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LAURA ROWED LIKE A MAN POSSESSED
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By Jane Upstill-Goddard
AS ALL good rowers know it's time on the water that counts, so the chance to row 4000 m at Wansbeck two weeks ago in the long distance sculling series was eagerly taken up by Hexham Rowing Club.
Hexham had six entries. Competing in the veteran E double sculls, George Doody and Paul Jaconelli were only a few seconds behind the category winners, whilst the men's quad event saw juniors Michael Stevens and James Upstill-Goddard teaming up with veterans Quentin Campbell and Maurice Searle, coxed by Claire Le Tissier.
In a second quad her father Martin teamed up with James' parents and Laura Read, with Bronya Read coxing.
Although it's clear that neither crew can be properly described as a men's quad they were entered as such through a quirk of the pre-series block entry system.
Understandably neither quad expected to win their class, so each instead focused its attentions on trouncing the other.
Le Tissier initially raised the expectations of his crew by attempting to walk on water before the race commenced, but immediately dashed them by instead sinking in the mud.
Despite Laura setting a blistering pace and rowing like a man possessed, the rest of the crew did not put in such strong displays, as evidenced by their unruffled appearances at the finish.
In the end the combined power and athleticism of the all-male crew prevailed but the gap was only just over five seconds.
Hexham also entered three singles with Lucy Siddle making her first competitive appearance since the birth of her son earlier this year.
Gillian Gilbert competed in the veteran category, as did John Mulholland, who once again won his category, achieving both the fastest time for the club and the only trophy of the day.
This means he has now collected three trophies in as many weeks, two in the sculling series.
Such unmitigated success does however have a flip side. Under sculling series rules and to give his erstwhile opponents a sporting chance, he must now row against younger men and this he duly did at Durham last Saturday.
Nine boats from Hexham raced the comparatively short course, a mere 1800 metres.
Although it is the shortest event in the sculling series, competitors have the added disadvantage of negotiating the narrow arches of Elvet Bridge after a steep turn no mean feat, as evidenced by numerous oars scraping against stone.
Indeed, this infamous bridge was to prove a disaster for George Doody, competing in his single.
He lost a good minute in attempting to disentangle himself from the arches and achieved a disappointing time, the evidence of which is now forever preserved on video.
Meanwhile, Mulholland, although unable to outrow his younger opponents, once more achieved the best Hexham time, closely followed by veteran men Brown and Christer.
The club entered two quads, one crewed by the veteran women and the other by a mixed crew of J16 boys (Stevens and Upstill-Goddard) and J14 girls (Furniss and Upstill-Goddard).
The juniors achieved a respectable time, coming in only seconds behind a novice men's crew and beating the women's quad by 30 seconds.
Three women competed in singles with Furniss and Siddle achieving almost identical times but special mention must go to Maurice Searle competing in his first singles event.
He successfully navigated Elvet Bridge without difficulty and completed the course without getting wet an altogether new experience.
Previously published by Hexham Courant
24 Oct 2003
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