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Success continued during the weekend for the Ladies Section
at Ironbridge Regatta, putting out 7 crews competing over
both days. On Saturday (1000m) the WVetC 4+ of Nicky Wild,
Annie Williams, Dawn Evans and Rowena Pollock, coxed by
Karen Blackwood gave an excellent strong performance against
two crews winning their final by one and a half lengths.
The
WIM3 4+ of Sharon Finch, Julie Brandram Jones, Karen Blackwood
and Sheron Dean-Lucas and coxed by Ellie Blackwood had a
number of hard races against university crews in their category
but kept good pace and timing, and with Julie, Karen and
Ellie sitting in last minute, the crew did very well to
maintain a good consistent standard.
On
Sunday (500m short course), with the river rising fast and
debris coming down, the WIM3 8+ of Sarah Sykes, Alison Griffin,
Alison Barker, Pam Ball, Elaine Powell, Julie Brandram Jones,
Anne Morris and Jess Jordan put up a very commendable performance
against a more experienced Liverpool Victoria crew. The
bad river conditions coupled with a difficult start meant
that the Ross crew started on the back foot. However, they
gained ground considerably over the 500m length of the course,
losing by just half a length.
Bethan
Hunter and Sally Pettipher, and Kerry Meek and Rosie Brandram
Jones competed in the WIM3 2x. Kerry and Rosie did well
in their first heat noting they had not doubled together
for some time but unfortunately lost to a stronger Stourport/Worcester
composite who eventually won the final. Bethan and Sally
had some excellent rows to reach the final against the same
composite crew, but lost by a short margin.
The
WIM3 4+ with their normal crew resumed of Sharon Finch,
Alison Griffin, Anne Morris and Sheron Dean-Lucas, coxed
by Kerry Meek in the first heat came up against the same
university crew as the previous day, however they managed
to maintain a good course losing by just 2 lengths after
a very good effort and a technically better performance
than their opposition.
The
WVetB 4+ of Nicky Wild, Annie Williams, Dawn Evans and Holly
Campbell coxed by the Junior Academy's Skye competed in
a straight final against an overall younger crew from Warrington.
It was a hard race with both crews determined to take the
lead and keep off their opposition. Ross came off the start
first with a half length lead and maintained that lead until
the final bridge when they took the pace up and left the
Warrington crew behind to take the race by a boat length.
The
final race of the day was the MxIM3 4+ crew of Geraldine
Calcraft, Richard Jennison, Dawn Evans and Richard Ceci,
coxed again by Skye. Their opposition was a younger crew
from Trent. The mix had a very good start but raced neck
and neck down the course against Trent, vying for first
place. So close was the race that neither crew knew when
they crossed the line which had won until they got back
onto the steps - Ross fortunately winning by just two feet.
A really fine performance noting that the mix had only had
two practice outings the week before. Unfortunately they
were not able to compete in their final against young Northwich
crew as all racing was abandoned at 6.30pm by Ironbridge
due to the dangerous water conditions and the backlog in
crews and times.
Ladies'
Captain, Dawn Evans, said, 'This has been a really good
weekend for all crews in terms of experience and competing
in such appalling water conditions. We are really proud
of our coxes, for making it such an achievable weekend,
a weekend that the Ladies Section can be really proud of.'
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