Saturday
Monmouth Regatta is run over 2 days with 2 divisions each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, you can enter both divisions, but cannot enter multiple boats in a single division.
The Saturday distance is 1,500m, the Sunday distance is 750m
We originally tried to enter open 4- for the Saturday morning and masters 4- for Saturday afternoon, then open 2x for Sunday morning and masters 2x for Sunday afternoon, however our masters 4- entry was rejected due to a lack of competition.
There were also a number of our junior crews entered in 4x, 2x and 1x races over both days.
We loaded our boats on the Thursday evening, rowing was abandoned because the river flow was high, the landing stage under 6" of water and no competent steerers available to steer a 4x or 4-.
The trailer was driven up on the Friday evening and I drove up to my mother's in Newent for the weekend that evening as well, Newent is only 30 minutes from Monmouth.
Saturday morning and I am checking our WhatsApp group chat and whilst we were supposed to be racing at 11:02 for our first race, it was now showing an additional crew and a 09:27 start.
We were originally supposed to be a straight final against Cardiff, but now had a semi-final against Swansea - the entries had apparently been updated late on Friday, hopefully everyone had seen the update on the chat as our bow steersman was heading up from Staines that morning and working to an 11:00 start time.
Fortunately he was already on his way having woken up early and decided to set off, so with any luck and hopefully no need to break any speed limits, he would arrive on time for the earlier race.
Myself, Mark F and Mark G were staying nearby arrived around 07:45 and set about rigging the boat.
We informed the race official who was checking crew readiness that out bow man, Andy P, was on his way but might be delayed.
Fortunately Andy P arrived at around 08:45, just in time for us to take the boat round for scrutineering, pair up with our opposition and head out onto the water.
We knew we were in trouble when the Swansea University crew performed a tap turn whilst polishing their 6-packs and heading up to the start, we also heard the umpire congratulate them on their recent win in the 'Welsh Boat Race' against Cardiff University (Swansea have won the last 9 times it has actually been held).
Oh well, let's give it our best shot and at least put in a good effort so as not to disgrace ourselves.
It is a 'free start' so no stake boats, we pull up to the start line, are more or less level and the umpire calls 'Swansea, Staines, Attention', 'Go'.
The Swansea crew disappear almost immediately and are nearly a length up before we have done 10 strokes, we settle into our slightly higher than normal race pace of 34spm and attempt to chase them down.
By 500m they are around 2-3 lengths ahead and already starting to slow down.
We continue at 34spm and giving it everything.
Ultimately we don't have a chance, they drift across the line having severely rated down and wait for us to cross, the umpire generously calls it '3 lengths' although 'easily' would be far more accurate.
We were happy with our performance having averaged 1:38.9/500m (with the stream) for the 1,500m race.
To be fair the Swansea crew did the same to the Cardiff University crew at 12:16, so if they hadn't turned up we might have made a decent race out of the original pairing of us against Cardiff University.
At least that made us feel slightly better about our performance.
We de-rigged the boat, said goodbye to Andy P and settled in to watch the rest of the day's racing.
Unfortunately none of the Staines crews won their events and one was disqualified for rowing directly into their opponent's path and impeding their progress.
At the end of the day I headed back to my folks for dinner and some rest, I would be returning bright and early Sunday morning for day two.
Sunday Morning
Day two of Monmouth Regatta, 750m sprint races today and I set off from my folks home bright and early once again.
The forecast for today was originally thunderstorms, so hopefully those pass us by and we can have some racing.
I don't have any races this morning, I am only racing this afternoon, but I will lend moral support and act as boatman for Mark F and Mark G who are racing in the open 2x category this morning.
We take the 2x off the trailer and attach the riggers ready for the first round of the open 2x tree.
There is a chance of an all Staines final if all goes to plan.
The first race is against Aberystwyth University, this looks to be a novice crew and they win this round 'easily'.
The second round is against an adaptive crew who had no other suitable category to race in, this was also classed as 'easily'.
The Staines 'Junior' pairing of Jack G and Theo T , having received a 'bye' into the second round were up against Cardiff University who were the winners of the first round, they also won their race 'easily'.
This had then set the stage for an all Staines final and a father vs son grudge match.
The trash talk started early and included a full on 'gun show' from Jack G, Mark G and Mark F.
On paper, the masters should have this one in the bag with 2K times of 6:35 for Mark G and 6:55 for Mark F vs 7:05 for Jack G and 7:45 for Theo T.
The stage set, off they go for the final race.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bGpZguFzC4
The 'Juniors' shoot off the start like a rocket whilst the 'masters' being 20kg heavier, set off slightly slower but then start to chase them down.
Mark G has a few steering issues staying away from the bank and also catches a few mini crabs, so by the time they are nearing the finish line it is a foregone conclusion.
Jack G is not going to let his father, Mark G, live this moment down any time soon.
That was the last race of the morning session and also the only medals for Staines.
Mark G had headed off home with his family, unsure if his son's head would fit in the car following the win over his father, Jack apparently did not shut up about it the entire two and a half hour journey home!
Sunday afternoon
Afternoon division of day two at Monmouth Regatta, 750m sprint races masters 2x competition for me.
We met our competition from Gloucester earlier in the day and watched them compete in the masters 4x category, yesterday they won the masters 4x, however this morning it was not to be, they lost in the final to Exeter Rowing Club.
Our race was originally scheduled for 15:32, although we managed to get it brought forwards slightly and actually raced at 15:24.
Only the one heavy shower in the morning, then another shower just before we boated for our race, so really lucky with the weather today.
With nobody offering to help us boat, Mark F and I headed down to the start on our own and paddled up to the start.
This was my first time steering this course and was hoping we had the 'middle' lane so I would not need to worry about hitting any trees.
It must have been my lucky day as we were assigned the 'middle' lane and once we had turned and arrived at the start were informed that we would have a 12 second head start.
The Gloucester crew were masters C and this gave them a 5 second handicap allowance, however we were masters E and entitled to a 17 second handicap allowance, 12 seconds being the delta difference.
The umpire called 'Staines Attention', then 'Go' and then started counting down the seconds for Gloucester to wait.
Mark F and I had a reasonable start, then proceeded to put as much distance between ourselves and the Gloucester crew as we could in those 12 seconds.
Finally the Umpire called 'Gloucester Attention', 'Go' and they were off and chasing us down.
I probably checked our direction way more times than I actually needed to but was petrified of steering into any boats heading up river.
We maintained a steady 30-31spm over the course at an average pace of 1:54.5/500m.
Whilst the Gloucester crew drew back a little of the gap, we successfully kept them at bay for a win by 1 1/2 lengths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nRgeRxkg-k
Carry the boat back, then head off to collect our oars and medals.
Staines also had a win today in the open J15 1x category.
Packed up my tent and headed back to London
