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Guernsey Little Russell Regatta 2008
Guernsey in the Channel Islands was the destination for Exmouth Rowing Club during the weekend of 5/6 July. The club turned out in force, almost to invasion levels in order to compete in Guernsey Rowing Clubs annual Little Russell Offshore Rowing Regatta.
The entrants list quickly showed how competitive the weekends rowing was going to be with entries from Guernsey, Jersey, Aberdyfi, Cherbourg, Plymouth, and Exmouth. A total of 38 boats including Singles, Doubles and Quads. Exmouth attended with four quad crews, and a pair.
The course outlined on day one was from Havelet Bay in St Peter Port and was to take the competitors around a 17-kilometre row around offshore islands. Day two was to be a 6-kilometre sprint.
Unfortunately as was the case throughout the UK that weekend the weather played its full part and came close to destroying the whole event. On Saturday the sky was predominantly clear with sunshine, but this was accompanied by 50mph southwesterly winds. With very careful consideration from the organisers boats were launched in the calm of the harbour and rowed out into Belle Greve Bay. This area offered some shelter from the land, but winds were still whipping up a powerful swell. Competitors were asked to complete five laps of a short course to a distance of 12 kilometres. Being triangular in shape the course was found to be very challenging with waves and wind coming at the boats from a different direction after every turn. The rowers were tested on technique and stamina, but the plight of coxes should not be overlooked, control of the boats in such close quarter rowing is demanding and calls on great skill from them also. On day two the weather had worsened, making rowing totally impossible, so the event results came from the first day’s row only.
Exmouth had entered two ladies and two men’s crews in the fours. In order to facilitate this Guernsey RC generously loaned two boats. These differ in design and appear to be more suited to the prevailing conditions of the day. Each of these boats was allocated to each of the most competitive ladies and men’s crews. In the Ladies Quad the Exmouth crew of Jill Lees, Allie Giles, Rachel Tarr, Anna Childs, coxed by Bob Board in a borrowed boat came fourth behind Cherbourg and two boats from Guernsey. The experienced men’s crew of Rob Williams, Sam Malloy, Chris Long, Jack Pearce, coxed by Ed Pearce also in a borrowed boat likewise secured a fourth behind two Guernsey and a Jersey boat.
The two remaining crews in Exmouth boats were Lynn Hurley, Kate Hurley, Emma Whittock, Camilla Todd coxed by Mike Drew, and Mark Lees, Michael Mullholand, Graham Hurley, Les Norcliffe, coxed by Peter Bradshaw. Both crews competed well but came somewhat down the field. The pairing of Toby O’Dea and Derek Rickard also struggled in such conditions.
Also accompanying the crews were supporters from the club who made a valuable contribution to the whole effort, and considerable support was received from Condor Ferries in getting boats and passengers to the island at very favourable rates. Throughout the weekend regardless of the weather a fine spirit of competitive comradeship was maintained by the rowers, that was contributed to by the excellent organisation and hospitality offered by the Guernsey Rowing Club. All had a good weekend.
