Hammersmith Regatta provides the eagerly anticipated opportunity for local clubs to resume the racing calendar after such an extended time off. The event has been limited to clubs upstream of Hammersmith Bridge and everyone must boat from their own facilities. There has also been advice that there should be no spectators so whilst the competitors will likely be thrilled at the prospect of racing, it will undoubtedly be a quieter affair than previous years.
All crews should know the course well as due to the closure of Hammersmith Bridge only local clubs were permitted entry. Racing however, may be a bit of a different story as crews will feel unfamiliar with the intensity of head-to-head racing and technique on the water might be a bit rusty. The dearth of any racing over the past year means the performance of crews and clubs looks to be rather unknown.
In the Women’s double sculls, the crew from Latymer Upper School will look to hold their own against the other club crews as the only junior entry. Fresh off the back of an Easter Rowing Camp, they will have brushed up on their technique and undoubtedly tried to make up for lost time on the water over this past year. Although their camp was closer to home than their usual outing to Banyoles, they’ve been able to get some racing practise in, friendly fixtures against St Paul’s Girls’ School would’ve provided a welcome opportunity to test out the racing legs again. Latymer also maintained their training over the lockdown period, managing their programme online including remote ergo and yoga sessions, so although they may be a bit unpractised on the water, they will hope to have the fitness and power to make up for it.
The crew from Tideway Scullers School will look to improve on their club’s results from Pairs Head last October where they placed 2nd and 3rd in the W 2x Championship event. They only have one boat entered this time and look likely to challenge strongly for the win, having demonstrated depth in the squad earlier this season. They also have a first round bye so will face the winners of Race 11, Mortlake Anglian and Alpha or Bentham B, with the advantage of fresh legs.
There are two crews entered from Mortlake Anglian and Alpha, although they should only face each other should they both make it to the final. The club placed 4th, 5th and 6th at Pairs Head 2020, behind the crews from Tideway Scullers, so it will be interesting to see if they can triumph over the shorter distance of 1000m on Saturday.
As all the crews take to the water on Saturday, we’ll hope to see some competitive rowing and an exciting return to racing.
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