Henley Winter Series Round 3
After Jonathan’s stirling efforts in writing up the 2nd round of Henley Winter Series, you have got me back for the 3rd and to mark the occasion I wish to start off by talking to you about hosiery (well, sort of).
It’s when rummaging around in a bag in a rush at 7 A.M. that you start to realise that a Gentleman should never be without a pair of thermal socks. However I am not a Gentleman, and as such the up-turned holdall revealed a woeful lack of preparation. One fairly meek pair of socks and a solitary pair of flimsy canvas shoes to be precise. Not that I really had time to appreciate this, as I was late.
A vigorous drive through the breaking dawn to Defford led me to clambering aboard the Phoenix fun wagon with Messrs Lewis(M), Small (J) and relapsed QPR fan & competitive Dragon Boat debutant Pete Rayner.
We arrived at Henley at 9 o clock, to find conditions which were described as ‘fresh’ by Mandy as she, Plaice, Wylie, Cole and the now habitually treacherous Forrest arrived in the car park. This statement was taken with a certain amount of endearing British understatement here, as for ‘fresh’ you should really read “jeffin’ frezzing”. It was only after a short while of milling around in the cold with the extremities slowly losing feeling that we thought to go to an area of the Henley Eyot centre that faced the sun. The somewhat lethargic atmosphere wasn’t helped by other teams dribbling round to start their warm up in instalments, though we did eventually get out onto the water, and into the Thames/Phoenix start slot of 5th away.
For those who don’t already know, Henley is a time trial event where the teams, consisting of 3 GB teams of various descriptions and 9 club sides, start at 30 second intervals and run along a 7.5 km circuit on the Thames, through what can only be described as the well-monied Oxfordshire town.
The handicapping system set Thames/Phoenix off after Henley, Typhoon, Excalibre Blades and Secklow, leaving Hurricanes, Tao, Worcester and Execalibre chasing and the 3 GB teams bringing up the rear, for now.
On the outward trip the Phoenix/Thames hybrid was quick to bear down on the boats in front. Execalibre and Secklow were locked in their own private battle on the route up to the first turn at Temple Island, and as the heroes of this piece bore down, helm Paul Coster managed to audaciously outflank Execalibre, while simultaneously catching the wake of Secklow, and using that to send us after Typhoon, who were caught and passed after a beautifully executed turn at the far end.
The return leg, as ever, became a matter of willpower vs. ever decreasing arm power. The flagging shoulder muscles countered by the determination of the paddlers saw the boat charge through a scattering of rowers of varying levels of social consideration, in pursuit of Henley who, despite being reeled in during the outward leg, were now putting up a valiant fight back.
The crew had made it their goal to stay ahead of Tao and Hurricanes and as we came back under the bridge through the town the sound of a drum could be heard looming up behind. As we passed the second set of islands, it was not our rivals, but ‘The 1000 Crew’ (the GB Grand Dragons squad) who swept past. How galling was it to be a Phoenix in this hour, as the treacherous Forrest piggy backed on their collective glory, to the chagrin of his team mates. The next 30 seconds got rather busy in fact, as Longridge (GB Premier in all but name) slid up the inside of the Phoenix/Thames boat, and set off in pursuit of the 1000ers. With the last turn negotiated, all that was left was a shoulder busting charge for the finish line, which was crossed 4th on the water in a time in the 34 minutes 36 seconds.
The day proved productive for the team. The GB teams occupied the top 3 spots (as was to be expected really). However, behind them, Phoenix/Thames finished 6th. If you look at the race in terms of clubs, they finished 3rd behind premiership high fliers Worcester and Execalibre, with Hurricanes, Execalibre Blades, Tao, Henley, Secklow and Typhoon added to the list of claimed scalps. (Note from Editor – it was particularly satisfying to demolish Tao by over 3 minutes as they claimed superiority in the previous race with a very contrasting and self-congratulating race write-up on their own website.)
This left rather a large amount to quietly reflect on, on the drive home. Some felt pride in a job well done, others were still enjoying the buzz of their first competitive event. I was, first and foremost, looking sullenly at my now soaked shoes, wishing that I had another pair of socks.
Here’s how the teams finished:
1 Longridge Dragons 30m 17s
2 Rafters 30m 52s
3 The 1000 Crew 31m 33s
4 Exe-Calibre 32m 39s
5 Worcester 33m 26s
6 Thames Phoenix 34m 36s
7 Henley 35m 11s
8 Hurricanes 36m 56s
9 Secklow 100 37m 2s
10 Tao 37m 45s
11 Exe-Calibre Blades 39m 22s
12 Typhoon 41m 31s
