Upper Thames win multiple Trophies at Abingdon head

Upper Thames Rowing Club posted a remarkable 13 wins at the Abingdon Head last weekend, and their crews recorded the three fastest times of the day in winning the Abingdon Head of the River Trophy and the Sechi Challenge Cup, for the fastest Junior Crew.

The race was run over a 2000 metre winding course in four divisions in warm, near perfect conditions. The Under sixteen quadruple scull of Jonny Jackson, Nick Vail, Harry Rushent and Dan Barratt set a very fast pace from the outset which they maintained right through to the finish line, posting a time of 7mins 14secs, winning their category by 10 seconds. This crew went on to race again in the under eighteen quad scull category but this time they were beaten to second place by their club mates Chris Haimes, Chris Heywood, Richard Laney and James Shorland, who matched the fastest time of the day.

The IM3 boat finished just four seconds behind the J16 and J18 crews. This category is for senior crews, but in this case the juniors raced for extra race experience. The crew of Dan Barratt, Ben Maxwell, Jonny Edwards and Jonny Jackson set off with the bit between their teeth to prove themselves against senior opposition, maintaining the pressure throughout the course and posted the third fastest time of the day, winning the category by 28 seconds and giving UTRC the top three slots on the results board.

Next to get on the podium for the club was Johnnie Woodiss Field, covering the course in the Novice single sculls in 8mis 48secs giving him a winning margin of 10 secs. Woodiss Field competed again in the Masters C category, again beating all of his opponents by a 10 second margin.

The UTRC women were also out in force. The Novice four of Beth Staley, Rhona O’Leary, Emma Jacobs, Bella Sale with Harriet Richardson as cox put in a massive performance along the course; they pulling away from the opposition with every stroke over the closing stages, coming home with an impresssive 12secs lead.

Kate Kitto also followed suit in the women’s novice singles event, with impeccable steering and very good technique she out-smarted the rest of the field to come home 7 secs in front. Next up came Lara Wirt in the girls J14 single sculls event. Against some very capable and efficient opposition, Lara showed her true potential and competitive edge, keeping her cool to overcome the rest of the field by 5 secs.

Further wins came from John Ewans in the Masters E category by 35 secs, Jonny Edwards in the J16 single sculls by 44 secs, Chris Haimes and Chris Heywood in the J18 double sculls by 3 secs. Edward Shorland won the J13 single sculls by 30 seconds, and the J14 coxed quad of Tom Berkley, Harry Berkley, Edward Shorland and Jess Neale with Harriet Richardson won by a 6 secs margin.