Chertsey and Shepperton Regatta held on Saturday 27th July 2019
The Chertsey and Shepperton Regatta was held on the River Thames at Dumsey Meadow, a green field site of special scientific interest as it is one of few undeveloped locations on the banks of the lower reaches of the river. The racing course is over 350 metre downstream on the Middlesex side of the river from near Chertsey Bridge to finish just before a bend in the river at the east end of the meadow.
The event is organised jointly by the 5 skiff clubs with Roger and Amanda Haines and Bill Taylor of Skiff Club making significant contributions to the event. The weather forecast was for heavy rain but that didn’t stop our keen skiffers and coxes from competing and the day turned much better than predicted; cloudly, but warm and mostly dry.
The Skiff Club had a good entry as listed below:
- GHD Craig Palmer and Paul Green, coxed by Fran Kenden
- GND Neill Harrowell and John Pengilly, coxed by Nicky Painter
- GND Kim Mollett and Faro Khavand, coxed by Fran Kenden
- GVD Keith Shore and Mike Lanzer, coxed by Dave Tappin
- GHS Craig Palmer.
- GIS Riccardo Maestri
- GNS Faro Khavand
- GNS Paul Green
- GNS John Pengilly
- GES Neill Harrowell
- GES Hubert Cibis
- GES Andy Ronksley
- MND Eilish Lawlee and Hubert Cibis, coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- MND Hannah Clements and Riccardo Maestri coxed by Fran Kenden
- MND Mine Moran and kim Mollett coxed by Nicky Painter
- MED Katherine Curtistyler and Andy Ronksley, coxed by Fran Kenden
- MVD Claire McCormack and Paul Gregory, coxed by Hannah Clements
- MVD Mary Booth and John Pengilly coxed by Nicky Painter
- lID Mine Moran and Eilish Lawlee coxed by Nicky Painter
- LID Mary Booth and Monica Wrobel coxed by Claire McCormack
- LND Hannah Clements and Miranda Clements coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- LIS Miranda Clements
- LNS Eilish Lawlee
Skiff Club crews were winners of 7 events, 5 singles and 2 doubles:
- GHD Craig Palmer and Paul Green, coxed by Fran Kenden
- MND Hannah Clements and Riccardo Maestri coxed by Fran Kenden
- GHS Craig Palmer
- GIS Riccardo Maestri
- GNS Paul Green
- LIS Miranda Clements
- LNS Eilish Lawlee
Craig and Paul produced one of the fastest race times of the day in the GHD final and Miranda and Eilish won despite taking longer than necessary routes along the twisting course. As well as the event winners there were some good performances by our crews including the veteran crew Keith and Mike who narrowly lost to the eventual winners by less than 3 feet. Our new members Andy and Neill bravely entered the singles, keeping within the curving course is tricky for experienced single skiffers, so they both did well not only to complete the course, but also they each won a race!
Kim and Mine were unfortunately red flagged and disqualified when just ahead in their race, as cox Nicky kept too tight to the racing line and was adjudged to have obstructed the opposing skiff crew, Nicky redeemed herself in her next race as she coxed her crew to a win, with only a white flag being waved!
Our racers enjoyed great vocal support from skiff club members on the bank. Win or lose, the support makes a difference in those last few stokes until the welcome clang of the finishing bell!
