Exeter Head Race 2005

Dart-Totnes rowing club were in action again with two complete trailer loads of boats travelling to Exeter canal for the pre-Christmas Head Race. Thick fog made for a very hostile rowing environment with the bitter cold and limited visibility, the bain of coxes and photographers alike. It was worse for single scullers waiting at the start who had to assemble first and start last in this processional race timed against the clock.

 

A huge entry made for a long wait as crews suffered in the near zero temperatures waiting for all competitors to assemble in the two divisions which ran over time by more than an hour. Once assembled, though, the conditions were perfect for rowing if not for navigation. Fastest Totnes crew and winners of their event was the veteran C coxed four of Nick Price, Mick Rolley, Alan Langmaid, Steve Lamkin and coxed by Steve Grimes in a time of 13 minutes, 28 seconds coming home in 22nd place overall out of a total entry of 162. Not only did they beat the club's senior C and third fastest Totnes crew of Guy Troop, Simon French, Rob Smith, Owen Small, coxed by Ember Lagdon - they overtook them on the 3500 metre course. Second fastest time for a Totnes crew went to the mens senior C quad scull comprising Peter Kerswell-Jensen, Tom Aindon, Louis King and Nick Lovering.

 

The same veteran stroke pair and cox partnered Simon Gifford-Mead and a borrowed bowman from Plymough rowing club, Derek Rickard, who enjoyed his own personal support from the bank for the entire length of the course in the first division. This crew, rowing veteran E, were the only entries for this event but still managed to be the joint forth fastest Totnes crew in a time of 14 minutes 18 seconds along with the mens junior 18 coxed four of Louis King, Matt Grace, Peter Kersell-Jensen, Nick Lovering and coxed by Owen Small who achieved an identical time winning their event, ten seconds ahead of Exeter. Meanwhile the bow pair of the veteran C crew did not waste time idling on the canal bank, instead entering a double scull coming second in their event. If they had entered as veteran C as their age allowed instead of senior C, they would have won the category by beating City of Bristol and Totnes club rivals Colin Souch and John Harris in the respectable time of 14 minutes 31 seconds.

 

Fastest ladies crew from Totnes was the Junior 18 quad of Catherine Wiseman, Ellie Peck, Rosie Cardale and Rose Willoughby who repeated the event in coxed form with Pete Knapman at the helm in times of 14:55 and 15:11 respectively.

 

Single scullers Pete Atkinson and Gary Cairns enjoyed their usual dual with Gary, entered at veteran D, only managing a one second margin in 15 minutes 2 seconds over Pete who opted to challenge the veteran C category, despite an age qualification to D. Both won their events but no trophy for Gary as three or more are required for a qualifying race. Gary, sculling in his brand new boat, will be disappointed by his narrow margin over Pete and may be glad he kept the receipt.

 

Hugh Tubbs, another up and coming Totnes veteran, won his single sculling event in the E category in a time of 15 minutes 51 seconds, just one second behind junior 18 sculler and World Class Start athlete Tom Aindon.

 

There were some impressive wins for Totnes at Exeter but what was more impressive was the scale of the Totnes entry with no fewer than six womens coxed fours including two senior B crews, one of which tied equal time with the womens veteran B crew, senior C, novice and junior 18 along with junior 14 and 18 quads and a coxless pair. Mens juniors represented another resource overload for the boat stock with entires for J15 and J16 singles, J14 and J 15 double sculls. Boat trailers groaning under the weight of rowing equipment groaned a bit more on the way home with the addition of trophies.

 

 

 

Alan Langmaid, vice-chairman and PR, Dart-Totnes ARC.