Pots at Hammersmith

The traditional regatta season-opener, Hammersmith Amateur Regatta, saw the novices and a handful of intrepid scullers take to the Tideway for their first side-by-side tests.

Thames came away with two event wins and several finalists in a solid showing.

The novice women’s 4+ won their first pots after soundly defeating Auriol Kensington A in the first round and a good Putney High School crew in the final. It was a well-earned victory after a solid winter’s training.

David Yates also won his final, in IM3 1x, beating a sculler from Sons of the Thames by two lengths.

Demonstrating the strength in depth of our novice squad, the women’s novice 8+ and the men’s novice 4+ also got to their finals. The women had a good start but found themselves in a battle with the high-rating Godolphin School. Pushed out of the stream they lost by one and a half lengths, disappointed but determined to learn from the experience.

The men’s 4+ suffered equipment failure in their final against Auriol Kensington and had to rerow using a boat borrowed from their opponents. In a tough race they lost by just one length, a good performance after a stressful afternoon.

Philip Lee battled his way through three rounds of Nov 1x to reach the final and 10 hours after first taking to the water in the morning just missed out on the win against a strong opponent from Claire’s Court School. Tom Roberts also did well to make the semi-final of the same event, also losing to the eventual winner.

The women’s novice 2x also reached their semi, finishing a length behind a much taller crew from Furnivall in a stiff headwind.

The regatta was a great start to the summer season. Thanks to Auriol Kensington for organising the event!