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HEXHAM ROWERS THE TALK OF THE TARN
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By Jane & Rob Upstill-Goddard
Hexham Rowing Club’s regatta season drew to a close when club members were again out in force, this time at Talkin Tarn Regatta near Brampton.
As in previous recent years the weather was again against the rowers; constant downpours of heavy rain with the occasional glimmer of sunshine.
Club captain George Doody was however, like all good boy scouts, well prepared.
With his brown waxed full length coat and matching hat he looked every inch Hexham’s answer to Crocodile Dundee as he busied himself organising club crews.
Once again HRC had many entries in several races but they never quite managed the winning form that had been displayed so gloriously at Hexham Regatta some weeks previously.
Nevertheless there were some closely fought contests. George, his outback attire temporarily discarded, and son Sam competed against clubmates David Brown and Mark Chri$ster in the Men’s Senior 4 doubles.
A crew from Ponteland High School narrowly beat George and Sam with David and Mark coming in third.
Hexham’s Novice Men’s Quad also had to settle for second place, although they did manage to come in ahead of the Ponteland crew that had beaten them at Berwick two weeks previously.
The winners were some small lads from Talkin Tarn with a clearly superior technique!
All was not lost however;. George Doody was enthusiastic for Hexham crews to get together to compete in mixed coxed quads, although his enthusiasm did not extend to competing himself!
Four crews of mixed abilities and experience were duly entered and, with no apparent competition from other clubs, it seemed Hexham was guaranteed a win.
In the first semi-final Sam Burnish, Maurice Searle, Geoff Wilkinson and Gillian Gilbert took on the more experienced crew of David Brown, Mark Christer, Sarah Furniss and Jasmine Black. The race was a close one but experience triumphed.
In the second Jane, James and Rob Upstill-Goddard, and Laura Read were due to race Kevin Oates, Andy Beattie, Andrea Burn and Lindsey Brady but surprisingly at the last minute an entry from Tyne Rowing Club emerged.
They were late arriving at the start but when they did it was immediately evident that they had mistakenly entered as a coxless quad.
After some debate the umpires ruled that they could row the course but would not be allowed to win the event because of their obvious advantage.
The race proved eventful. The Oates quad got into difficulties off the start, allowing the Upstill-Goddard quad to make several lengths advantage.
However this was short lived as the Tyne quad, without the benefit of a cox’s eyes, managed to collide with them, bringing them to a complete stop.
The Oates quad made up valuable water and eventually won it in the last 50 metres.
Their victory celebrations were sadly short lived when they managed to somehow capsize while manoeuvring back at the landing stage.
Another Hexham club member, while helping them in, had let go of the boat at a crucial moment.
Wet, covered in weed but yet somehow totally undaunted, they subsequently went on to win the final.
This was a first for both Lindsey and Andrea who are both now training hard for future competitions, starting with Durham Vets and Juniors in September.
Club sessions continue over the summer and new members are welcome, with further information available on the website, www.hexhamrc.co.uk.
Previously published by Hexham Courant
16 Jul 2004
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