-wise however, it was very close. Just over a length would have separated 3rd to 9th place and 5 seconds faster would have moved us up into bronze medal position!
The Championship Coxless Fours event on the Sunday of National Schools was always an event that I had wanted to do with a Monkton crew. This year I felt that we had the right individuals to give it a go. From their first outing in Nantes, they showed great promise, combining power with speed and endurance. Unfortunately we were drawn in a very tough heat against the top fours from Hampton, Bedford and Skibbereen (Ireland), with three crews to go through to the semi- finals. Despite coming fourth and not even getting through the eliminator, for quality rowing this race was probably the best by a Monkton crew for many years. Not only did just over half a length (1.5 seconds) separate all four crews the whole way down the course, but we would have beaten the Hampton School crew had we not crabbed just before the line. Our time would also have won both other eliminators, by six and nine seconds respectively! It was a rather cruel way to end what had been in other respects a weekend of anti-climax. In the end after a brilliant race the crew had nothing to show for it and it is sad to think that it will soon be forgotten by all except myself and those who rowed in the boat.
Following National Schools, the next target was Henley Royal Regatta. The build up was fairly good and we had some excellent sparring matches with Bath University, helping both crews to maintain composure under pressure. Despite not winning at either Reading Amateur or Reading Town, the 1st VIII was becoming more cohesive and more consistent as the season drew on. We were certainly pleased to find out that there would be no qualifying race for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley, and we were even more pleased to discover that our first-round opponents were to be Kings School Worcester, whom we had beaten twice this season already.
Those who came to watch the race will know what a disappointment it was. For the crew themselves it was devastating to be trounced by a school which we were all convinced we could beat. There was certainly no question of being over-confident, or even of under-performing. All nine individuals performed as consistently as they had done during the recent training. It was simply that Kings Worcester exceeded all expectations, and all credit to them.
I suppose that in the end I feel that for a First Eight containing two fifth formers plus a pupil who had only started rowing in January, we had done pretty well. On numerous occasions during the year I wondered whether we should be concentrating on producing a four rather than an eight. Third place in coxed fours at the Schools Head, a win at Birmingham over a crew who later took the gold in J4+ at National Schools Regatta and a superb race in the Championship Coxless Fours, all lent weight to this argument. There was no doubt that the talent was diluted by rowing an eight, but then we did have nine individuals who were prepared to train very hard and dedicate themselves to improvement. Also the so-called weaker individuals will soon become the strength and backbone of future Monkton crews.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with this squad throughout the year and I look forward to next season with anticipation.
DMC