News Update from the Weekend of 23/24 Feb

by | Feb 26, 2013 | Social | 0 comments

Head of the Trent this coming weekend. The composite crew racing this Sunday will be Robs Elite Squad/ Isle of Ely:

  • Rob Stark at stroke
  • Chris Covey at 7
  • Will King at 6
  • Ben Hicks at 5
  • Dan Clift at 4
  • Leo Lundgren at 3
  • Chris Owen at 2
  • John Hale at bow
Also racing at the Head of the Trent as Mas A-C will be Rob Roy/Isle of Ely composite 4- Crew list:
  • Rob Stark at stroke
  • Ben Hicks at 3
  • Chris Owen at 2
  • Chris Covey at bow
Photos taken Saturday 23 February: Chris Covey coaching from bow Robs Masters Men caught enjoying an outing on Saturday 23 February Crew list:
  • Stefan Graf at stroke
  • David Dix at 7
  • Sergej Using at 6
  • Brett Saunders at 5
  • Andy Turnbull at 4
  • Nick Chapman at 3
  • Dave Potts at 2
  • Matt Lowther at bow
  • Susannah Clements coxing
Saturday’s outing was the fourth time this year that Chairman Andy Turnbull has been in a crew boat, ending a period of 18 years, following a back operation, when he did not row.
‘The Filippi is the best boat I have ever rowed in,’ says Andy. ‘ Truly beautiful. I never believed I would row in an 8+ again, let alone a fast one. Huge appreciation to the rest of the chaps for putting up with me. It is a mid-life crisis of the most positive sorts and worth all the hours of ergs I have done over the last twelve months.’
The Masters Mens crew are training for the 31st Vesta Veterans Head on 24 March. ‘The Vesta Veterans’ International Eights Head of the River Race is a rowing race held annually on the River Thames over the Championship Course. The direction in which the event is raced changes from year to year, dependent on the time of the tides: ideally it is raced from Mortlake to Putney but other years it will be raced the other way. It is open to veteran (now known as masters) eights, who race in categories determined by the average ages of the eight rowers. The race always takes place on the day following the Head of the River Race.’ (extract from Vesta Rowing Club website) Happily, this year the race will be run from Mortlake to Putney. Robs Men’s Squad are looking ahead to Henley and planning to enter several crews this year. Stroke Stefan Graf summed up the Masters crew’s first impression of the new boat and their goals for the future:
‘Indeed, we have had two really good sessions last weekend in the brand new Filippi eight to kick off the masters/senior season 2013 with ambitions to compete at Vet HoRR, Nat Vets Champs, Vets Henley and maybe even FISA World Masters. Everyone seemed amazed about the responsiveness of the boat and I thoroughly enjoyed stroking such a fine shell. You afterwards don’t want to row in anything else anymore.’
Watch this space 🙂 Also spotted on the Cam this past Saturday was Robs J16 Hamish McLuskie. McLuskie completed a 17 mile charity row from Cambridge to Ely in a single scull. The event was organised by Cantabs liaising with Isle of Ely Rowing Club in support of Cambridge Pancreatic Cancer Centre. Around 17 crews took part, including four singles. McLuskie won free cake, as his boat was first to arrive in Ely. Organisers are already planning to run the event again in 2014.
‘Same again next year? Count me in,’ said McLuskie, ‘ And thank you to those who sponsored me.’
McLuskie raised £80 for the charity. Hamish McLuskie waiting to start the charity row on a cold day (Photo: Janet Hunter) Alice McWilliam, Hamish McLuskie, Ulrike Bauer and Sue Brown in single sculls after jumping Baits  Bite lock on their way to Ely