The low clouds hang over the Wansbeck, the drizzle dampening spirits and an uneasy feeling settles in the stomachs of the Hexham crew. It’s Big Boat Sunday and the team know a win last time creates expectations.
It’s 11.25, 5 minutes before the briefing and we are one crew member down, preparations are being made to borrow one however she arrives with a certain sang froid and accepts the nomination of Stroke with a nonchalant question about what that actually is.
The first race… as the water level is low boats are held on the pontoon for a few minutes until the previous race completes but Hexagogo looks poised and ready until they are pushed off and #2 asks for more time to fix his feet. Finally we are heading up river and almost straight back into the pontoon as the cox forgets his main role. A gentle warmup followed by a disciplined start practice and we are ready to go.
A great start, both boats are side by side rowing strongly for the first half. Hexham maintain their discipline, the stroke rate doesn’t vary and they push strongly. Inch by inch we creep ahead and the finish line is in sight, the horn sounds and we’ve won! We are so excited we forget to stop and then forget to give three cheers to DARC.
The second race comes all too swiftly, the team decides to not change a thing. Unfortunately #2 still isn’t ready and has to adjust his hair for the photo before leaving the pontoon.
This time we are the other side of the river and the bow pair save the coxes blushes as he attempts start from the reeds. Same start, this time slightly behind Berwick but we soon overhaul them and keep the steady push all the way this time winning by a bigger margin. Elated the bow pair celebrate by taking the boat in with solid thump onto the pontoon despite the best efforts the catching crew.
The third race, we are up against table topping all male crew from Cambois. We anticipate the coiffure needs of our Spanish Toro and leave the dock on time and take up our favoured North bank demonstrating Hexham turning skills with a cunning slow boat turn to give false hope to the opposition. We are off, Cambois make a strong start and we work hard to pull back on them, again they push away and again we start reeling them in but alas the finish line comes too quickly. Cambois are bent over their oars and we know we have pushed them hard.
The fourth race is cancelled much to the disappointment of the female portion of the crew who have been busy plotting the down fall of our chums from Tarn. Next month its skills at Hexham!
