Back in London again and down to the River Thames for this
fun event. The weather showed no signs of improving and so it was under
lowering skies and a stiffening breeze that the Mistress and I made our way
onto the beach by the Festival Pier to join the crews.
Run each June over a one-mile course from HMS Wellington
upstream to the Westminster Rowing Club, this challenge is organised by the
Thames Traditional Rowing Association (TTRA) and is open to members of the TTRA
and the Livery. Some twenty cutters of various sizes were assembled on the
river edge (see picture) including the Company’s cutter “Water Forget-Me-Not”
looking very spruce and ready for action. Crewed by four strapping young lads
and a cox the Mistress and I took to the river in readiness. The start was
delayed somewhat by the weather and river conditions (it being at the end of
the ebb tide) and we were formed into four divisions of five boats each. Rowing
gently down to the start line we waited or the umpire’s claxon. And then we
were off!
These boats are heavy, clinker-built traditional craft and
not designed for speed. The do not have sliding seats or lightweight oars, all
the power coming from the upper body. Consequently it is an exhausting row
although the Mistress and I were quite comfortable in our seats aft – we felt
almost guilty! But the river sped by; through Waterloo in the middle, under
Hungerford and up to Westminster where we shot the second arch. Thence to
Lambeth and the final bridge at Vauxhall. The end was in site and after twenty
or so exhilarating minutes we made the finish line. Such was our prowess we
easily beat all the boats on our division (number two) and caught boats in the
division ahead. Great work!
We then made our way up the jetty to the Rowing Club where
beer and sandwiches awaited the weary crews (and their passengers!). The mood
was light and everyone felt they had done a good job. But then the results came
in. Purely measured by elapsed time the key was to get the tide at the very end
of the ebb. Unfortunately, our boat was sent off too early so we were battling
against the river and so our time was not the fastest. That accolade went to
the cutter of the Watermen and Lightermen who rowed in the third division.
Worthy winners of course but we did feel we had done well. But it is the taking
part that counts…..
So thank you to our crew (pictured from left to right);
Jason (cox), Merlin, Dave, Gary, Chris and Bargemaster Johnny Dwan who prepared
the boat and trained (!) the crew. A fantastic achievement and better luck next
year where the Master will be considerably lighter than your current one!
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