Newark Head
A Cold Winters Race
December 2nd 2017
Women's Band 1 Quad
Last weekend saw the Senior Squad heading to Newark Head for their last head race before the Christmas break. To start the day off the Women’s Band 1 4x- took to the water for their first of their two races of the day. Straight off the start the women settled into their rhythm, pushing off all the crews around them. As they came through the middle section of the course they continued to find the length and composure they had gained through their training sessions so far this season. With a final push for the line they finished with a time of 17:44.5 over the 5km course, putting them in first by an impressive 58 seconds!
Going into the second division, of 3.9km, the quad looked to continue their success. As in their first race they were able to find their composure quickly, working as one to send the boat with every stroke. Using all they had trained for to sustain them down the course for a second time. This lead to them finishing with a time of 13:47.0 and another win!
Men's Band 2 Double
For the Band 2 2x, Saturday turned out to be one of the strongest race pieces the pair had done to date. The crew went into the race with the intention of keeping strong in their stroke, focusing on sending the boat as efficiently as possible. With a clean start leading the men to overtake St Peter’s School within the first kilometre, they found themselves holding a high rate while being careful to control every part of the stroke. The crew found Newark to be a good course for them, due to it having a range of reference points which they could push off, aiding them to have a strong middle section through the halfway marker.
Coming under the bridge for the final sprint the rate was increased to complete the 3.9km with a strong finish, gaining on De Montford who were just ahead of them. This meant they finished with a time of 14:40.0 putting them in 3rd! Even though they may not have won they came away from the day encourage for the rest of the season and are excited to see what else lies ahead for them this season!
Women's Band 2 Double
We also had two Women’s 2x racing in division 2. The Band 2 2x after training together for the past three months decided to take on the challenge of Newark Head. With it being the first head race either had participate in. Holding a strong start, they managed to overtake four crews within the division. As they passed the weir they began to gain on the crew that had started 60 seconds before them! They struggled around the harsh bend with a junior crew to the left and the bank to the right, trying to maneuvering carefully with only small margins to either side which meant losing some of the speed they had made in the first half of the race. After making a reset call the crew entered the last quarter of the race with a big push of the crews behind them. Using the bridge as their final marker the boat speed was increased, letting them come away in 3rd with a time of 16:40.0. It was a great experience of the girls, giving them a good first head race and something to build off in the future.
Women's Band 1 Double
Finally we had a Women’s Band 1 2x take to the course. The crew are both new to NTUBC this year and have found a good partnership together. After having practiced multiple rolling starts in training the crew got off to a flying start, providing them with a strong pace when entering the tricky middle section of the course. Once they had overcome the tight turns they found themselves being pushed by the following crew, this allowed the crew to find their limits giving everything they had to hold them off. Taking the rate up on the final stretch they crossed the line with a time of 16:16.0 and in 5th position in their category. Being only their second race for the club, both look forward to what is to come in the next three years!