11/06/06

Marvellous Met for Will

Will Hoodless of Upper Thames Rowing Club won the Senior 1 single sculls trophy on both days of the Metropolitan Regatta over last weekend.

Together with Marlow, the Met is usually considered to be the most senior of the regattas after Henley Royal. From the middle of the 19th century it was raced every year except for two World Wars over the Tideway at Putney but was later moved to the London Docklands course. A few years ago it finally moved to the purpose-built seven-lane international course at Dorney Lake between Windsor and Eton. This will be the scene of the World Rowing Championships from 20th to 27th August, the first time the championships have been held in England for twenty years.

On open land with little to impede any wind, there was a brisk following breeze for Will Hoodless’s races.

On the Saturday he made the final comfortably where he raced scullers from London Rowing Club, Thames Rowing Club and Dublin’s Commercial Rowing Club, winning by half a length ahead of Andy Ardron from London.

He entered both Elite sculls and Senior 1 on the Sunday 4th June coming third in Elite sculls, 4th lengths behind Cambridge Blue Charlie Palmer and only 1 length behind GB trialist Richard Ockendon from Molesey, beating the experienced Tom Gale from Tideway Scullers School by 2 lengths.

He then won the Senior 1 final an hour later, with an aggressive push at half way, coming home 2 lengths ahead of a field of fresh athletes.