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So Who Rescued the Rescuers
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By Rob Upstill-Goddard
SO WHO RESCUED THE RESCUERS?
Published in The Hexham Courant on Friday, February 13th 2004
When Durham's Elvet Bridge was built by 12th Century engineers, little thought was given to the requirements of high-tech rowers who would need to negotiate it some nine centuries later.
This particular bridge is notorious within NE rowing circles.
Expert boat handling skills are required to steer safely through and it has in its time provided many a seasoned rower with an impromptu capsize drill.
Such was the case last Saturday when the Durham Small Boats Head attracted a record entry, and was duly arranged into four “divisions” so as to cope with the sheer number of boats.
Queen Elizabeth High School had decided to withdraw ahead of the event in view of the previously bad weather, and the Hexham ladies' quad had also pulled out on the previous evening.
Nevertheless, Hexham was well represented, Clare Le Tissier (single) and an assortment of veteran men (coxed four, quad, two doubles and a single) choosing to brave the elements and Elvet Bridge.
The course itself is less than 2000 metres in all and has been described as two sprints separated by a hazard, i.e. Elvet Bridge.
The veteran men’s four was the first Hexham crew off the start, in division two.
With a new line-up they had been training for some weeks and had hoped to cause a stir, but not in the way that eventually transpired.
It must be said that they got off to a solid start, their boat “Centaur” overtaking a junior four within sight of Elvet Bridge.
Sadly, within minutes disaster struck.
Theories abound as to what precisely went wrong and who was and was not to blame, but the upshot of it all was that the bridge got in the way and poor old Centaur capsized, catapulting all four crew members plus cox into the freezing waters of the Wear.
The rescue boat arrived within a minute, although it seemed rather longer to those in the water, but even in this remarkably short time a sizeable crowd of spectators had gathered to witness the unfolding comic drama.
It was not yet over however, unfortunately for everyone involved fate had a final ace up her sleeve and she duly dealt it with some aplomb.
As Centaur drifted aimlessly downstream, a potential hazard to other competitors, the sodden Hexham crew was dragged safely aboard the rescue boat and the pilot gently opened the throttle.
Then, the rescue boat promptly filled with water, ejecting everyone back into the icy Wear!
Fortunately all involved managed eventually to swim ashore and they were all very well looked after courtesy of the staff of the Prince Bishop, the local Red Cross and our hosts at Durham RC.
Unfortunately because of the sinking of the safety boat the remainder of the event was sensibly cancelled by the local organising and safety committees, on safety grounds.
In a poem to Elvet Bridge by Keith Armstrong it was said that ‘joy always used to follow after pain’.
So it was for the wife of one of the hapless Hexham crew, who discovered that during the drama her husband had lost his beloved fleece to the icy waters.
“I’ve been trying to get rid of that horrible thing for years”, she was heard to remark.
It was presumed by all that she was indeed referring to the fleece.
Hexham Rowing Club would like once more to extend their thanks to everyone involved at Durham in helping the stricken Hexham crew.
The event will hopefully be rescheduled for the end of February and the Hexham men’s four will once more return to confront their nemesis.
Previously published by Hexham Courant
13 Feb 2004
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