 (Picture from BigBlade)
The Fours head in London has grown into one of the World's largest one day rowing events in the world. The race is carried out over the famous 4 1/4 mile championship course on the River Thames, from Chiswick Bridge to Putney Bridge. This year saw 2,483 people competing in 546 crews, spread over 20 different events, from junior quadruple sculls to Elite quadruple sculls and Elite mens coxless fours.
The HOR4’s is one of the few races where a number of GB athletes can be seen to compete for their club. This year's event sees Olympic rowers competing alongside club crews with some Olympians competing in their club colours. World International lightweight sculler Zac Purchase competed in a composite London RC/Marlow RC quad and Leander Club saw its World Champion coxless four compete.
Maidenhead Juniors Retain 2005 Title
(picture from Jet Photographic)
Maidenhead Rowing Club also saw its junior crew put in a magnificent performance to retain its 2005 title in junior quadruple sculls. Maidenhead’s young crew was made up of 3 Junior GB Internationals. Ally Brooks and Louise Entwistle, who were members of the 2005 winning crew, were joined this year by 2006 Junior GB International Katie Lion and a member of the 2006 Scotland team Aimee Campbell.
This top junior crew went of hard and powered down the course as planned with Campbell steering a good course. The young Maidenhead crew opened up a gap and crossed the line a significant 23 seconds ahead of second place crew from Henley RC.
This was a significant win and in a fast time for this talented crew of exceptional Maidenhead junior athletes. Their time would have placed them 4th in the Elite class and only 3 seconds behind 3 former World Junior Bronze medalists now sculling for Nottingham RC and a very credible 6th fastest womens quad overall.
Women's S3 Coxed Four finish 10th in Class
(Picture from Eliot George)
The Women's Senior 2 Quad set off right in the thick of their division and Trinder steered a good course through the surrounding pack. However, the girls didn't have their best row and were disappointed with their 18th place.
The Women's Senior 2 Coxed Four jockeyed for a good position with cox Emma Samerkin steering well. Despite a blade clash at Barn Elms, the girls had a solid row, coming in 16th in their division.
Maidenhead entered 2 Women's Senior 3 Coxed Fours. The first, stroked by Helen Stewart, went off strong and set the pace for the rest of the division to follow. Cox Lizzie Gerrard steered a perfect course, working with the crew to cross the finish line in 10th place and an enjoyable 10 seconds ahead of the Senior 2 crew.
The second Senior 3 Coxed Four, stroked by Debs Thomas, did well to avoid a collision as they exited Barnes Bridge alongside another crew. They battled on, finishing 45th in class.
How They Finished
• Crew number 307: WS2 4x: Vickie Sims, Sarah Archibald, Anne Van Diem, Natalie Trinder
Time: 21:08.04 WS2 4x Finish: 18th
• Crew number 388: Jun 4x: Ally Brooks, Louise Entwistle, Katie Lion, Aimee Campbell
Time: 20:11.35 WJun 4x Finish: 1st
• Crew number 424: WS2 4+: Alison Evans, Clare Wallace, Keri Johnson, Caroline Dakers (cox: Emma Sanerkin)
Time: 22:28.71 WS2 4+ Finish: 16th
• Crew number 505: WS3 4+: Helen Stewart, Sarah Hzecko, Kristin Henny, Hayley Wildmore (cox: Lizzie Gerrard)
Time: 22:18.63 WS3 4+ Finish: 10th
• Crew number 529: WS3 4+: Debs Thomas, Jo Macbeth, Natasha Lakovic, Jo Gower (cox: Helen Jacob)
Time: 24:20.63 WS3 4+ Finish: 45th
|
