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LE TISSIER PROVED HIMSELF A TRUE SAINT
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By Jane Upstill-Goddard
Hexham Rowing Club has been active over the past several weeks, grooming members new and old, night and day, in preparation for the long distance sculling series in October.
But first, they had to negotiate the last regatta of the season, Durham Vets and Juniors, on September 27.
The course is short, 500m, providing an opportunity for new club members to take part in their first competition.
First off, Maurice Searle and Andrea Dickson joined more experienced club members in a mixed quad, and they got off to a cracking start.
The rival Durham crew eventually won out, and Andrea went on to cox the men's four, including new boy Martin Le Tissier rowing manfully.
Their disastrous start took them straight into the bank (weed impeding the rudder, allegedly).
Triumphant Tees valiantly offered a re-row but duly repeated their victory.
Undaunted, Le Tissier, teaming up with Searle, at last sensed victory in taking on a doubles crew from Talkin Tarn.
They lost, but celebrated this achievement by capsizing at the finish hugely entertaining stuff!
Iron man Le Tissier, with a point to prove, stepped dripping wet straight into another mixed quad.
They lost too but managed to stay upright. More weed so we're told.
Junior club members put in solid efforts. James Upstill-Goddard was competing in single sculls for the first time and he joined with James Fisher to row in a double.
They did not win but their performances were nevertheless encouraging.
Special mention must go to Claire Le Tissier for winning semi-final events in J13 single and J14 double in her first regatta.
It was left to club captain John Mulholland in veteran D singles to save Hexham from the wooden spoon and he duly did so, taking home our only trophy of the day.
Undaunted by the events at Durham, HRC made for that farthest of Northumbrian outposts known as Berwick upon Tweed, last Saturday morning for the start of the sculling series.
Originally a device to facilitate winter training outside the regatta season, the sculling series does however include an element of competition.
It's not a race as such, but a time trial, in which crews strive to achieve personal best times.
Trophies are there to be won however, provided you can outrun all the other crews in your class.
The Tweed is a five km course, and being tidal, this meant boating had to commence at 8-45 am.
Hence, the rowers all left Hexham at the crack of dawn, some wondering quite why.
Conditions were blustery with showers as 65 crews from all over the North East battled their way to the start and then they had to row back.
George and Sam Doody (double) came in 14th overall (the best club time) and the men's quad acquitted themselves well. Meanwhile the ladies' quad kept the men in their sights, even while trying to demolish both Berwick railway bridge and a single lady sculler from Tees.
Sarah Furniss followed in her single which she was pleased to keep afloat in the choppy conditions, but once again it was left to captain Mulholland to lead the way.
He turned in yet another suitably vintage performance to secure yet another trophy a true captain's display.
The club is looking forward to three km at Ashington this weekend, courtesy of Cambois Rowing Club.
Previously published by Hexham Courant
10 Oct 2003
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