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Splish splash. Ouse there?
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By Neil Lewis
York Small Boats Head, 11 November 2001.
Course: Approx 3500m from Faringdon in country
to city reaches near boat house. Three
divisions.
Conditions: Damp. No wind. Cooling through the
day.
Free from the encumbrance of winning pots for most of this season, Hexham Rowing Club's John Mulholland has been concentrating on getting used to his Lola's curvaceous body. Astonishingly, at the York Small Boats Head on the River Ouse last Sunday, he came away with around 20 trophies. Then he found a big box, popped them in and kindly hauled them back to Hexham on behalf of their true owners, a wide variety of Queen Elizabeth High School crews. They had had a great day, but left before the prize giving. It's the sort of thing Dad's do when their kids are at school, although John had forgotten to tell son Charlie of QEHS: "You don't beat your father until you're at least 18, especially when I've bought the boat. Have you got that? Now go away and play with your friends, and don't beat me again".
For HRC, Sunday was a Doody day, with father and son George and Sam novice doubling for the first time at a heads race. The York event is so large, attracting school, university and club crews from all over the country, that it is rowed over three divisions through the day to accommodate the almost 350 boats. This allows the more foolhardy competitors to race twice in a couple of divisions. And that's what our brave boys did. In Division 2 Sam singled, and George rowed with Lewis in a Veteran C double. The double won their class extending their winning margin over Clack and partner of Durham from previous encounters, but let's be honest, there were only two boats in it.
The hardest feat of the day was actually boating, as the landing stages were narrow to allow pleasure craft to pass unhindered. Hazard number 2, wakes from said pleasure craft and the leviathan-like city tour cruiser. You knew it was coming though and could take evasive action. Its hootery-howl reverberated around the canyon you rowed in between the historic riverside buildings. There were two such cruisers, but one was grounded up a side street as if she had shot up it out of control one day. A bit of worry, that. And finally hazard 3, 'Crews who do not keep to the correct side while racing may be liable to prosecution if observed by the British Waterways patrol'. I beg your pardon?
Paddling out of town to the rural start there was also a noticeable wave reflection effect from boat wakes hitting walls and bouncing off, to then come at you, doubled in number and giving unpredictably choppy water. You could hear many of the passing A-level physicists in school quads discussing the phenomenon. At bankside in the city reaches, hoardes of university crews who had already rowed, excitingly turned the finishing stretches of the 3km course into an arena as they screamed their support.
And so, in the failing light, as a damp chilling mist began to blanket the York flood plain, the Doodys rowed off into the realms of fatigue in the final division to complete their first competitive event. Having heard of the energy giving technique of carbo-loading, Sam wisely took on board a cake. Rich in carbohydrates, he must have missed the bit that says they should be eaten, not put down inside one's Lycra 'all-in-one' racing suit for later. Carbohydrates are not absorbed through the skin, and when an integral part of chocolate, are a bugger to remove in the wash as Sam's mum will have found later. George is rapidly learning the psychology of racing, and starts to grunt after a few minutes effort. The noise either puts the fear of God into chasing crews, or infuriates them and they lose composure. Sitting behind him, I try to look the other way.
In the boat room at York City Rowing Club you will find waist high a mark on the wall, indicating the flood height in 2000. Last Sunday the waters were a good 30 feet below this. As watersports enthusiasts it's healthy to be reminded occasionally that water is a medium with awesome power; this day it was kind to us.
11 Nov 2001
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