The Skiff Club Regatta held on Saturday 31st August 2019
Our ‘home’ regatta was held at Teddington on the River Thames on a mainly sunny late summer’s day with only one short, sharp shower, which coincided with the author’s gents veteran doubles final. The skiff racing course distance is approximately 650 metres upstream on the Surrey side of the river with the finish opposite our island site building.
There was much organisation, effort and contributions by many working ‘behind the scenes’. This huge team effort is not often fully appreciated, so thanks are due to those who donated their time to:
- Carry all the equipment across to the island; empty and clear the Wells (ergo) room to set up the ‘cafe’; and set up the PA and the gazebos, having cleared goose poo off the hard and grass.
- Make sure the stake boats, navigation boards, buoys and anchors were ready for course laying on Saturday.
- Got up at the crack of dawn on Saturday to lay the course, navigation boards and stake boats.
- Marshall on the hard, at the ferry and at the start throughout the day.
- Drive the launches and ferry boats.
- Umpire, judge, record and commentated on the racing.
- Crew the stake boats at the start.
- Donate prizes, cakes and sandwiches.
- Keep everyone fed and watered with sandwiches, cake, tea and beer (an excellent firkin of Autumn Red Ale from Twickenham Brewery, served with a smile as always by our very own bar steward, Bill).
- Race and [all those who came] come along to support those racing.
- All who stayed at the end of the day to return it all back to the mainland from where it came.
The Skiff Club had a large entry and took full advantage of sculling on home territory in a packed itinerary of 63 races, commencing at 9.00 with race 63 at 16.55. Our entry, bolstered by several ‘occasional racers’ was:-
- GHS Craig Palmer
- GHS David Sawtell
- GIS Riccardo Maestri
- GNS Bill Clee
- GNS John Pengilly
- GNS Faro Khavand
- GNS Andy Ronksley
- GNS Mel Day
- GES Hubert. Cibis
- GES Neill. Harrowell
- GES Dom North
- GES Chris Coveney
- GHD Bill Clee and Riccardo Maestri coxed by Fran Kenden
- GHD Paul Green and Craig Palmer coxed by Hannah Clements
- GID Faro Khavand and David.Sawtell coxed by Sarah Randall
- GID Kim Mollett and David Maughan coxed by Fran Kenden
- GND Dom North and John Pengilly coxed by John Previte
- GND James Campbell and Andy Ronksley coxed by Paul Gregory.
- GED Neill Harrowell and Mel Day coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- GED Will Day and Andy Ronksley coxed by Fran Kenden.
- MID Eilish Lawlee and Bill Clee coxed by Sarah Randall
- MID Viv Gunn and David Maughan coxed by Hannah Clements
- MID Mary Booth and David Sawtell coxed by Paul Gregory
- MND Monica Wrobel and Paul Green coxed by Kim Burridge
- MND Mine Moran and Kim Mollett coxed by Hannah Clements
- MED Katherine Curtis Tyker and Andy Ronksley coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- MED Sarah Randall and Mel Day coxed by John Previte
- LIS Eilish Lawlee.
- LIS Mary Booth
- LES Monica Wrobel
- LID Mine Moran and Eilish Lawlee coxed by Fran Kenden
- GVHD Mike Lanzer and John Pengilly coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- MVHD Kim Burridge and Roland Wood coxed by Jennie Juriansz
- MNVHD Ellie Rahbaran and Hubert Cibis coxed by Paul Gregory
- MNVHD Jennie Juriansz and Neill Harrowell coxed by Kim Burridge
Skiff Club crew won 11 events (yes eleven), gaining 10 Ormiston points and one veterans win, a great achievement and reward for all that training on and off the river. The winning crews were:
- GHS Craig Palmer
- GIS Riccardo Maestri
- GNS Bill Clee
- GHD Bill Clee and Riccardo Maestri coxed by Fran Kenden
- GID Faro Khavand and David.Sawtell coxed by Sarah Randall
- GED Neill Harrowell and Mel Day coxed by Gillian Mulcahy
- MID Eilish Lawlee and Bill Clee coxed by Sarah Randall
- MED Sarah Randall and Mel Day coxed by John Previte
- LIS Eilish Lawlee.
- LID Mine Moran and Eilish Lawlee coxed by Fran Kenden
- MNVHD Jennie Juriansz and Neill Harrowell coxed by Kim Burridge
There were many worthy performances on the river: all our winners, with 3 wins for our inspiring captain Eilish, (leading from the front as usual), 3 wins for Bill Clee (getting fitter and faster), 2 wins for Riccardo (2 CCs), a well deserved and long awaited win in Gents Entrant Doubles for ‘new boys’ Neill and Mel and a win for Jennie (‘I don’t race’) Juriansz with Neill in the veterans mixed novice event.
The 10 points put The Skiff Club ahead in the race for the SRA Ormiston Trophy and with 4 more regattas to go in the 2019, this is very exciting and a tribute to the efforts of our captain Eilish and Graeme, our president, who spends much time training both experienced scullers and beginners.
Graeme presented the prizes at the end of the racing, many of whom he trained. The events ran to schedule due to the organisation of Amanda and Roger and their many helpers – a good team effort. It was a great day on and by the river, completed by a spaghetti bolognese supper, desserts and drinks in the bar after the big tidy up.
