Saturday 28t January — The Quintin Head

The first major event on the Tideway of the New Year, namely the Quintin Head, got the year off to a cracking start with a record 151 entries. Just as last year, the weather was dry but cold, and the river conditions were relatively calm on a low ebbing tide, with just a bit of a head wind to contend with around Chiswick Eyot. The marshals did a grand job of getting the 142 crews that took to the water into position, and the race was able to start only a few minutes late, with the first crew crossing the start line at 9:38 am.

Imperial College were the overall winners, with a margin of 1.3 seconds over Tideway Scullers School, finishing in 12 min. 38.2 sec. IC also took the IM1 pennant, leaving the Senior pennant to TSS as a consolation prize, a fraction of a second ahead of rivals University of London. The UL third eight won the IM2 pennant in ninth position and, although Bedford Modern School (IM1) were the fastest school crew, in eighth place, Hampton School (12th) took the J18 pennant. The University of Bristol added the IM2 pennant to their extensive collection of Quintin Head pennants, having won at least one every year since 2006. Westminster School won J16s. Lincoln College, the only entry from the Oxford colleges, won the novice pennant, finishing 49th overall. Right behind them in 50th, St. Paul's School won J15. The Masters C category was won by a Quintin / Auriol Kensington composite, finishing 15th overall, and a full Quintin crew won Masters E in 39th position. Crabtree (26th) were the faster of only two Masters D crews, so no pennant was awarded.

In the women's events, one of Vesta's Senior eights was the fastest, finishing 41st in 14 min. 4.3 sec. and earning themselves both the Senior and the "fastest women" pennants. Imperial College / Sport Imperial won WIM1 in 55th place, with University of London (69th – WIM3 winners) ahead of City of Oxford (75th – WIM2 winners). University College London won Women's Novices and Godolphin & Latymer School won WJ15.

Quintin's own men's development VIII were disappointed to be behind their elders, finishing 62nd, but have plenty of scope for improvement in the coming weeks.

Full reaults on the Quintin Head Results Page.

Wednesday 4 January — A Happy New Year

Here's wishing a Happy New Year to all our readers, with the added bonus of a few reminders of up-coming events.

January 28th brings the ninth Quintin Head. This race was instigated by the the then club captain, Richard White, in 2001 and, after an intermittent start, has been run every year since 2006. During this time the number of entries has grown from 24 in 2001 to over 140 in 2011 and has attracted some of the best crews in the country. Without closure of the river, the cap of 110 crews required by the Port of London Authority meant that last year more than 30 crews were disappointed not to have their entries accepted. The race committee has decided that this year the river will be closed and so the number of racing crews will not have to be so severely limited. Another change this year is that the course has been extended by approximately 600 metres and will finish at Harrod's Depository rather than Hammersmith Bridge, with the usual start at the University Stone just below Chiswick Bridge.

Attention all competitors!. Get your entries in now and make the New Year start with the biggest Quintin Head ever. Details at http://quintinboatclub.org/quintinhead/.

Attention all club members! Your help is needed to make sure this is the best Quintin Head yet. Contact Jane Adams to find out what you can do to help.

Paul Gunn is organising another Quiz Night extravaganza - all club members and friends welcome. It will take place in the clubroom on Thursday 9th February, starting at 8:00 pm. Put this date in your diary now, and while you're at it, don't forget the Annual Dinner on Friday, 3rd February at the usual venue of the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall. Duncan Hughes would be grateful for any raffle prizes you can donate.

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