Folkestone Rowing Club
HERNE BAY REGATTA
Well at last something to write about and celebrate!!Sunday dawned with a southerly breeze and for once the members of Folkestone Rowing Club were pleased.For today they were travelling to Herne Bay and that meant the regatta would be on – only the second regatta in the past three months.The day commenced with the Junior Under 16 Quad Sculls and the combination crew of Nathan Belcher-Wilson, Mark Edgar, Emily Watkins and James Leppard coxed by Marc Alderman rowed an amazing race leaving much heavier and stronger crews in their wash to take a well deserved first place.
In the Ladies Pairs, Sophie Watkins and Isabel Smith as a late entry had to row on outside water where the strong southerly wind pushed them out even further. They rowed well against the odds but we hope to see them further up the rankings later in the season.
The Veterans Fours race saw the A crew of Simon Appleby, Matt Keller, Tim Capell and Steve Tupper coxed by Nathan Belcher-Wilson take an early lead and row a fine race to takefirst place several lengths up on the next crew.It would appear that a winter ofarduous training is paying off as they won in the Club’s new boat the “Andy West” named after the former Captain and Chairman,their trophy being the prized replica of a wooden four boat encased in glass.
The Ladies Novice Fours saw the young crew of Emily Watkins, Lauren Williams, Lucy Weekes and Catherine Blackford coxed by Marc Alderman compete for the first time in this combination. After an unfortunate start with Shoreham rowing into them and one of the crew “catching a crab” where the blade takes a dive and they have to stop rowing, it was difficult to catch up the distance lost but they made a concerted effort and overtook another crew to take a well deserved 4th place.Over the next few weeks they should easily improve on this placing.
The next Final the Mens Novice Fours with Nathan Belcher-Wilson, Mark Edgar, George Chandler and James Leppard once again coxed by Marc Alderman rowed a hard race against much larger and stronger crews but held their own towards the finish line to take a well deserved 2nd place. Over the next few weeks we should hopefully see them win their Novice Medals.
The athletic crew of Simon Appleby, Matt Keller, Tim Capell and Steve Tupper coxed again by Nathan took to the water in the Mens Senior Fours Final and continued to display their technical ability and strength taking 3rd Place.
The wind was increasing and the waters becoming choppy when Craig Hoveman and Sam Milton took to the water in the Mens Senior Pairs race. They held their own and gained several lengths after the buoy turn taking a well deserved 3rd place.
With only a few races left Marc Alderman and Steve Tupper having spent much of the day on the water raced in the Senior Sculls with Steve taking a fine 2nd place displaying his ability and fitness with Marc taking a good 4th place.
The last race of the day, the Junior Sculls saw Marc out in a boat yet again with Sam Milton and Matt Keller competing against each other. Marc achieved 4th place with Sam coming in 6th place.
After what seemed a very long and windy day, the club returned to Folkestone to celebrate their achievements and toast the crew who won in the new boat.
Next weekend a few of the crews will travel to Southsea and the following weekend hopefully most of the club will compete at Eastbourne on Saturday and Shoreham on Sunday.