#wehorr

Looking in the mirror like

     On Saturday 15th March 2014, VMBC Women's 1st VIII (Emily Clark, Ellie Willett, Isabel Banister, Bettina Riddle, Lucy Colgrave, Rose Earland, Maria Haag, Natalie Tunstall-Jackman, cox: Hannah Pittaway) competed in London in the Women's Eights Head of the River. Throughout Epiphany term, the girls trained hard clocking weekly 7ks and travelling to Tyne for extra water sessions in Trust in Mildert (VMBC’s 8+ boat). The week before WeHoRR the crew was kindly prepped and coached by Peter Gadsden, the new Men’s Captain, and Tom Arney, the current Novice Development Captain. The women focused on power in the drive and timing through several drills in lengthening provided by Gadsden. 

     The women’s crew was very lucky to be joined by Hannah Pittaway as cox for WeHoRR. She gave her time and experience to planning and preparing for the race and was invaluable  to the performance and morale of the crew. Her calls were quick, direct, and highly motivational, calling upon each woman’s strengths and weaknesses until they gave it their everything.

    In the midst of boating it was discovered that one of TiM’s hatchets was missing and one was kindly lent to the crew from Thames Rowing Club. With that the women swiftly boated and headed up stream to the start of the race. On their way up they focused on technique and were excitedly surprised as Leander Club (who came second overall in the race) rowed past with intense stokes and beautiful technique. Inspired by these women, Van Mildert’s 1st VIII readied themselves at the start with a crowd of VMBC parents, alumni, and supporters cheering the crew on at Hammersmith Bridge.

     At the start, the women’s crew took off at rate 30 holding long strong strokes. With each woman’s powerful draw, Mildert spirited through the first section of the race, helped by a strong stream. Although they were overtaken by Agecroft BC, the women held the other crew off until the opposing cox challenged Pittaway for their line. The rate was then brought up by Clark to 32 keeping all other boats behind them at bay. Pittaway urged for more vigour aided by encouragement from the power four in the centre of the boat (Colgrave, Riddle, Banister, & Earland). With a surge after Hammersmith bridge, stroke pair, Clark & Willett, steadied and then pushed the crew harder, bring the rate up to 33. With even drives from Tunstall-Jackman and Haag, the women’s 1st VIII finished with style.

Also BUCS head, BUCS regatta Int8+ D final, BUCS regatta B8+ semi, Monmouth Nov8+ semi and final were great races.

Favorite WeHoRR picture. Actually there's a better one where I'm not catching my blade but it has an ugly copyright mark on it.

FYI, some pretty impressive times. Newcastle seniors beat Durham

Headington School was really fast

Exeter Uni 8th - suprising

Downing College - 38th, pretty good