Bradford Autumn Regatta, Saturday 12th September, 2015

Unlike last week’s Closing Races, the weather was not perfect, but it wasn’t cold, and only wet in bits.  Like many regattas, they have swapped to a division system, with the winners reamaining on the water until the final.  This worked pretty well, provided you weren’t caught in a rainy bit.

Leading off in the first division were Graham and myself in MasE/F doubles.  Our heat was against  a Loughborough E double that we raced at Burton.  As at Burton, we declined the advantage (we are older) and beat them (again).  The final was against a Bradford F double we had not met before.  We won, and discovered afterwards that they were only a year before their shift up to G status, which means the next time we meet they will have a head start (not the only time this happened to me, see below).

Next was Josh in a replay of the final he lost (very closely) last year against the same lad from Doncaster.  Josh has come a long way in the year, and left his oppo at the start and didn’t look back (well, actually, you look back all the time in this sport, but you know what I mean.)  Here endeth the first division.

The next division was a trope for Derwent – All Dolemans, All the Time.  James, summoned early for his straight final in IM2 singles, won nicely (slightly over a length) against an oppo that pressed him hard (but not hard enough).  Kate lost her straight final in IM3 singles (I have no details), and Will lost in J15 (a year over his head) against an opponent who placed second at the nationals this year.  This loss was not aided by the fact that his boat was incorrectly rigged (I adjusted the blades, but forgot the boat).  My error, and a risk run by boat sharing.  Hopefully not to be repeated.

The third division was busy for us, with six entries.  I was allowed to pull a fast one, and double up Will and Milly in the same boat (this time with the boat rigged correctly for each).  Will started, winning heat and final in J14, without undue effort (he is now an experienced racer, and his oppo were not).  Then I won heat and final of MasF singles, both oppo being slightly richer in years than myself, and, similar to the doubles above, to be given a head start on me next year, should we meet.

Then came the women’s IM2 singles, an all Derwent event, and a replay of last week’s Closing Races.  Sophie and Cesca met in the heat, Sophie winning by a length, and then Sophie raced Kate, this time reversing last week’s result, and beating Kate by a length.  

And finally, following a pitstop-style rigging change involving several people (I was on the water, and therefore unable to organise - read interfere) which obviously went smoothly, as Milly won both heat and final of J16’s, to make the haul seven for the day, equalling the record set this year at Trentham Regatta (and with far fewer entries).

A very good end to the 2015 regatta season.