In this latest period we have seen races at both the National Schools Regatta and the inaugural East Midlands Regatta.

Challenging conditions with a very strong cross headwind at the NSR somewhat spoiled our aim of reaching the final of J15 doubles, with Guy and Tom qualifying for the semis in the time trial, but then having a difficult time in their heat. After a very poor start in which the umpire failed to notice that guy and Tom were actually sideways, the boys really struggled to catch up the pack. They were actually lying in fifth place at the halfway point, but having expended nearly all their energy in the first half of the race they failed to continue their progress and finished the race in a disappointing sixth. At the East Midlands regatta the boys once again raced in a double and were joined by Jonty who raced in two events in the single. In the Jontanators first race in IM3 sculls (seeking a more challenging route to the final) he managed to give away a 3 second lead on the first 500m to then lose the race by the same margin. Winning the repechage he went on to narrowly lose to a Derby sculler in the final, but not before also narrowly losing to Nottingham in the J18 final. Unlucky!

With no J15 event available, Guy and Tom raced in the J16 category. Unfortunately they were once again blighted by the curse of Derwent and after being in real contention at halfway, had two shipwrecks in the second, spoiling their chances of a win.

Overall, all three boys are getting close to the top level in their respective age groups.

We are looking forward to several more regattas during July and August and hope that some of the others will be entering events too.

Steve Playdon