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Annual dinner followed Rutherford Head Event
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By Rob Upstill-Goddard
For Hexham Rowing Club the end of the 2003 competitive season on 6th December was marked by two key events, the 5km “Rutherford Head” followed later that evening by the annual club dinner, this year celebrating 125 years of rowing at Hexham, and including members both past and present.
Rutherford head is a popular enough event to warrant two “divisions”, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. These are not based on ability however, but rather are required to accommodate the routinely large number of entries. Hexham entered three crews, plus club captain John Mulholland (on this occasion rowing for Tyne RC). All were in the first division, which had some 69 entrants comprising quads, fours and eights.
The Hexham mens senior coxless quad (in this case senior means more experienced though not necessarily older) of Simon Aitkenhead, Mark Christer, David Brown and Paul Jaconelli once more achieved the fastest club time, coming in 23rd overall. Meanwhile there was initially some doubt as to whether the Hexham mens four of Neil Wilkinson, Rob Upstill-Goddard, Martin Le Tissier and George Doody would compete at all following a training injury to cox and “novice of the year” Maurice Searle (actually he fell badly playing basketball!). Happily Rebecca Dixon from Queen Elizabeth High School stepped in as replacement cox and saved the day. Although still relatively inexperienced the mens four are an improving squad and were able to shave a full two minutes off their previous best over this distance, beating two university novice crews into the bargain (no mean feat when you consider that in this case inexperienced does not necessarily also mean younger!).
The club did not win any trophies but it did achieve a notable first by boating a women’s eight for the first time in its 125 year history. For club coach Bob Manning this was the realisation of a vision, made possible by both his tireless and patient efforts during training, and his peerless organisational skills that resulted in a flood of emails in the days leading up to the event. Bob was somehow able to borrow a boat, several oars and even an eighth crew member from other clubs; when Gillian Gilbert had to withdraw through flu Bob persuaded Donna Morris of Northumbria University to step in. The crew (Donna, Jane Upstill-Goddard, Bronya Read, Sarah Furniss, Lindsey Brady, Andrea Dickson, Laura Read, Jasmine Black, cox Bob Manning) put in a sterling effort (Andrea deserves a special mention for rowing on the day despite also suffering a heavy dose of flu), and given adjustment for the changing tide, were close enough to a couple of “second division” mens university eights to be well satisfied with their time.
Not to be outdone, incoming club captain George Doody has been challenged by retiring captain John Mulholland to form a Hexham mens eight for 2004.
The competitive season is now in recess until the spring, but this is not to say that HRC will cease operations accordingly. Far from it! You can see them down at Tyne Green in all weathers, every Saturday afternoon 2 till 4pm and every Sunday morning 10 till 12. If not out on the water honing their various and varied techniques, you will see them scraping ice from the landing stage or huddled together in groups in the boathouse, discussing their latest training innovations and tactical master plans. The club is not all about fierce competition however, many members are happy to take part in purely recreational rowing. If you are interested in joining Hexham’s very own crazy gang why not come down to the boathouse during one of the weekend sessions to find out more. The club has reasonable membership fees, including family and unwaged concessions, and it’s a good way to lose those few pounds gained during the Christmas holiday.
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Picture caption: Captains Outrageous: club captains past, present and future let their hair down to celebrate 125 years of rowing at Hexham RC; from left to right, Neil Wilkinson, Bob Manning, John Mullholland, Colin Moore, Don Elliott, Wallace Dickson, Geoff Wilkinson, George Doody.
Previously published by Hexham Courant
19 Dec 2003
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