CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

Welcome back from the Christmas and New Year break and hoping all are well and at least a little rested. This is arguably the grimmest time of the year; bad weather, red boards, short days, and spring seems a long way off. But we have the head season to focus on and The Boustead and Rayner Cups races towards the end of January.

The Boustead Cup event was founded by Guy Boustead in 1947 and it is interesting to note that LRC and Thames have each won it 32 times so we are level pegging!

LRC last won the trophy in 2013 and, based on latest form this year, promises to be a cracker. Ominously, there have been thirteen no races over the years due to bad weather so fingers crossed for this year. Good luck to all our crews taking part on 28th January.

Talking of silverware, we have the Annual Dinner at the clubhouse on Thursday, 1st February, when we will be proudly displaying the Wyfold Challenge Cup in celebration of last year’s epic win.

Many will be aware that Philip Carré has been unwell recently. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him at the Club soon.

A late reminder that we have Pearson Cycles presenting at the Club on Thursday, 18 January. All are welcome at this ticketless event.

Bill Baker
Chairman, London Rowing Club

CAPTAIN’S REPORT

I hope your holidays were merry and bright!

Back on the water after a stormy hiatus, the LRC Pudding Races closed last year’s activities. We had three mixed quads which were so evenly matched that it came down to a photo finish. The race was from Barn Elms to the LRC flagpole, a decent, yet festive, distance. After some selective hearing, resulting in an extended warm up, Jonny Akehurst’s quad clenched the 2023 title. The prize (chocolates) was solely given to Anna Robotham who stroked the boat to glory in a full Santa's helper outfit. Middle pair were Ronnie Maddox at 2 and Matt Piechowicz in a reindeer hat at 3. But everyone was a winner in the bar after the race with the fires on and warm mince pies served by our terrific events team.

Best dressed would have also been claimed by Jonny Akehurst, who arrived dressed as a Christmas tree, but it was the little Pelly girls who were all dressed as little lambs that were indisputably best dressed.

Coming up this month we have two race days. The bar will be open after the Quintin Head on Saturday 21st January, with the race starting at 11am. The Boustead and Rayner Cups, our local match race with TRC, will be early on Sunday 28th January from 8am. The race will run from University Stone to LRC Flag Pole - the balcony will be open for spectating and tea and coffee will be available. Prizegiving will be held at TRC.

With the heavy rain and flooding, we will likely be receiving some guests from other clubs in the coming weeks - please make sure you do not leave belongings laying around, especially in the changing rooms. Lockers are still available - please contact Saskia Gill in the membership office if you are interested.

Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

Bang the Drum!

Elizabeth Cottrell
Captain, London Rowing Club

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

18 January: Pearson Cycle Talk
20 January: Quintin Head
28 January: Boustead and Rayner Cups
1 February: Annual Club Dinner
3 February: Hampton Head
4 February: English Indoor Rowing Championships
10 February: GB Senior and U23 trials
11 February: Bedford Eights' and Fours' Head
17 February: Henley Fours' Head
17 February: Molesey Head Races
18 February: Hammersmith Head
21 February: Club Supper (open to all)
9 March: Women's Eights' Head
16 March: Kingston Head
20 March: Schools Head
23 March: Head of the River
24 March: Vesta Veterans Head
30 March: University Boat Races
12/14 April: GB Senior and U23 Invitation Trials
14 April: Abingdon Head

See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…

ON FINCHES FIELD

This is a trailer for a book, carrying the above title, to be published soon. It is the story about our historic and cherished clubhouse building, originally constructed in 1871 and much expanded and developed, of course, since.

‘Finches Field’ is the name of the plot of land on which the building was constructed – hence the title.

A small Sub-Committee has carried out detailed research in order to tell the full story, to mark the building’s 150th anniversary reached two years ago. The book will run to nearly 100 pages, be fully illustrated and in colour. Essential and informative reading for all members, young and old!

Further details on the launch date to follow…

Julian Ebsworth

ANNUAL CLUB DINNER

The London Rowing Club Annual Dinner will be taking place on Thursday 1 February, with information regarding tickets and menu being released next week. Alongside the meal, the Wyfold Challenge Cup will be on display following the club's success at Henley Royal Regatta in July. We look forward to seeing members and their guests there, please keep an eye out for more details soon.

Heather Scott

CLASSICS AT THE CLUB

On 19 November the third Classics at the Club meeting took place on an overcast, if thankfully dry, day.

Miles Preston’s ever-resplendent 1933 Rolls Royce 20/25 is a car in which he and Jane often travel long distances around the UK and on the Continent. He reports its very comfortable and good for 55 mph. Who needs speed in such a vehicle?

Alan Foster was the only one to bring two cars, his 1928 Ford Model A discovered in Buenos Aires and shipped to the UK for restoration and his MG TD in good nick with a later 5 speed gearbox for easier motorway cruising.

John Auber’s black over grey 1948 R Type Bentley was on display again and looking very elegant. It feels surprisingly small behind the wheel for such a large car.

My own 1972 Mini Cooper S (replica I’m afraid) was a more down to earth offering. My Audi has dodgy brakes at the moment so I thought discretion was the better part of valour (or should that be velour?) and left it at home.

Perhaps the most unusual and intriguing car was Giles Usher’s Black over Royal Claret 1987 Daimler DS420 limousine complete with bonnet mounted RAF flag. Giles suggested using his limo for ferrying LRC members around Henley next summer. Does anyone have a miniature LRC flag for the bonnet mast? Maybe Giles can drive down the Embankment past TRC a few times?

As usual the fleet attracted the attention of passers-by who asked about the cars and the Club. The only failure of the morning was the poor bar attendance and Lucas Carreé and Strider were left sadly underoccupied. Suppose it’s obvious that cars and alcohol don’t mix but all attendees had fun.

Bill Baker

NEW MEMBERS

We would like to welcome the following new members to the Club:

Iwan Humphreys
Helen Richardson
William Blythe
James Shawdon

Our new members from HSBC:

David Law
Pierre Lhommet
William Wall
Adrian Thompson
Olivier Heathcote-Rey
Kash Chouhan
Nick Thompson
Richard Byrne-Smith
Ryan Bailey
Bart Capeci
Matt Charlton
Alexander Hughes
Anna Lhommet
Liz Hitchens
Wendy Hilton
Uli Forster
Soraya Nidai
Charlotte Tu
Maria Byrne
John Makin-Shaw
Tom Byrne
Ian Gray
Richard Heyman
Matthew Vining
Emma Beardmore
Hannah English

We hope you will enjoy being part of the London Rowing Club community and will help us build an ever happier and more successful club.

We are always pleased to have more members so, if you know of anyone who you think might like to join the Club, please either let us know or encourage them to get in touch with us themselves.

There is information on becoming a member on our website: https://www.londonrc.org.uk/membership-enquiries or you can contact the Club’s Membership Secretary, Jessica Salter, whose email address is: membership@londonrc.org .uk

Andrew Boyle
Honorary Secretary, London Rowing Club

REPORTING SAFETY INCIDENTS

All members are reminded that if you are involved in or witness a water safety incident, you are required to report it using the following email address – safety@londonrc.org.uk

The Club will file any necessary reports on your behalf with British Rowing and the PLA. Members should not submit reports directly to either body.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the London Roar. If you have an idea for an article or would be interested in submitting a piece for inclusion in a future edition, please email me on miles.preston@londonrc.org.uk

Please do not submit an article without first liaising with me.

Miles Preston
Editor of The London Roar