CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

Well, the autumn season is well underway with some very strong Pairs Head results. Special mention goes to the winners, Women’s Championship pair, Men’s Open pair (with LRC also second in category less than one second behind), Women’s Lightweight pair and Men’s Open Masters B pair. LRC fielded nineteen entries in all with three crews finishing in the overall top ten. This bodes well for the season ahead. In some ways, and it’s a very positive problem to have, we are the victims of the very healthy rowing numbers at the club. Pressure on equipment is high and added to that, events offer a finite number of entries and understandably have to allocate a fair quota to each club. This means some of our members will be disappointed either by lack of available boats or by limited event space. Our Captain and the Rowing Sub Committee are doing everything possible to spread our resources so please bear with them, particularly at the ‘pinch points’ of the large events.

Many will know that our club is twinned with Calcutta Rowing Club, founded two years after us in 1858. A few weekends ago, LRC were invited by Calcutta RC to the annual Durga Parade, a Hindu festival to the goddess Durga held every autumn around the world. Around ten members boarded a pleasure boat at Putney Pier and, after a close call with two LRC eights turning around the bottom of the moored boats (now that would have been something to write about!), headed off to below Tower Bridge and back to Blackfriars. We were treated to a free drink and lunch plus a talk on the meaning and history of the parade. Many colourful costumes were on display but what attracted most attention was the blue and white of our LRC blazers. One Calcutta rower based in London is intending to join our Irregulars and is interested in the club as a venue for a corporate meeting.

I write this on Remembrance Sunday and at this time many of us think about ancestors or current family and friends involved in conflict, many of whom did not return or were injured physically and mentally. Our Honours Boards in the entrance to the club record that 45 London men lost their lives in the First World War (numerically about half our current top squad), and 32 in the Second World War. In November 2018 a group of members generously paid for the publication of a small but very significant volume in the club’s history, recording details of those who lost their lives in the first war. This book was freely distributed to members at the time, and I think we probably have none left in stock but if you get an opportunity to read it please do. It’s very interesting and moving.

Our three honours boards Recording those who fell in both world wars.

Order of service held in the Fairbairn Room 7 November 2018.

Finally, classic car owners and devotees, hold the date of Sunday, 8th December for another Classics at the Club. Bring down an interesting vehicle of whatever description for a convivial ‘kicking of the tyres’ and a drink at the bar. More details to follow via the usual channels.

Bill Baker
Chairman, London Rowing Club

CAPTAIN’S REPORT

It has been great to see LRC settling strongly into the rowing season in the last month. I was so impressed and proud to see the club perform well across numerous categories in Pairs Head of the River, following which I thoroughly enjoyed attending the prize giving recently hosted generously by Barnes Bridge Ladies Rowing Club to see our very own Jessica Eddie present pennants to Edoardo Marshall, Sean O’Mahoney, Elizabeth Cottrell, Jenny Arthur, Saskia Gill, Emily Walters, James Sexton-Barrow and Robert Williams for victories in their respective categories. Congratulations to you all and a huge thanks to everyone involved in preparing for race and volunteering on the day.

October has proven to be a hive of activity for the senior squad in particular in terms of both training and racing.

Firstly, LRC was well represented at the coveted Wingfield Sculls event on Sunday 27 October by two squad members. This year, the race ran over the weekend, meaning a change in course starting from University of London Boat Club and finishing at the LRC flagpole. As such, the course provided a new challenge for athletes and racing strategies. Squad members Josh Lyon and Rui Xu both took part in the race and performed well against strong competition. After battling along the course, Rui placed 3rd with a finish time of 24:09 and Josh placed 4th not long after with a finish time of 24:11. LRC also hosted the prize giving for the event, which was a great honour to do so. A huge congratulations to Rui and Josh on your performance and thank you to race organisers, including squad member Sam Meijer, for running the event so well.

More recently, four squad members ventured north to Boston for GB Rowing Team trials. Undertaking trialling for the GB Senior Squad in pairs, our athletes gave a strong racing performance. Ultimately, Calum Jenkins and Isaac workman place 16th and Tom Cross and Zachariah Ogelsby came 8th, both out of 34 crews entered in the M2- Open weight trial. A huge well done to all four athletes for this result, it is a great achievement and I can confidently say that myself and the whole club are very proud of you!

Onto some more housekeeping elements for the club which have been raised to me over the last month.

With boat bookings fully transferred to MyClubHouse (MCH), members must continue to book boats out for any water sessions. If you need to rig a boat you have booked to a different configuration (e.g. from a 2- to a 2x), please ensure you rig it back to how it is logged on MCH after your session. If you require a different configuration for a shell in the mid-long term, you must request this through your group lead and the Captain. Likewise if you have booked a boat out but can longer go training, please cancel the booking to ensure other members can use it.

In addition, a reminder to members that the gym at LRC is used by schools during the week (Tuesdays 12:30-14:00 and 15:00-17:30, Thursday 15:00-17:30, Friday 16:00-18:00 and Saturday 15:00-17:30). During these times, LRC members should not be using the gym facilities due to safeguarding minors. If you have any questions on this please let me know via email.

Looking ahead, it is great to see so many crews entered in the squad for Fours Head of the River and across the rest of the club for the Veterans Fours Head of the River. I know a lot of hard work and training is going into these races, particularly as the winter conditions settle in. It has been great to see the squad heading back out to Dorney over the last few weekends in preparation for the race, a venture which provides us with the best opportunities to enter the fastest and strongest crews for the event. Likewise, seeing the masters group undertake time-trials along the tideway demonstrates the enthusiasm and health competition held amongst our members to succeed in the Vet Fours Head. I am really looking forward to seeing what results we bring home over the race weekend and, of course, celebrating with you all afterwards.

Despite the colder and darker mornings and nights, I hope members continue to find some time to get down to the club for training and socialising. It was great to hear so many members attend the fireworks on 5 November last week. With that, a huge thanks to those who organised the night. I myself also had the privilege of hosting my university rowing alumus, Exeter University Boat Club (EUBC), for their annual alumni vs. students race. The event was well attended by EUBC alumni, including a fair few now based at LRC. I felt great pride in demonstrating LRC’s hospitality to them and look forward to welcoming them back next year.

I hope everyone is keeping well and look forward to seeing many of you over the fours head weekend.

Bang the drum!

Rob Porter
Captain, London Rowing Club

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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

MASTERS REPORT

With the season in full swing, the masters squad have hit the ground running. It is great to see so many familiar faces returning to training, both on and off the water, and a strong ambition to start this year as we mean to continue.

First, we are very happy to report that James Sexton-Barrow/Rob Williams and Saskia Gill/Emily Walters secured wins for the Club in the Masters B2- and W Lightweight 2- respectively at the Pairs Head. A huge congratulations to both crews! The rest of our group put in a sterling effort across multiple categories, and it was great to see a large entry for LRC across the board.

Saskia Gill and Emily Walters in W Lwt.2-

We have also started our monthly Time Trials. This is a great opportunity for all members of the squad to boat crews across all boat classes, and test out potential racing crews over the championship course. A good test of our overall fitness, for sure!

We now turn our attention to the Masters Fours Head on 23rd, November. We have 12 entries, spanning multiple divisions:

WC4x: Uli, Marianna, Soraya, Elinor
WA4-: Chloe, Caroline, Kirstyn, Emily W
WA4+: Emily D, Alex, Cecilia, Meg, Julia Norton (c)
WC4-: Elizabeth, Zoe, Anna, Amy
C4+: Charlie Pryor, Charlie Twallin, Colin Christie, Liam Gorman, Julie Hogg (c)
B4-: James Sexton-Barrow, Rob Farthing, Matt Piechowicz, Rob Williams
C4-: Pierre Lhomett, David Law, Jason Bowyer, Adrian Turner
C4x: Jon Mac, Paul Mascaro, James Robinson, James Halsall
A4x: Basil Amin, Brandon Taft, Josh Meredith, Nick Musson
D4x: Alex Fothergill, Tom Killick, Evan Grace, James Brooks
B4x: Mark Boyd, Richard Benton, George Caluian, Kirill Anurov
E4-: Jon Williamson, James Brown, JP Van Tiel, Willem Ten Have

James Sexton-Barrow and Rob Williams - Winning Men's B2.

After picking up a silver medal at the British Rowing Masters Championships in the B2-, the plan had been to carry on the project for the remainder of the summer, culminating with a test of speed at Henley Masters Regatta. However, Kylie Minogue’s tour manager had other ideas and scheduled her Hyde Park show to clash with the finals day of Henley Masters, rendering half our crew ‘otherwise engaged’. As recompense, a deal was struck to reforge the pair in the autumn with a target firmly painted on the Pairs Head.

Flash forward to Saturday, 12th October, and crew #319 found itself in a marshalling position just upstream of Barnes Bridge, ready to lead off the Op MasB2- category. The weather forecast and stream conditions during the week preceding had caused may crews to withdraw. So sadly, the volume of competition for our event had been somewhat diminished. But you can only race who is in front of you, or behind as the case may be during the Head season.

After just over an hour of slowly shuffling up the marshalling zone and many shouts of “yeah London” to our fellow club mates racing before us, it was finally time for us to spin onto the racecourse ourselves. With no stroke coach, we had chosen to operate on ‘feel’ and the craft honed over many years of racing. We could have perhaps done with a few more years practice it seemed, as our initial pace out of Chiswick Bridge turned out to be somewhat less than your traditional racing start. On reflection, this perhaps served us quite well though, as our focus became entirely on rhythm and moving the boat together, as opposed to rate and power. This very quickly established a smooth rhythm which we were able to build upon as the race unfolded.

Once into the race proper, our plan was to ‘negative split’ the course, or in other words, to build our effort as we progressed along it. Coming through Barnes Bridge we had our first gear shift, calling for just an additional 2% in the legs whilst maintaining the early rhythm we had established. This strategy proved fruitful, and as we passed the bandstand and Chiswick Pier we started to gradually increase the distance between ourselves and our direct competition, who we had the advantage of being able to watch, having gone first in our category.

Along the Eyot, whilst we were confident that we continued to put distance into our B2- competition, it could not be missed that a certain C2-, containing former GB national team rowers James Cracknell and Alex Partridge, was charging through the field and was now just a few lengths behind us. We used them as motivation to increase our efforts around the big Surrey bend and into our build for the finish, but we were unable to hold them off entirely, and they proceeded to row through us by Hammersmith Bridge. Still, they were not our direct competition and racing them had given us a handy distraction from the pain for a few minutes at least. Hats off to James and Alex who finished as the fastest overall masters pair on the day.

We crossed the line and after a few deep breaths paddled back to LRC, where we were greeted by most of the earlier racing LRC crews, already having had time to shower and change. The joys of starting 319th! After freshening up ourselves, we hot footed it over to The Duke’s Head with the rest of the LRC Masters group for a debrief, a few beers and the announcement of the results. Not too many beers later, it was confirmed we had won the Op MasB2- event and the ghosts of the missed Henley Masters campaign could be put to rest. Alongside ourselves, LRC also picked up wins in both the Men’s and Women’s Championships 2- categories, as well as the Lightweight Women’s 2-. A total of four pennants and a number more beers for LRC to enjoy. Lovely.

David Law and James Robinson - Men'c C2x

10:15 hands-on, let's go!

No need to rush to the start as we have a long wait in front of us as crew 279. Getting some early rate builds in, to ensure our lungs were tested and legs warm, was critical as we picked our way upstream. Our marshalling spot was just after the bandstand; unexpectedly, we were drifting upstream having to back down occasionally to hold position. Whilst we were chilling, crew 273, and race favourites, a composite from Leicester and Peterborough RCs, cruised up. We will be keeping an eye on you lot.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally got underway. Three power strokes off Chiswick Bridge and build to rate, 279 this is it. Our training pace had been around 30 so we aimed for that plus a couple for adrenalin and so it was. 32 and feeling good as we went through the first crossing point and towards Barnes Bridge. Out the other side of Barnes and through the second crossing point and we were closing on the crews ahead. Yeah buddy! Luckily for us, we managed to bag the inside line and we swept through these crews without being impeded or losing our stride and setting ourselves up for a tight Hammersmith bend. Having dispatched the last crew just before the bridge, we gritted our teeth into what felt like a howling gale and pressed for home.

Provisional results were released and we were 3rd behind the favourites and three seconds adrift of the crew that started as 280 directly behind us and finished even further behind - there is something fishy going on here! By the final wash up we were 64th overall and up to 2nd in our category after 280 was relegated to 6th - 21 seconds behind us - sense prevails! Overall, we were pretty pleased with our effort as we managed to pass four crews and not be caught or passed and no major mishaps - how often can you say that about a head race?

Jason Bowyer & Cecilia Collins-Taylor

YOUNG IRREGULARS REPORT

The Young Irregulars have had some fantastic outings over the past month, battling through choppy conditions throughout October. However, we have been rewarded in the last few weeks with much calmer waters, making it easier to focus on practicing those early-square strokes during our coached sessions, organised by Kathleen.

The group has been busy since our last update, with plenty of exciting events in September and October:

Rachel and Camille enjoyed the sights of Paris during the Traversée de Paris, and highly recommend it to everyone who hasn't experienced it yet.
Silvanna passed her steers test, showcasing the great depth of rowing within the Young Irregulars.
Uli and Tom W (representing a mixed Young Irregulars and Masters Group crew) competed in the Pairs Head, achieving a fantastic 4th place in the Mixed Masters 2x B/C category.
Kathleen had the opportunity to cheer on the London crews participating in the Head of the Charles River race in Boston!
We had a great turnout for the London RC Fireworks event, where everyone enjoyed catching up over drinks and chatting about something other than boat technique!
Preparations are underway for the Vets Fours Head on the 23rd of this month, with Rachel, Camille, Heather, and Tom all gearing up for the event.

We also welcome Else and Bob to the Young Irregulars and wish them many enjoyable outings during the winter months.

Finally, as the writer of this segment, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the entire group for supporting me in my Movember challenge. I have committed to rowing 60km per week on the erg throughout November – a personal challenge for me, though I know it’s a simple task for some of the more seasoned members of the Club! The challenge kicked off on Friday the 1st with a 15km session alongside Heather, and then on Saturday morning, Heather, Lawrence, Soraya, Liz, and Zoe joined me for another session before heading out on the water. Their support and company have been incredibly motivating, especially during those final few metres. As of the time of writing, 86/240km have been complete.

Tom Downes

KING OF THE CHARLES

Back when Henley memories were still fresh and fight nights had yet to commence, Alex Virgo, Tom Whateley, Andrew Douglas and Basil Amin set out to race the Head of the Charles in Boston 40+ coxed 4’s. With an Airbnb and boat secured, ex-LRC/GB cox and all-round super-mum Charlotte Ware was persuaded into the cox’s seat. What could possibly go wrong? Seemingly everything. Well almost.After sourcing a replacement rental boat, inboxes were greeted with “Hey guys. I have terrible news.” With barely two weeks to go and race weekend meaning accommodation was rarer than an RP3 in the gym, we prepared ourselves forthe local hostel or a very long commute. As luck would have it, a newly refurbished house had just been listed. Surely our luck was turning?

Ping. Your flight today is cancelled. Surely not! After heated exchanges and impromptu visits to Paris and Philadelphia airports we were finally reunited in Boston and our upgraded accommodation. Now to the job in hand.

After a spin round the course in a very nice Resolute, courtesy of Riverside BC, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our race boat; a rather weary looking King complete with hole in the bow. After a less than encouraging outing we went home in less than optimistic mood.

(The 4+ in action, courtesy of Vicky Gillard).

With a good night’s sleep and a blitz of work on the boat and blades we set off in glorious sunshine. Could we turn the tide of bad luck and at least secure a top half finish and secure a spot for 2025? With “You’re on the course. Have a great paddle” ringing in our ears and an ambitious rhythm afoot, we set off to chase down the crews in front. Responding to Charlie’s encouragement down the powerhouse straight, two were suitably dispensed by the exit from the legendary Weeks bridge. Now to CRI who were originally lending us a boat. With suitably chosen words of encouragement relayed by Basil in the bow (thanks to the intermittent cox box) Charlie claimed the racing line before going on the hunt for Tyrian and the finish, a mere 250m from the last bridge (or so we were told).

Within minutes we had our result. Second, beaten only by a crew of former US internationals. Long live the King!

Andrew Douglas

FORTHCOMING CLUB EVENTS

It is a busy last two months of the year with the following events planned and we will welcome your support!

Thursday, 21st November
Members bar will be open 7-10pm

On Saturday, 23rd November it is the Masters’ Four Heads and the Club will be open for spectators from 10.30am with Burgers being served from 11 until 4pm. The bar will be open until 6pm. All supporters are welcome.

On Sunday, 24th it will be the Fours Head. The Fairbairn Room and terrace will be open from 10.30am for supporters. In the Long Room we are hosting a ticketed Brunch, prosecco and Drag Bingo event. Tickets for this are available through MCH at £28 each and include a Full English breakfast, bottle of Prosecco and the Bingo. The event begins promptly at 1pm and can only be attended by pre booking a ticket.

Sunday, 1st December.
The Club will be showing the Formula 1 in the Long Room with the bar open from 2pm.

Saturday, 14th December – Remenham Challenge.
The bar will be open from 1- 6pm with Burgers on offer from 1-4.30pm.

Thursday, 19th December – The Club Christmas party.
Come and join us with your festive vibes, sparkly outfits and singing voices. Canapes and bowl food will be served alongside a glass of fizz, with carol singing later! tickets are now on sale on MCH at £47 per person.

SAVE THE DATE
30th January – Club Annual Dinner.

Annabel Lawrence
Events Manager, LRC

CHRISTMAS BOOKS

A reminder that there are two books about the Club which would make ideal presents for Christmas – either for yourself to enjoy during the festive season, or for someone special if she/he needs a hint about what to give you!

The first is Water Boiling Aft, Christopher Dodd’s comprehensive 320-page history of the Club, commissioned to mark its 150th anniversary in 2006. Very well reviewed at the time of publication, and over 1,000 copies sold to date. Hardback, £20.

The second is On Finches Field, published last February, the story of the Club’s 150 year-old clubhouse building dating from 1870. Another well-received book. Chapters include the legal history of the site (after which the book is named), the architecture, and a detailed account of the developments and extensions from 1876 to 2019. Softback. £10.

“What a terrific, handsome publication …. magnificent illustrations” - Diana Way, Way’s Bookshop, Henley.

Both books are available using MyClubhouse. Postage and packing extra. The books are also available at the bar (saving on p&p!).

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CHRISTMAS 2024: Buy both books for £20 + p&p.

DURGA PARADE 2024

On 26th October, Heritage Bengal arranged a boat trip on the Thames to celebrate the Durga Puja festival with some friends from Calcutta Rowing Club on board. Two LRC quads escorted the boat from Wandsworth to Putney and embarked at Putney Pier as it headed down to Tower Bridge.

The annual festival celebrates Durga, the mother of the Hindu gods. When no man could be found to defeat the shape-shifting demon Mahishasura, Durga stepped forward. Holding a variety of weapons in her ten arms, she was victorious in a nine day battle. Perhaps there is a boat naming opportunity for the women's squad here!

In the last week of November Calcutta Rowing Club is organising an international sculling regatta. Some LRC members may attend depending on the number of entries accepted for the Fours Head and the Veterans Fours Head, which will take place during the preceding weekend. Richard Twining, a CRC member who helped organised last year's celebration of the centenary of CRC's affiliation with LRC, has provided the following explanation of LRC's links with CRC and other clubs in Asia.

The Far East clubs that were designated affiliates by LRC in 1923 were Calcutta, Shanghai, Rangoon, Manilla, Calicut (in south-west India) and Miri in Sarawak on the border with (then) British North Borneo. Much later there was an informal connection with Hong Kong and Singapore, mainly through returning expats joining LRC. Sometime between these dates the Royal Connaught BC in Poona (now Pune) claimed an LRC connection, perhaps without LRC having a formal agreement. All continue to exist with various levels of rowing skills and focus except possibly the Piasau BC in Miri, which is seemingly a boat club without boats. Prewar Sarawak was the private empire of the ‘White Rajah’ Brooke family.

Richard Twining in a fixed seat sculling boat on the lake at CRC in the 1950s.

LRC members wishing to exercise their rights as affiliate members of CRC on a visit to Kolkata should contact Andrew Boyle (secretary@londonrc.org.uk). Members with links to the places mentioned above should also make themselves known to Andrew as there have been suggestions of organising events similar to the Curry Cup. This was held at LRC for many years with races involving former expats and presumably followed by a very good supper!

Andrew Boyle
Hon Secretary, LRC

15TH SEPTEMBER 1940

Most members will know the significance of this date. It was the turning point in the Battle of Britain and marked the moment when Hitler abandoned his plan to invade us. From that moment his focus changed to invading Russia, which happened the following June.

About two months ago one of the Irregulars, Giles Usher, sent a message to all the Irregulars asking if anyone would be interested in visiting the Battle of Britain Bunker at Uxbridge. From that grew a group of fourteen who travelled to the Bunker on Saturday, 12th October.

The bunker was the centre of operations for the seven South East sectors of aerodromes where Spitfires and Hurricanes were based.

The tour was scheduled to start at 2.30. Most of us turned up a little early to enjoy some lunch together in the Bunker’s café.

Our guide, Andy Stracey, turned out to be fantastic. He led us down the 75 steps into the heart of the bunker where he proceeded to talk to us for about an hour and a half. He spoke with huge knowledge and was clearly deeply engrossed in the history of the place. We all listened, spellbound by all he told us.

As well as explaining the way in which the communications were structured and how the system of directing the numerous squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes to attack the hoards of German Messerschmidt fighter planes and bombers coming across the Channel worked, he gave a remarkable account of what happened on the 15th September.

Apparently, Churchill who had been planning to go to Chequers had sensed that this day was going to be crucial to the outcome of the battle turned up unannounced at the bunker with Clementine. The director of operations Air Vice Marshall Keith Park was not best pleased to see him as he needed to focus fully on the days fighting. Andy described how Churchill and Clementine watched everything as it developed. At one point in the height of the battle in the early afternoon he asked how many reserve squadrons there were. He was told there were none.

Fortunately, as the afternoon progressed, the Germans gave up their efforts and returned home.

About 450 German planes (one hundred bombers and three hundred and fifty supporting fighter planes) came across the Channel early in the afternoon, with about 250 Allied fighter planes going up to oppose them.

If you are interested in knowing more about that fateful day, you should watch the video ‘Thirteen hours that saved Britain’ which can be found on Netflix.

Thanks go to Giles for thinking of setting up the day and making it possible for fourteen Irregulars to spend a memorable day together.

Following our visit, I got in touch with Andy Stracey to thank him. It was then that he told me that he offers two other tours (for twelve people and costing £10 per head), Westminster at War and Wrens Churches and the London Blitz. The Westminster walk starts at Victoria Station and ends at St.Clements Danes on the Strand and the City walk starts at Temple Tube Station and finishes at Tower Hill. If you might be interested in doing one or both of these tours, please email me at miles.preston@milespreston.co.uk . If there is sufficient interest, I will line things up with Andy.

Miles Preston

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