This year started with the capsize drill for all third formers in the Junior School pool, otherwise known as PGB gets wet again! This went well and all succeeded in demonstrating that they were competent and ready to learn to scull. This process started with a familiarisation at the river for most, in between their other games commitments. It also meant that HRP could get wet and could become familiar with the workings of the club at this level.
On to next term and the scene was set with 17 boys and, by the end of term 3 girls, sculling. At least this was the idea but it was hampered by both flooding and capsizes. In the latter case the culprits varied, but the winner was Harry with 8! Including one where his quad was asked to wait, bows upstream above the aqueduct until the other crews had boated. They were next seen floating down-stream upside down. It was at this time that the new quad Spider was named in honour of PGBs dog, a coach of many years standing! It was though the flooding that hampered our efforts though this was so bad that we were able to use the lake, the field next to the boathouse ,to scull on; however, this was not to last and it soon became common for us to meet in the weights room for a 20-station circuit to keep everyone fit.
Thus we were off to our first event, the Schools Head of the River, without any real practice behind us. There was also the question will it be cancelled again this year? So we set off at 6:30am and drove to St Pauls where the boats were assembled the coxes were briefed and we boated. Problem 1 then happened: an VIII decided to run over the J15 4x as it was sitting waiting to progress to its starting position; this smashed the sax-board, but otherwise everything was all right and we proceeded to the start. Then, pausing only while PGBs pedal came off his bicycle, everything was ready. Both crews started well, and the J15s even managed to pass a crew, impressive given that all their opposition had been rowing for at least a year longer. Unhappily the J14 4x did not fare so well. Anna, probably the youngest person on the river, coxed well and had the crew positioned correctly for the start and as they crossed over under Hammersmith Bridge all was well except the crew behind decided to undertake. This meant that they connected with our stern and we moved over to let them pass. Unhappily they moved over as well and hit our rudder locking it permanently in hard-left a state that persisted for the rest of what turned into a very long row. Still there was no real harm done and we all lived to fight another day.
Another day came sooner than expected as it was suggested that Gloucester Head on Sunday would be a good idea and with a changed J15 crew, we prepared and loaded the boats; these now included the completely rebuilt Bananas, thanks to Barry, a thing of envy to many. Getting to the Head was fraught as many of us were unable to leave until after the Confirmation service, especially as Anna was being Confirmed. However, we arrived just in time and boated, while breaking bows blade, which had to be taped up, and we were off. It is a long way to the finish (about 1k) and even further to the start another 4.5k, all against the wind, but as we arrived at the start so did the weather, it threw everything at us while we waited but we were ready. The rows themselves were uneventful, except that the J14s passed the J15s and then it was back to school. In fact the J14s came 2nd to Avon County and even the J15s beat the Bryanston J14 4x so there is hope. The term ended with the river again in flood and so we did 2000m ergos and recorded some very good times the best being Harrys swan song 7:30.2.
The summer term started and the pupils taking part changed so now there were 30 rowing, 10 of whom were girls and there was the real chance of not only a boys octuple, but also a girls! However, first there was the fact that all had to be taught to scull and to have their fitness increased. This progressed well, though with the odd setback, in particular when Samuel twisted and broke his arm. Thus the technique improved, as did the physical fitness, though there did appear to be some problems in concentration and this meant that all crews found rowing for as many as 10 good strokes very difficult. This did mean that their fitness improved faster than usual, as it is physically more difficult to row out of time than in time, but it was depressing and it did increase the propensity for accidents and hence damage to the equipment.
The first regatta was to be Coate Water and we were able to enter a boys and a girls quad. The girls met Upper Thames in the first round and despite a good row they were beaten. The boys met St Edwards and Monmouth and they too were beaten, though this was aggravated by the fact that the row involved too much panic and too little thought and so it was back to school to practise more. Then a new quad Rowley Douglas MBE arrived and we were ready to aim for anything. In fact the aim was to be Tewkesbury and the intention was to enter two octs and three quads; unfortunately this was not to be, as the oct had its bow bent and it was to prove impossible to repair it before the regatta, due to the other repairs required, so we only entered the three quads. First up was the crew of Ambrose, Cristian, Samuel, Matthew and Sarah; they came third to St Edwards and Radley B, but were second to Shrewsbury, beating Bryanston in the second round, not good enough for the final but good. Next up were David, David, Robert, Luke and Jessica; they beat Radley and Cheltenham in the first round, and two Bryanston crews in the second round. This put them into the final where they were just overtaken by St Edwards, on the line, but they did beat Radley. Finally the girls quad, Emma, Hettie, Olivia, Harrie and Rebecca took to the course and won their first race against Kings Worcester B, but in the second round Kings Worcester C proved just too much and so there was to be no visit to the final. The term then finished with some small boat practice and plenty of hope for the future. I wish them all luck.