WeHORR 2016
This year’s Women’s Eights Head of the River Race saw 2880
rowers in 320 crews fighting it out along the 7km stretch between Mortlake and
Putney. The largest women only rowing race in the world and the only time each
year club rowers get to race alongside Olympic champions (and future Olympic
champions).
After a successful Head season we headed to WeHORR with 18 ladies full of excitement and anticipation ,(We sadly had to scratch our 3rd 8 due to injuries). Leaving Manchester on the Friday freezing cold and snow everywhere, it was a pleasant surprise to arrive at Hammersmith to Sunshine and a flat river. Race day wasn’t quite as pleasant, freezing cold, grey, and a hailstorm, just like the quays at times this winter. Boating from Sons of the Thames, who were as accommodating and helpful as always, the 1st 8 started 37th and 2nd 8 84th.
The 1st 8 of Maddie Szekely, Lucy Bailey, Georgie Grandfield, Sophie Reynolds, Lexie Gardiner, Grace Miller, Charlotte Grandfield, Terri Maynard and Kat Beveridge, had a great race, staying strong through the wind up to Hammersmith and then really attacked the race taking Royal Chester under Hammersmith and then with a ‘dirty wind’ from Fulham taking Cardiff University on the line much to the joy of our cheerleaders on the bank at Putney. We couldn’t have done anything more, ‘emptying the well’ as asked. Finishing 36th and 3rd Provincial Club was a fantastic result, and a step on again from last year.
The 2nd 8 of Cally Gentle, Meg Andrews, Jen Argent, Helen Leigh, Kate Silverthorne, Katy Jaques, Siobhan Farmer, Gled Musollari, and Sophie Dooley, fresh off their win at Trent on Sunday were full of optimism and aiming for a top 100th position, which they did in style. After battling the hail storm before Hammersmith, they had a great final third, looking fantastic as they went past the 1st 8 paddling back up at Putney, and again taking a crew on the line thanks to the Putney cheerleaders. Finishing 85th, again a big step on from last year and a brilliant result.
We finished the day off with Dinner at the Rutland arms, and were joined by some of our now Southern based old squad members to toast the end of head season and reflecting on a very successful day. Now seems an appropriate time for some thank yous- To Coach Edgars, who has worked tirelessly this season, putting in hour after hour into the squad and helping us all make big improvements, for Dorota for her work and support, and for looking after Edgar when he goes astray, and to everyone who came to support us this weekend. Each year the standard at WeHORR and of Women’s rowing reaches new levels, universities are better funded and more and more clubs come into the sport at this level, the fact we saw both 8s step on significantly from last year is a credit to the 18 ladies who raced, the rest of the squad who kept pushing us forward, and to both our coaches who have helped turn our training around this season to push all of us to PBs and a higher level of rowing. Its a credit to race with and be a part of this Women's squad, onto Regatta season, sunshine, 2k racing and a lot more laughing.
After a successful Head season we headed to WeHORR with 18 ladies full of excitement and anticipation ,(We sadly had to scratch our 3rd 8 due to injuries). Leaving Manchester on the Friday freezing cold and snow everywhere, it was a pleasant surprise to arrive at Hammersmith to Sunshine and a flat river. Race day wasn’t quite as pleasant, freezing cold, grey, and a hailstorm, just like the quays at times this winter. Boating from Sons of the Thames, who were as accommodating and helpful as always, the 1st 8 started 37th and 2nd 8 84th.
The 1st 8 of Maddie Szekely, Lucy Bailey, Georgie Grandfield, Sophie Reynolds, Lexie Gardiner, Grace Miller, Charlotte Grandfield, Terri Maynard and Kat Beveridge, had a great race, staying strong through the wind up to Hammersmith and then really attacked the race taking Royal Chester under Hammersmith and then with a ‘dirty wind’ from Fulham taking Cardiff University on the line much to the joy of our cheerleaders on the bank at Putney. We couldn’t have done anything more, ‘emptying the well’ as asked. Finishing 36th and 3rd Provincial Club was a fantastic result, and a step on again from last year.
The 2nd 8 of Cally Gentle, Meg Andrews, Jen Argent, Helen Leigh, Kate Silverthorne, Katy Jaques, Siobhan Farmer, Gled Musollari, and Sophie Dooley, fresh off their win at Trent on Sunday were full of optimism and aiming for a top 100th position, which they did in style. After battling the hail storm before Hammersmith, they had a great final third, looking fantastic as they went past the 1st 8 paddling back up at Putney, and again taking a crew on the line thanks to the Putney cheerleaders. Finishing 85th, again a big step on from last year and a brilliant result.
We finished the day off with Dinner at the Rutland arms, and were joined by some of our now Southern based old squad members to toast the end of head season and reflecting on a very successful day. Now seems an appropriate time for some thank yous- To Coach Edgars, who has worked tirelessly this season, putting in hour after hour into the squad and helping us all make big improvements, for Dorota for her work and support, and for looking after Edgar when he goes astray, and to everyone who came to support us this weekend. Each year the standard at WeHORR and of Women’s rowing reaches new levels, universities are better funded and more and more clubs come into the sport at this level, the fact we saw both 8s step on significantly from last year is a credit to the 18 ladies who raced, the rest of the squad who kept pushing us forward, and to both our coaches who have helped turn our training around this season to push all of us to PBs and a higher level of rowing. Its a credit to race with and be a part of this Women's squad, onto Regatta season, sunshine, 2k racing and a lot more laughing.