CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

Henley season is fast approaching, don’t they come around quickly?

I realise with some unease that its thirty years since our ‘London B’ crew won the Wyfold. It may be of some interest to our current crews preparing for women’s and men’s Henleys to hear the story.

In 1993 Marcus Williams and I were in the final stages of GB selection in the lightweight pair having just missed the cut for the eight. Our coach Robin Williams (chief coach at LRC and ‘player manager’) was pairing with club mate Sean Sinclair. A couple of weeks before the regatta Robin suggested combining the two pairs into a coxless four as a way of keeping the pairs campaign fresh and adding variety. LRC already had a quick 4- who had won that season, hence we were given the ‘B’ status.

First outings at Putney proved 75% promising and 25% frustrating, we weren’t firing on all cylinders. We persisted and moved to Henley the weekend before the regatta. Practising off the stake boats proved ‘interesting’. On the Saturday we queued with other crews for a practice start. Off the blocks at 45, all well and good but the boat still wasn’t running as we wanted. Down the island the steering went awry not helped by a vicious cross wind we drifted towards Bucks and shot through a tiny gap in the booms just managing to pull our blades in to avoid disaster. A quick turn and back to the start to be met by bewildered looks from the waiting crews. We were either an apparition or the fastest crew in history as the first official turning point off the course was well below the Barrier. We changed the steering to Marcus at bow.

The first round on Wednesday was against the selected and fancied Molesey who led us to the Barrier. We settled to our race cruise, rating 37 and gradually overhauled them finishing one and a half lengths to the good. Thursday against Wallingford was an Easily verdict. Friday saw the needle match against our club mates London’A' resulting in a four and a half length win, they not doing themselves any favours by clipping the booms in the early stages. As we returned to the landing stages a hired motor boat came across the river towards us and Marcus had to fend it off spraining his wrist in the process. It was doubtful he could carry on but ice and strapping overnight meant he was able to row the next round where we beat Quintin easily enough setting up the final against Leander. On the Saturday we had pushed off for our semi and a stroke side blade caught the far edge of the stage pulling against the boat and breaking the shoulder in the process. The boat was unrowable but Bill Mason at IC came to the rescue lending us the four used by his U23 crew who had been eliminated in the Stewards.

On the Sunday morning word reached me that Vesta’s chief coach thought Leander would beat us but Rusty Williams of ULBC thought we’d win it. I knew which coach I respected more and put this out of my mind.

In the final Leander, the GB heavyweight U23 crew, powered off the start and led us by a length at the Barrier. By that stage of the race we had settled to our usual mid race pace at 37 and from the stroke seat I remember thinking this’ll do us, we know it works so stick with it. Sure enough we sensed their stern coming back and Marcus at bow called ‘got their stern, got their stroke man’ as we moved through. (I still don’t know how he kept his voice that calm). Leander shouted ‘more power’ and I thought we don’t need more power, we just need to keep doing what we’re doing. By Fawley we had a third of a length lead and moved away in the second half to win by four and half lengths.

As we came into the landing stage we heard the crowd in the Stewards erupt as the LRC/Tyrian composite won the Double Sculls by one foot.

Thinking back I learned a few things from this experience:

The opposition really has nothing to do with you. They might have a blinder or a shocker, that’s out of your control so don’t worry about them. Common enough sports psychology.
If you’re going well don’t change anything. It’s all too easy to be affected by being down or leading a race and to change your strategy.
React positively to adversity which will probably happen in one form or other. We sustained injury and a broken boat but came through.
Don’t be overly concerned about poor outings, there’s time!
Don’t be affected by external gossip and opinions.

A poignant footnote to this story. The prizes were presented by Peter Coni, LRC President and HRR Chairman who was seriously ill having only ten days to live. As he handed us our medals Robin dedicated our win to him which raised a broad smile.

Good luck to all our crews competing in Women’s Henley and HRR.

Bill Baker
Chairman, London Rowing Club

CAPTAIN’S REPORT

The last individual test for the squad this season was the 2km erg test on 17th May, and it was personal bests galore. Fifteen athletes produced their fastest times to date. Calum Jenkins led the men’s rankings with a time of 6:07.2 (PB), and I showed there was more in the old lassie yet leading the women with 6:59.5. Producing a top performance on the punishing erg is tough, but producing a top performance after a full day in the office is an impressive feat. Congratulations to all, a job well done.

On the last bank holiday weekend of May, Venice served our Irregulars and Masters some terrific rowing with the Vogalonga. Three crews and a wonderful support team proudly sported the navy blue and white on the Venetian waterways. Still unclear if it was the carbonara or the rowing that was enjoyed most, we are already looking forward to next year and I am thinking up ways to toss my cap into the ring!

On the same weekend, Upper Thames RC hosted the LRC Squad for a mini training camp on the Henley stretch. We got to practise steering next to the booms and dodging the motor boats which appeared along with the sunshine. With side by side racing against our hosts and some final seat racing, it was a great opportunity to maximise water sessions on the three day weekend. Making the most of the location, an almost sixty person squad took part in ‘Yoga 4 Rowers’ by the riverside. Led by Kara Wirt, a former rower and cox, who had previously rowed for LRC, the squad were taken through rowing specific flows which were greatly welcomed after a high volume few days.

We arrived recovered and ready to race at The Metropolitan Regatta. The quality of racing was high, as was the organisation and the umpiring - a massive thank you to the Regatta Committee for your hard work in turning out such a classy regatta with the best medals, prize givers and landing pontoon marshalls. The hard work of the athletes and coaches produced some excellent results. On Saturday, the Men’s Club coxed and coxless fours brought home a convincing win. The men’s champ quad coming second and men’s club eight coming third. On Sunday, the men’s champ coxed four and the club coxless four went for the double whammy win.

Club coxless four and Champ coxed four with their medals.

The women’s champ coxless four came second, women’s club coxless four came third and the men’s champ double also came third. All crews stepped on through the regatta and produced performances to be proud of, with tight margins and an excellent standard of rowing we will all be looking to make those small gains moving towards Henley.

This will be my last report before Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regatta. We are in a terrific position due to the hard work of our rowers and coaching team, but also due to the generous and continuing support of the entire club. Please feel welcome to come and cheer on our racing crews at both regattas. Our squad wouldn’t be where they are today without all our wonderful members behind us. Look out in the Weekly Brief for crew announcements and to our club instagram @londonrowingclub for race times and results.

Henley Women’s Regatta - Friday 16th - Sunday 18th June

Henley Royal Regatta - Tuesday 27th June - Sunday 2nd July

Caps & Ties will be held on the Friday of HRR at 6pm in Lion Meadow Row I 47. If LRC are racing after 6pm, the time will be moved to after the last LRC race where I expect to see a sea of white (or was once white) blazers descending on the marquee. With a £15 donation you will receive bottomless Pimms. All members and friends are welcome and encouraged to join.

Bang the drum!

Elizabeth Cottrell
Captain, London Rowing Club

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…

IRREGULARS REPORT

Thursday evening outings continue to be popular and they will keep going as long as the light allows. Of course, there is the added attraction of the Bar being open and, of course, exchanging pleasantries with the delightful Millennials.

Many of our members attended the Irregulars Club Dinner on Thursday 25thMay. Although I could not attend I have heard from several attenders what fun it was and, in particular, a lot of plaudits for the food. Annabel Lawrence (our Events Manager) was responsible and I just want to pass on thanks and appreciation to her and the team. Thank you Annabel!

On that note also, I want to reiterate that these dinners are open to all Club members and all members are encouraged and very welcome to attend. It is often a very good means of entertaining friends. London Rowing Club is a special place!!

The Summer Season is well upon us and we are busy getting arrangements made for visits to Henley during HRR. An important part of this year’s arrangements has been ensuring that our wooden skiff “Tubby Bryant” (ex LRC training tub) is fit and seaworthy – she is undergoing a bit of refurbishment currently to make sure that she can take up positions on the booms during racing. If anybody is interested in joining the syndicate of owners please contact me at eddie.markes@londonrc.org.uk.

Lastly, our overseas and longstanding member Frank ter Voorde is again organising participation in the Traversée de Paris on 10th September. This is a wonderful event and for those of you who may have caught the foreign bug following participation in the Vogalonga, I urge you to try this. Different City, different vibe but well worth sampling! Of course, anybody is welcome – please contact me at eddie.markes@londonrc.org.uk if you want any more information.

Eddie Markes

MILLENNIALS REPORT

The Millennials group’s focus is now firmly on summer racing, with crews training to compete across age categories A/B, C, and D.

As a warm-up for the upcoming races, a group of top millennials crews recently spent the morning in Henley, for some pieces against our hosts at Upper Thames RC. Despite the blustery weather, resembling head season rather than regatta season, racing was conducted in the “Met Regatta” format, with a time trial piece in the first outing to seed the draw for the side-by-side pieces in the second. The Masters B 4- and D 4- crews won their races, with the C4x narrowly losing by one seat after a clash and restart. A handful of spare LRC rowers also joined forces on the day with UTRC rowers to race in a four and an eight, coxed by our own Alice Sewell. Thanks again to Paul Mascaro, Mark Lucani, and Nick Horne of UTRC for organising. We look forward to some more enjoyable and close racing against UTRC Masters in the coming weeks at British Masters and Henley Masters.

British Rowing Masters Championships will be held in Nottingham this coming weekend. A total of 17 Millennials rowers will represent LRC in 12 different events over the weekend, in categories A, B, C and D. Readers can expect a full report in next month’s edition of The London Roar!

Side by side: Matous Michnevic (s), Paul Mascaro, Richard Benton, Evan Grace (b) in the Masters C4x. Stewart Harries and Adrian Theed are in the bow pair of the opposing LRC/UTRC crew.

A choppy view from the 2-seat: Rob Williams (s) and Nick Musson (3) of the Masters B4- warming up in the waves near Temple Island.

Will Randall

LRC SOCIAL

* Gather your friends and family every Thursday this month when we will have the bar open from 7pm.

* For our Summer Sunday Series we will have street food offerings from Changos Empanadas and plant based Gelato from Chill along with fresh pastries provided by Butterside up! The bar will be open from midday. Join us on 11th June, 16th July, 20th August and 10th September. The more the merrier, so please do bring guests along!

Kate MacDonald

LRC, Business Development Manager

Kate MacDonald
LRC, Business Development Manager

GOOD LUCK DADDY

Doug Melvin, his wife Betty and daughter Janet. (If you look very carefully in the top left hand corner of the photograph, you can see the face of Doug’s coach, Tom Phelps).

The delightful photo was on display at the wake held after Betty Melvin’s funeral on 23rd May. It shows our former President, Doug Melvin, shaking hands with his 2 year old daughter Janet on the pontoon at Henley in 1955 before he went out to race Kocerka in the Diamonds. Janet is being held firmly in the grip of Betty. The photo appeared under this heading in two newspapers.

Although Doug joined London in 1955, he used to race under the colours of John O’Gaunt RC in Lancaster where he first learned to scull. He later won the Wingfields twice and the Scullers’ Head of the River Race.

Janet’s younger brothers, John and Simon, both competed at international lightweight level between 1978 and 1991, as recorded in the Club history, pp. 305-7.

Julian Ebsworth
Historian and Archivist, LRC

NEW MEMBERS

We would like to welcome the following new members to the Club:

Simon Broadley
Beatrice Frediani
Nader Moghadam
Elidh Simon

We hope you will enjoy being part of the London Rowing Club community and will help us build an ever happier and more successful club.

We are always pleased to have more members so, if you know of anyone who you think might like to join the Club, please either let us know or encourage them to get in touch with us themselves.

There is information on becoming a member on our website: https://www.londonrc.org.uk/membership-enquiries or you can contact the Club’s Membership Secretary, Jessica Salter, whose email address is: membership@londonrc.org .uk

Andrew Boyle
Honorary Secretary, London Rowing Club

VOGALONGA 2023

Venice is back to its fully vibrant self this year. Compared with last year’s Vogalonga, the crowds were back to normal. In spite of that, La Serenissima was as beautiful and endlessly interesting as ever.

Boats gathering at the start of the row.

The row this year was on 28th May. As has now become the norm, there were some two thousand crews taking part, ranging from large Venetian multi oared boats to people on paddle boards.

The Club had three coxed quads taking part with five supporters cheering them on.

We were joined this year by two crews which LRC member Stuart Suckling, who now lives near Upton-on-Severn, had garnered together to take part for the first time and Melanie Kent’s group of fourteen joined us from the Chichester area.

As usual, we gathered on the Friday evening for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Giudecca Canal called Terrazza dei Nobile. There were forty of us there (which I suspect was a record for the first evening’s meal). Somewhat to my surprise the restaurant hadn’t required us to choose a fixed menu but were happy to let us choose from their a la carte menu. I think this was the best meal I can remember having on one of these evenings.

On Saturday, the crews went over to Mestre where the boat trailer was parked. There they rigged the boats and prepared them for the row. In previous years we would have then rowed the boats to the English Church in the centre of Venice and left them there in readiness for the row on Sunday. This year, however, a map had been posted on the Vogalonga website stating the boats were prohibited from going down various canals on Saturday and were no longer allowed to park overnight in the centre of Venice. Being honourable, law abiding Brits we obeyed these instructions but it subsequently became clear that they had been ignored by many other participants. Next year, I have a feeling we will ignore these kinds of instructions and revert to our previous way of doing things.

On Saturday evening, Stuart’s and Melanie’s groups had arranged to have their own, separate, dinners so the dinner at Antica Locanda Montin - another restaurant we have used for many previous years - was attended by eighteen LRC crew and supporters. This restaurant always provides a very pleasant setting before the following day’s action.

Dinner party outside on a veranda — Dinner at Antica Locanda Montin.

Sunday dawned slightly overcast and a pleasant 18/19c. After last year, when temperatures had risen to about 28c for much the day, this year the maximum was more like 23c, which was a blessing for the crews, particularly because they had to row from Mestre to the start of the course and back again afterwards.

While the course is about 30km, for our crews this year their row was more like 42km.

Notwithstanding this, about fifty turned up to the drinks party on the Sunday evening at Nick Blair-Fish’s house, Ca Malcanton, starting at 7pm and ending at 9pm, giving those who wanted to have an early night after their exertions of the day a chance to get to bed and for those still keen to keep going, time to go out to go out for a meal.

All in all, it is hoped that everyone who came to Venice thoroughly enjoyed themselves and felt it was a worthwhile thing to do.

Huge thanks are due to Andrew Boyle who took over the organisation of the trip so brilliantly this year. He and Paul Cave are also to be thanked for driving the boats to Venice and Stuart Suckling and Maurice Stanley for driving them back to the London.

As someone who organised our groups for five years before Andrew, I know how much work is involved so we are very fortunate to have people such as Andrew, Paul, Stuart and Maurice who are prepared to make this ‘bucket shop’ dream for so many a reality.

If you haven’t taken part in the Vogalonga before - or, indeed, if you have - why not put 19th May 2024 (next year’s likely date) in your diary now!

Miles Preston
Editor, The London Roar

CASAMAJOR CLUB DRAW

We now have 97 contributors to the Casamajor £75 prize draw Club who all help fund the maintenance of our boats.

So all of you who have not spotted the notices with QR codes dotted around the Club and would also like to chip in please extract your mobiles and connect up.

Only £5 per month gives you the chance of quarterly wins of £75 and £600 at Christmas!

AND the right to own a unique SILK Casamajor Club tie at a cost of only £22.

This quarter’s lucky winners are:

£75:

Jonathan Andrew
Alan Foster
Bob Silver
Ben Phillips
Edward Thomas
Mike Williams

£30:

C J Coffin
D M Smouha
Dr B J Regan
Richard Philips
L T Marriner

£15:

Edwin Walker

John Auber

REPORTING SAFETY INCIDENTS

All members are reminded that if you are involved in or witness a water safety incident, you are required to report it using the following email address: safety@londonrc.org.uk

The Club will file any necessary reports on your behalf with British Rowing and the PLA. Members should not submit reports directly to either body.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the London Roar. If you have an idea for an article or would be interested in submitting a piece for inclusion in a future edition, please email me on miles.preston@londonrc.org.uk

Please do not submit an article without first liaising with me.

Miles Preston
Editor of The London Roar