Doubles Marathon held on Sunday 13th October 2019
The final regatta of the 2019 season, the doubles marathon, was held at Thames Valley Skiff and Punting Club over a course distance of approximately 6.5 km starting [at] near Sunbury Lock downstream of TVSC, proceeding upstream to Walton Bridge and Desborough Cut then turning downstream down the old course of the river and back to the finish at TVSC.
In the most exciting race in years for the Ormiston Trophy, Skiff Club had a 2 point lead before this regatta, there were 9 points available in the doubles marathon so all to skiff for!
The Skiff Club had a really good entry for this important event, including several members making a special effort to partake following a ‘press gang’ at the regular skiff club outing to the pub the previous Sunday!.
The following Skiff Club crews entered:
- GH Riccardo Maestri and Bill Clee coxed by Hannah Clements
- GH Craig Palmer and Paul Green coxed by Amanda Haines
- GH Kevin Ellmore and David Sawtell coxed by Paul Gregory
- GI Andy Ronksley and David Maughan coxed by Dave Wright
- GN Kim Mollett and John Pengilly coxed by John Previte
- GN Neill Harrowell and Mel Day coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- GN Hubert Cibis and Chris Coveney coxed by Jenny Juriansz
- GE Gordon Wuest and Tim Harness coxed by Amanda Haines
- GE Charlie Daish and Dan Smith coxed by John Previte
- G140 Keith Shore and Mike Lanzer coxed by Dave Tappin
- LH Viv Gunn and Jane Porter coxed by Stella Alexander
- LH Mary Booth and Eilish Lawlee coxed by Amanda Haines
- LI Stella Alexander and Hannah Clements coxed by Dave Wright
- LN Katherine CurtisTyler and Monica Wrobel coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- LN Jenny Juriansz and Sarah Smith coxed by Jane Porter
Skiff Club crews won in the the following 3 events:
- GH Riccardo Maestri and Bill Clee coxed by Hannah Clements
- GE Charlie Daish and Dan Smith coxed by John Previte
- LH Mary Booth and Eilish Lawlee coxed by Amanda Haines
Well done to all who participated in a thrilling climax to the 2019 skiff racing season.
Bill and Riccardo won the Gents Higher category by 8 seconds in a fast time of 41 minutes 43 seconds. (8 vital seconds as you will see below) following special training for Riccardo who was nursing an injury. Eilish and Mary won the Ladies Higher event in a great time of 48 minutes 44 seconds, by a margin of 9 seconds, all so close!!
Our gents entrant winning crew, Dan and Charlie finished in a creditable time 51 minutes 29 seconds in their first race together.
Andy and David came 2nd only 30 seconds behind the winners of the Gents Intermediate category and Monica and Katherine were only 20 seconds behind the winners in the Ladies Novice event. Great effort by all !
THE ORMISTON TROPHY
With marathon events the results in each category are not known until announced at the presentation ceremony. What excitement!
It wasn’t until the penultimate race result was announced that we knew Skiff Club had won the Ormiston Trophy by a ‘wafer thin’ margin of 2 points from DSPC! This was only the second time in 40 years that Skiff Club has won the trophy outright.
Congratulations to all especially our inspiring captain Eilish and our president Graeme, whose many hours spent training crews on the river was vital.
Over the 2019 season Bill, Riccardo and Eilish won a good number of our trophy winning total of 58 points and many other members contributed to a wonderful team effort, every point counted!
The post regatta Ormiston trophy winning celebrations were held at Keith and Hilary Shore’s riverside residence, complete with champagne, buffet meal and hot tub. Photos of members in the hot tub available from Roger Haines by request only.
We are a wonderful sociable club and can also race skiffs well too! Go Skiff Club!!!
