Regatta Rivalry

On Monday, 2nd July 2007 the OGs went head to head with St George's College 1st VIII in the fight to win the Murtough Cup.

Andy Graham (O6) coxed the OG crew (photo below) which included in its crew:

This year's crew was of fairly recent leavers although we saw the return of Duncan Lawrence who is a regular now at the regatta and he has provided us with the report below for those of you rowers that weren't able to attend this year's regatta.

SGC Regatta - July 2007 - By Duncan Lawrence (OG '87)

"Can it really be 20 years since I competitively rowed? Back then my crew and I had been one of the most successful within Boat Club history and I had been fortunate enough to be selected for England three years in a row.

Here I am again, standing on the banks of the Thames, School regatta day, Mike Dailey and I surveying the scene - nothing has changed!

But oh yes it has! Firstly, the number of girls rowing has increased substantially from the four or five in my day, to what appears to be a majority shareholding now. Secondly, the boathouse now holds more carbon fibre and Janousek boats than I remember, although a lot of the boats from my day are very much in everyday use.

An appeal is underway for a new boathouse with improved changing facilities and boat racks which I think is long over due and will bring the Boat Club into the twenty first century.

We had celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Boat Club whilst I was at school, so I was pleased to be able to be present at the 50th anniversary regatta. Although I have rowed in the OGs race for the last five years I decided to get fit for this one, so a few hours in the gym over the last six months had improved my general level of fitness and I was raring to go!

I joined my crew of fellow Old Georgians including a welcome female competitor to discuss tactics and rowing preferences. It quickly transpired that I was very much the senior figure in the boat by an average 20 years! These guys were just being born when I was leaving school!!! However, I still felt that thrill in the pit of my stomach when we walked the boat out to the waters edge. This place had been such an integral part of my childhood and the confidence it gave me as an individual has remained with me since.

We ventured out on to the water in the rather blustery but sunny conditions. Thankfully these recent OGs had rowed together and the initial few strokes felt good together. We paddled up to the Marina and tried a few practice starts before lining up with the current 1st VIII who were on the Middlesex side.

A few good solid strokes to start and a fair bit of splashing saw us creep into the lead. This was short lived as the more fluid crew started to edge their way into a half length advantage. Now I have been practicing on the rowing machine in the gym and rarely go above 30 strokes per minute, so the fact that we started at a rate of 42, settled back to 40 for the mid-part and then raised it again to 42 for the last 150 metres was an experience for me!

I am pleased to say that we maintained the distance and were possibly coming back at them in the final few strokes.

The banks were crowded with teachers, pupils, parents and on-lookers all shouting and clapping as we collapsed after the finish line. After congratulating the winning crew we turned to paddle the last few strokes back to the landing stages to be greeted by well wishers.

Another year will pass before I hear the rush of water against carbon fibre and the splashes of blades connecting with the Thames.

Happy days."