Marlow Regatta 2008:

Overall 2nd in S3
 
It would be generous to say we had actually prepared for this competition, having indulged in May Week fully and on the falling side of our Bumps peak. Arriving at Dorney lake, which hosted the world championships in 2006, we found conditions weren't pleasant with a raging crosswind which cancelling out the bright sunshine.
 
Semi-final: 2nd - Qualified for final  
Our first paddle together since winning at Peterborough was encouraging given the circumstances. Attaching to the stakeboats first was a bad mistake as we were instantly swung around by the strenghtening crosswind.
 
Eventually when all boats were pointing into the wind we began, albeit with a scrappy start. A minute in found us with a canvas lead and a solid rhythm at rate 38, but at halfway Dublin pushed through us. The rate dropped to 32 over the last minute, given we had qualified comfortably in beating Homerton and Monkton Coombe school by some clear water.
 
Final: 2nd  
Our allocated lane was considerably the least favourable given the persisting crosswind, and it told off the start with a missed stroke and noteable scrappiness in the choppy water leaving us in 4th at the 250m mark. However we found a great rhythm and a push of 3 x 5 legs at the halfway 500m pushed us level with 2 other boats vying for second place.
 
Emptying the tank in the last 250m saw us nose into a half canvas lead over the line, though still half a length down on the Dublin crew who beat us in the semis. A great result, though who knows if we could have claimed the silverware in other circumstances. A special mention must go to John Kyffin, for whom this was his last race in Magdalene colours; a great stalwart of the boatclub - sorry we didn't quite win this one for you! Bring on next year!

Written by Tom Wilson