Thames Ditton Regatta 2014
Race report by Zoe Triston
Saturday May 17th saw the women's boat club escaping Oxford to compete in Thames Ditton Regatta. For once we couldn't have asked for better weather and had great fun rowing on a different stretch of the Thames, finishing each race outside the gates of Hampton court palace. The first Hughsies of the day to compete were a IV, comprised of enthusiastic rowers from our W2 and W3 crews, who raced against Kingston Grammar School. They were unfortunately beaten by KGS, who were on their homestretch of water.
Next it was the turn of W1, competing in Challenge8s. Here each round was timed, with the times of the first two races determining qualification for the A and B finals. W1 first matched up to Kingston RC, losing what was a close race. Undeterred, and chalking our first loss up to (our lack of) experience, we faced Thames RC in the next round. This quickly descended into a chaos of clashing blades as both crews competed for the best racing line, requiring a restart. After the restart, however, Hugh's emerged victorious. Our times placed us in the B final, where we faced Thames (again!). We had beaten them once and had no problems doing it again, winning the B final.
The afternoon saw W1 also competing in the women's novice eights. Out on the water once more we faced a different Kingston crew. We beat them, by too many lengths to count. While Kingston limped home, we returned to the start for the final. Up against another Kingston crew, which looked very similar to the one we'd faced that morning. W1 were determined to win and avenge our earlier loss. We soon pulled ahead, but really had to work to stay there. Our cox box ran out of battery near the start and sitting at bow it wasn't possible to hear any calls that our cox was making, but a safe assumption was push harder! We continued to push all the way to the finish and to victory. Our win earned us all shiny pots and a trophy that we did our best not to drop and break!
Thames Ditton was a really enjoyable regatta and great preparation for Summer VIIIs, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday of 5th week. Hugh's has six boats entered into Summer VIIIs and it would be fantastic to have as many Hughsies come to support us at the boathouse as possible. M1 and W1 automatically qualify for eights and rowing on on Friday saw all our other crews qualify too. We're looking forward to bumping!
W1
Raced in Challenge VIIIs.
Raced Kingston RC, Lady Eleanor Holles, Kings School Canterbury,Thames RC
Ultimately won the B final against Thames RC.
Raced in Women's Novice 8+.
Raced Kingston RC(Marshall) and Kingston RC (Tunbridge)
Won both races to win the trophy.
W2.5
Raced in Women's Novice 4+.
Raced KingstonGrammar School.
Sadly lost the race by a margin.
CREWS:
Challenge Eight
Bow Zoe Triston
2 Janita Bartell
3 Aurore Lyon
4 Laure Bonfils
5 Georgia Comrie
6 Romily Faulkner
7 Amy Seakins
Stroke Rebecca Pullon
Cox Thomas Bladon
Novice Eight
Bow Zoe Triston
2 Janita Bartell
3 Aurore Lyon
4 Laure Bonfils
5 Georgia Comrie
6 Romily Faulkner
7 Emma Sadler
Stroke Rebecca Pullon
Cox Thomas Bladon
Saturday May 17th saw the women's boat club escaping Oxford to compete in Thames Ditton Regatta. For once we couldn't have asked for better weather and had great fun rowing on a different stretch of the Thames, finishing each race outside the gates of Hampton court palace. The first Hughsies of the day to compete were a IV, comprised of enthusiastic rowers from our W2 and W3 crews, who raced against Kingston Grammar School. They were unfortunately beaten by KGS, who were on their homestretch of water.
Next it was the turn of W1, competing in Challenge8s. Here each round was timed, with the times of the first two races determining qualification for the A and B finals. W1 first matched up to Kingston RC, losing what was a close race. Undeterred, and chalking our first loss up to (our lack of) experience, we faced Thames RC in the next round. This quickly descended into a chaos of clashing blades as both crews competed for the best racing line, requiring a restart. After the restart, however, Hugh's emerged victorious. Our times placed us in the B final, where we faced Thames (again!). We had beaten them once and had no problems doing it again, winning the B final.
The afternoon saw W1 also competing in the women's novice eights. Out on the water once more we faced a different Kingston crew. We beat them, by too many lengths to count. While Kingston limped home, we returned to the start for the final. Up against another Kingston crew, which looked very similar to the one we'd faced that morning. W1 were determined to win and avenge our earlier loss. We soon pulled ahead, but really had to work to stay there. Our cox box ran out of battery near the start and sitting at bow it wasn't possible to hear any calls that our cox was making, but a safe assumption was push harder! We continued to push all the way to the finish and to victory. Our win earned us all shiny pots and a trophy that we did our best not to drop and break!
Thames Ditton was a really enjoyable regatta and great preparation for Summer VIIIs, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday of 5th week. Hugh's has six boats entered into Summer VIIIs and it would be fantastic to have as many Hughsies come to support us at the boathouse as possible. M1 and W1 automatically qualify for eights and rowing on on Friday saw all our other crews qualify too. We're looking forward to bumping!
W1
Raced in Challenge VIIIs.
Raced Kingston RC, Lady Eleanor Holles, Kings School Canterbury,Thames RC
Ultimately won the B final against Thames RC.
Raced in Women's Novice 8+.
Raced Kingston RC(Marshall) and Kingston RC (Tunbridge)
Won both races to win the trophy.
W2.5
Raced in Women's Novice 4+.
Raced KingstonGrammar School.
Sadly lost the race by a margin.
CREWS:
Challenge Eight
Bow Zoe Triston
2 Janita Bartell
3 Aurore Lyon
4 Laure Bonfils
5 Georgia Comrie
6 Romily Faulkner
7 Amy Seakins
Stroke Rebecca Pullon
Cox Thomas Bladon
Novice Eight
Bow Zoe Triston
2 Janita Bartell
3 Aurore Lyon
4 Laure Bonfils
5 Georgia Comrie
6 Romily Faulkner
7 Emma Sadler
Stroke Rebecca Pullon
Cox Thomas Bladon
