05/08/06

Five Trophies for Upper Thames at the T and V Regatta

Most promising of the five winning crews from Upper Thames Rowing Club at the Henley Town and Visitors Regatta was probably the Senior 3 coxed fours. Stroked by Tom Davies with Will Satch, Nick Rushton and Ollie Davies and Kara Wirt coxing, this crew had three members (and the cox) who had come up through the junior training scheme at Upper Thames. They beat Marlow RC and Eton Excelsior RC in the final by some three-and-a-half lengths.

Winner of the Women’s Senior 1 event for coxless fours was a much more experienced Upper Thames crew comprising Lizzie Hodges (bow) Claire Ginn, Naomi Ashcroft and Becks Sadler (stroke). Lizzie was freshly returned from representing Great Britain at the Under 23 World Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium, where she was rowing in the coxless pair event. She won the ‘B’ Final, so ranking seventh in the world. Naomi and Becks have won innumerable pots in lightweight pairs and doubles and Claire has come through the Upper Thames adult beginners programme.

This four moved into the Upper Thames Women’s Senior 2 eight together with Kate Kitto, Imogen Roberts, Katherine Burridge, Beth Jackson and Dom Foley coxing and won by half a length against Staines and Maidenhead.

Rowing together for the first time the crew of Emily Forrester (stroke) Imogen Roberts, Becks Kelly and Peta-Ann Goosen were delighted to beat Maidenhead in their maiden final in Women’s Novice coxed fours. Emily who is still only 16 years old and Becks have also both come through the UTRC junior system.

Another new combination (in terms of rowing together as a crew – all four of them have rowed the Town and Visitors many times) was the Upper Thames Veteran ‘C’ coxless four of Steve Dance (bow) Jonny Woodiss-Field, Peter McConnell and Peter Jacobs (stroke). They were given a timed handicap against a Veteran ’B’ crew from Thames RC whom they beat by two-and-a-half lengths.