04/06/2007

Metropolitan Regatta

Meanwhile, some miles downstream, members of the Upper Thames senior squads were at the Metropolitan Regatta on Dorney Lake, Eton. Adam Rennie (bow) Richard Moody, Ian Ringer and Dan Sadler (stroke) won men’s Senior 2 quadruple sculls; this was in fact Richard Moody’s novice pot as well since he had never won a trophy before. Becks Sadler (Dan’s wife) and Mary-Ann Chalmers won Elite women’s double sculls by a considerable margin.

The Metropolitan Regatta (or the Met as it is always known) is one of the oldest and most prestigious regattas in England. It was first rowed over one-and-three-quarter miles at Putney in 1866. In 1977 the course was shortened to 2000 metres but most senior crews wanted racing across six lanes rather than two or three on the Tideway and the Met was moved to Thorpe Park, then to the Royal Albert Dock and finally to the international-standard course at Dorney Lake, Eton, where there are eight racing lanes over 2000 metres and a separate channel for crews going up to the start. It was the venue for the 2006 World Rowing Championships and will be for the 2012 Olympic rowing events.