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Dart Totnes Head
The 2009 Head of the Dart race attracted a high level of interest with entries from all sorts of man powered craft including fine water rowing boats, offshore rowing boats, pilot gigs, kayaks, and for the first time paddle boards.
The event formed at the Totnes Rowing Club and set off in the late afternoon for the fifteen-kilometre race down to the finish in Dartmouth, along the wonderful meandering River Dart.
The events known as Head Races are winter events held at the head of rivers, and although less formal than Championship Regattas the competition between rowers remains fierce because it gives them the opportunity to weigh up the strength or weakness of their respective opponents for the summer season to come.
The fleet set of in sections, with individual rolling starts at 15-second intervals. At this time although predominantly bright there were plenty of passing clouds to cast a chill on the event, amplified by a brisk cold breeze that at times made navigation quite challenging for none coxed boats.
Exmouth Rowing Club sent a large contingent including a ladies sea quad, a men’s sea quad, two sea doubles, a fine water coxed four and a fine water men’s double.
All recorded good times and came away happy, but none more so than the new pairing of Rob Williams and James Ashby in the fine water double who clearly have a summer championship title well in there sights. The draw on the day saw them setting off at the rear of the seven competing boats in the class. Rob well known to the regatta scene was well aware of the task ahead having knowledge of the calibre of the other crews against them, and having rowed the course before took the bow seat to control navigation. After a blistering start and having safely negotiating a series of bends they found themselves hitting the front of the pack within two and a half kilometres. With over twelve kilometres left however great discipline was called for and was admirably displayed by both who were hotly pursued by a very experienced Torquay crew. They held their nerve clearly focusing on technique and control, and hit the finish in 56.01 minutes with a ten-length lead, proudly taking the trophy in their name and for Exmouth.
