From our hotel correspondent:

Last weekend saw an enormous contingent of Quintin members heading up to Stourport for the big finale of the season – and what a finale it was! Though our arrival late on Friday night was greeted with some very wet weather (more of a problem for the happy campers than for those of us who were sensible enough to stay in a hotel), it turned out to be a fantastic weekend with a phenomenal six wins overall.

Saturday morning dawned bringing more rain but spirits certainly weren’t dampened as crews took to the water. First up for a particularly early start following a night of very little sleep in the tents was the men’s ex-novices racing in IM3 eights. They were followed by the Ladies’ Novice four who were pipped at the post by Bewdley by about a length and a half. The IM2 coxed four also opened their weekend with a win in their first round. The Henley (coxless) four raced just before lunch, ready for a close race against a fancied local composite. The crew put in a big start, the oppo then decided to hit the bank, but unfortunately Quintin followed and a clash of blades meant a restart was in order.. The second attempt was clean off the start and Quintin took a length’s lead at the half way point. However just as they were passing through the bridge (still a length up), getting ready for the final push to see off the locals, the race umpire called the race to a halt because we were catching a veteran sculler who was in the race ahead. QBC paddled to the finish only to be told that the race umpire had decided that the race needed to be started again (from the start) On the way back to the start the Captain was heard to ask which one of the crew we were racing was his son! The race started for a third time, and unfortunately whilst trying to avoid a clash we steered into a rather large buoy, causing Kenny to catch a crab, at which point the crew decided they had had enough and paddled in.

Late in the afternoon, the Ladies’ Novice eight headed up to the start to race against Curlew. A very dramatic race ensued, in which Sarah at stroke lost her seat on the second stroke leaving her to haul herself up and down the slide for the duration of the course. With about 70m to go the girls were three quarters of a length up and sure to win, however the opposition decided to steer straight into Quintin, which stopped both boats. The umpire called the race over. This time, being that none of the slower crew was related to the umpire, he called the race a win to Quintin, this being the Quintinettes first win and therefore losing their novice status. Unfortunately this was the only win for the day, but this did not stop thirty three of us heading to the curry house for plenty of champagne, beer and wine, before the disco at the boat club where there was a bit of dancing and a lot of drinking. Highlights of the evening were categorically the bulk purchase of almost all alcohol that was left in the bar and our prestigious club captain drinking pints of wine and running headfirst into sets of double doors.

Sunday morning soon came around and brought with it a bit more sunshine and some fantastic rowing. The Henley four of Mark, Kenny, Ewen and Alex went back in the coxless boat again and this time had a clean race and won by over 5 lengths. Our newest club member, Alex Hambrook, jumped in to replace Alex Page in the coxed four, which again resulted in a commanding win. The novice doubles ended up being a QBC-only final as Paul and Alex won their first round, and Adam and James had a bye straight into the final. This ended up being a very close race, but Paul and Alex managed to put in a big finish to win by one length. It turns out that Paul had promised Alex a life-time supply of Jaffa Cakes if they won. By the end of the day Quintin had accumulated a phenomenal number of pots and we were able to head home extremely proud of ourselves. The IM2 eight, which had three novices in it, beat Bridgnorth by a convincing margin, getting yet more novice wins, and the four which won Novices at Staines (with one change) continued their run of wins by winning IM2 coxed fours.

With a grand total of six wins, thirteen novices leaving the regatta with both pots and points, and all members of the club rowing very impressively, it was a great weekend for Quintin.

Big thanks must go to everyone who made the weekend such a success and to Graham for towing the boats; in particular all those who have taken part in the training and preparation which made the results possible, and the coxes who so readily jumped between boats. It’s a truly exciting thing for the club to have such a large number of members not only racing, but winning, and enjoying themselves so much as they do it.

F.S.