Globe Rowing Club

Another successful weekend for our junior squad, Alan Wylie reports;

“In the final regatta of the season at Cambridge our junior squad have excelled themselves collecting wins in four hard fought categories. An early call was needed for everybody as our first entry was in the second race of the day at 8.30.The squad plus mums & dads were all there, unloading and rigging in a very short time as the races were about to follow thick and fast.

Globe were represented in WJ15 1X by three of our young ladies Sorcha Liston-Smith, Bronwynn Redgrave and Sophie Pritchard with Bron beating Peterborough and Sophie beating Kings School Ely comfortably to progress but with Sorcha unfortunately beaten marginally by a strong challenge from another Kings Ely young lady. Bron and Sophie continued steady progress through the heats with Bronwynn avenging Sorcha by beating the KSE girl in the next round, but losing the next heat. Sophie with an extra race in the heats due to a bye for Isle of Ely still managed to reach the final. The final saw Sophie beaten despite a strong challenge by our girl.

WJ15 2X  had three Globe doubles entered Sorcha paired with Alice Dwyer, Molly Atkinson with Alicia Buckley with Sophie and Bronwynn the third. The first heat of this event saw an unlucky draw which pitched Molly and Lissy against Sophie and Bronwynn with Sophie and Bronwynn  winning by 2 lengths. In their first heat Alice and Sorcha beat a Peterborough double to progress unfortunately losing in the next round to a strong Ely crew who had a bye. Sophie and Bron continued by beating Maidstone Invicta to the final spot. In the final our girls were leading Ely when a broken down dinghy drifted across the course almost at the finish line, the occupants panicking at the berating they were getting from spectators our girls did not panic, although our supporters did, but steered to avoid finally clipping the dinghy right on the finish line. The umpires decision went to our crew, as the dinghy, although on the course, did not affect the outcome of the race.

Elise French one of our more recent squad members finally broke her duck, Elise entered two events and did extremely well.  In the women’s novice event Elise sculled a brilliant race but failed to progress. The WJ17 1X was a different story taking Isobel’s place Elise lead her Cambridge”99” opponent from start to finish and despite catching an enormous crab regained her balance to scull in the victor and claim her first regatta win with an “easily” verdict from the distance judge..

Both of Elise’s brothers were less fortunate young Will sculling in J13 won the first heat with some quality sculling to reach the final but failed to claim the prize after a very strong race.

Brother James in the singles event sculled well beating the Huntingdon lad easily for a final place, James opposition in the final was young Jack Keach, now rowing under Poplar’s banner the race was nip and tuck all the way but James drifted off on a very narrow course to clip the bank which was enough to slow him and allow the Poplar boy the victory.

James then doubled with Jack Davidson in J16 2X winning the heat in fine style with an easily verdict to move into the final but failed to capitalize and lost the final to a Peterborough pair.

Men’s Novice single, Jack Davidson what can one say, if there were medals for dedication and effort young Jacko would be collecting gold all the time. Poor Jack’s first open win still eludes him for despite reaching the final after a number of heats Jacks star still did not shine.

Our last event of the day was WJ16 4X our girls rowing up in a straight final with Pete Smith’s Solomon like selection of four to scull from our six WJ15 girls Pete had Molly bow, Alice two, Sophie three stroked by Lissy and Will bringing up the rear in the cox’uns seat sculled a fantastic race to win by ¾ of a length  from The Champions of the Thames club.

Four great wins to boast about and some very pleased but tired juniors doing the boasting.

Once again, thanks to all the parents and helpers and to one of our juniors Adam Bein who despite not rowing made the effort attend to help and support his club mates.

We go into the close season with a very strong junior squad, with Peter and Maurice’s coaching skills through the dark months, I am sure Globe juniors will be back bigger, better, stronger and a force to be reckoned with at every event we enter next year.

Oh by the way Maurice and Milky had yet another win to show the kids how it’s done.”

Alan Wylie
President

UPDATE: “My apologies to Greg Blanchard for not mentioning his fine J14 win at Cambridge Regatta this weekend Greg sculled some brilliant races scoring an easily verdict on two of his heats to progress to the final. Greg sculled a terrific final, grinning at our supporters as he sculled past on the way to collect the honour’s This was Greg’s first win in an open event and yet another win for the Globe Junior Squad. I am sure that with his enthusiasm and ability we are going to see many more wins from this young man in the future.

Just to add to this, a word of thanks to Greg’s dad Richard for his invaluable help and is always there helping with the many jobs needed before the youngsters can get on the water.”

Alan Wylie
President

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“Once again the juniors did extremely well on the regatta circuit, this time it was Lea Autumn Regatta on Sunday last. We had a depleted squad due to late holidays for some but the remainder made up for the shortage of numbers. All the youngsters are now competing in the next year category J14’s up to J15’s etc, the 1^st of September being the change point.

Our WJ15 girls were entered in three events singles, doubles, and a quad, first up was Sophie Pritchard who my scribe records winning by a country mile from Clark of Lea RC to progress through to the semis. Globe’s Bronwynn Redgrave with a bye to the semis convincingly beat another Lea girl to bag her place in the final. Sophie then beat yet another Lea girl to earn her final spot. The all Globe final had our two girls and doubles partners against each other, both determined to win, with no quarter given we saw a splendid race with Sophie triumphant and Bron being first to give her a victory hug.

Globe’s Jack Davidson, rowing up to men’s novice against an Erith rower who was certainly a lot older than Jacko, saw Jack winning the heat easily by four lengths, in the semi final Jack was up against strong opposition from a Weybridge sculler with Jack losing by two lengths.

Undaunted, Jack then continued with the J17 event rowing two years above his normal status unfortunately losing again to another Weybridge rower.

Greg Blanchard our solitary J14 entry sculled an excellent race against a Lea sculler who was twice warned by the umpire for impeding our rower but Greg being a true sportsman said the Lea lad was better on the day despite his disappointment at losing.

Isobel Turner fresh from her success at the club’s master and apprentice races was still in winning mode moving smoothly through  to the semi final against her usual doubles partner Naomi Curthoys of Royal docks, Isobel winning well by 2 lengths. The final put Isobel against a Bewl Bridge girl, again Isobel led from start to finish, my scribe recording another country mile win, I think she means easily.

Back to our WJ15 girls this time in doubles, Molly Atkinson paired with Alice Dwyer and Sophie and Bronwynn back together Molly and Alice beating an Ardingley double for a place in the semi final. Sophie and Bronwynn beating another Ardingley crew by 3lengths to move into the semis. The draw had both Globe crews in different semis and rowing against two Lea RC crews expectations were growing of another “all Globe final” at this point but it was not to be, Molly and Alice losing the semi by a short distance and Sophie and Bron by my scribes C.M. verdict. The final saw our Soph and Bron up against the crew who had beaten their club mates but despite the need for revenge they lost to a stronger crew.

Almost the final event of the day was our WJ15 quad of Bron, Sophie, Molly and Alice coxed by Jacko rowing up at WJ16 against a very strong Lea Rowing club crew, this late in the day and after numerous races our girls were all tired but still gave a good account of themselves losing by a short distance to the local girls.

Comments were heard along the towpath about the strength and quality of Globe’s junior squad, comments that had Peter Smith and Maurice Coughlan grinning from ear to ear and telling poachers to keep away.

I must make special mention here of two seniors Mark Jaques and Joe Hollier who took time out of their busy training schedule to come to support and encourage the youngsters and help with boating, thanks to you both.

My thanks also to the backroom staff of mums, dads, grans and granddads loading and unloading, getting teas and the myriad other things that need to be done for the clubs success, in particular my thanks to my scribe and secretary Carole Turner for keeping an up to date list of proceedings that helps me compile my waffle.

Thanks to you all, next week sees the final regatta of the season at Cambridge, once again Peter and Marian have entered a strong Globe contingent so if you are free a ride up the M11 is all it takes to support your club.”

Alan Wylie
President
Globe Rowing Club

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