National Schools' Regatta 2012 - Radley College

28 June 2012
National Schools’
Regatta 2012
Click here for results of National Schools’
regatta

1 st VIII and IVs
Championship Eights
The 1 st VIII knew that qualifying for this year’s final was going to be very tough with many crews
showing good form in the run-up to the event. We had a tough draw in the heat with
Abingdon, Shrewsbury, Bann and St Paul’s and only the top two going directly to the final. We
also knew that the rep would be even more desperate, so our plan was to qualify directly from
the semi-final at any cost. Abingdon got off to a good start and quickly got a half length lead.
Radley stayed a canvas ahead of Shrewsbury until the 1000m and then Shrewsbury squeezed
ahead and were a canvas up on us with 500m to go. However the Radley crew showed
impressive resolve and went back through the Shrewsbury crew, finishing half a length ahead
and overlapping Abingdon to secure the all-important place in the final.
The final was one of the most exciting and close-fought races in recent years. We did not get
as good a start as we’d hoped for in the final and by the 500m Abingdon had taken almost a
length lead with Hampton about half a length ahead of Radley who were in third place. By
the 1000m mark Hampton had closed to within half a length of Abingdon with Radley a further
half length back. The gaps remained the same to the 1500m mark and at the finish Abingdon
had almost got a length on Hampton with Radley holding on for the bronze medal from a fastfinishing
Eton. The first five crews all broke the six minute barrier with Abingdon achieving a new
course record. It was an excellent effort from Radley considering that Hampton and
Shrewsbury had both beaten them fairly convincingly just two weeks previously.
Championship Coxless and Coxed Fours
Despite not having any training sessions together the two fours performed very well in their
respective events. The coxless four of Rufus Eadie, Arthur Sants, Ollie Wynne-griffith and Charlie
Shaw finished second in the time trial and then won their semi-final in the second fastest time.
In the final they did not manage to find the rhythm they had enjoyed in the semi but were still
comfortably in a medal position with 500m to go. Unfortunately a mishap in the last 300m
caused them to slip into fourth place, but this was an excellent achievement considering their
lack of time in the boat.
The coxed four of Charles Hilling, James Tufnell, Tom George, Bertie Hill and Angus Graham
also raced very well. They finished fifth in the time trial (out of a field of 21 crews) and then
clinched third place in the semi to secure a place in the final. In the final the Radley crew had
a ding-dong battle with Hampton for fourth place, but despite a strong finish ended in fifth
place, just 0.4 seconds behind Hampton.
JEG

Many thanks to all the parents for their wonderful support to all the crews
and staff. Thanks to Mrs Jean Hilling for the superb catering on Saturday
and Sunday, and also, again, to the parents for proving snacks and food
for boys and staff on Friday. Thank you to all the coaches for braving the
rain to look after your crews, and for the many hours you spend at this
regatta ! The Radley College Boat Club values all your hard work, tireless
support and enthusiasm, and very hard work.
jeg

The 1 st VIII line up at the start
The 1 st VIII receive their medals from Ed Boson ( Radley 1 st VIII cox
last year) and Steve Dudeck of the Cambridge Crew.

2 nd VIII
This was a very frustrating day for the 2nd VIII. At the Boat Race this year it was a swimmer; at
National Schools it was geese. With lane 1 we realised that we had an advantage as far as
the cross component of the wind was concerned, and a disadvantage towards the end of
the race when the shelter would cause us to lose the tail component. This we were ready for.
We were also ready for the fact that we were in the tougher of the two heats. What we had
not prepared for was geese...
The 2nd VIII got off to a flying start, and at the 500m mark they were leading the field. As I
watched them row past I was confident that they would qualify for the final. They were ahead
of Abingdon and Hampton by a small margin, with St Paul's were over a length back. I cannot
report 'first hand' on the rest of the race as I am not one of those coaches who has a bicycle.
But as they passed me at the 500m mark, all was well under control.
By the half way mark, Abingdon and Hampton had made a move, but there was still less than
a second between the first three crews. Aided by the tail component of the wind in lane 5, St
Paul's were beginning to creep back. But at 1500m it was still Abingdon, Hampton and Radley
within just over a second of each other. And we know that the 2nd VIII has a strong finish.
What happened next I did not witness, so I report second hand. But I gather a flock of geese
decided to set out across the lake. They only made it to lane 1. The 2nd VIII stopped, and
restarted, and came fourth. We all witnessed the frustration of the Cambridge crew as their
training and preparation was thrown into disarray by some clueless creature. We hadn't
expected history to repeat itself.
GW
The Radley Mariners new umbrellas came in very handy at National Schools this year!

J16 1 st VIII
“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite”
William Blake
Here I sit in the throes of a beautiful English summertime except that as I hear the rain pounding
on the roofs of Radley, I am reminded of one of the Doors’** finest tracks: “Riders on the Storm”.
The brooding guitar of Robby Krieger is ameliorated by keyboard droplets from Ray Manzarek
as he builds the intro before the brooding vocals of Jim Morrison give the track its full body
underpinned with a steely determination.
Colts I travelled to a rainy NSR with a steely determination unburdened by high expectations.
They delivered. They didn’t think that they delivered, but they did. Rumours abounded around
the paddock as to why these J16s were in the HUDSON! and there was much amusement to be
had in spinning all sorts of lines to the opposition coaches: “The first eight didn’t like it and now
we’re stuck with it….not so good at low rates….not so good at high rates ….woe is me!..etc etc
“
Filippi? Hudson? How about stern Empacher, bows Resolute? Perhaps we should experiment
with fusion cuisine (more about the delicious lunch later)? I can remember a bloke in a pub in
Burnley trying to flog a “cut and shut” Vauxhall Astra for a hundred quid. (The catch being that
the front end of the car was a Fiat Uno)
I was pleased to see that it certainly wasn’t a case of ‘all the gear and no idea’ for the Colts in
their new flying machine and they were part of a terrific race which saw all of the finalists still in
the hunt at 750m to go. Full credit to a terrific crew from St Pauls who moved clear to break the
course record, and also to Eton who would later rue their poor start which might’ve turned a
prospective Gold into Silver? Our boys moved on Hampton at the 750m mark and it looked as
though we were back on terms with 300m to go but we were ultimately denied the Bronze by
their wind into the line. Although the lads were disappointed with fourth, I was very proud
indeed of their efforts and they have certainly been a delightful bunch to coach.
More to come from these guys in the future, I am sure.
“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite”
William Blake
I must also extend the Colts’ thanks to JEG, DFL, JCN, APT, Mike Genchi and Tom Solesbury. A
real team effort again this year. Thanks also for another delicious NSR lunch: RCBC can out
picnic anybody (including the ‘3 term’ picnickers) on any given day!!
**The Doors took their name from Aldous Huxley’s “The Doors of Perception” which was itself a
reference to the Blake quotation
CJL

Some of the J16 crews in action.

3 rd VIII
The crew of Mocatta, Bonsor, Scott-Hopkins, Saunders, Bowen, Sayer, DeWinton and
Heath (ably coxed by Mrs Gearing) actually only rowed together for the first time during
the afternoon of 'race-day', yet feeling confident (and with the coxing services of
Charles Merton) they entered the final focussed. A very competitive race, in which
despite being in last place with 800m to go witnessed the Radley crew dig deep to
eventually finish in 4th (ahead of a school who had beaten us in a regatta earlier in the
season). Needless to say RKM and myself were very proud with the way the crew
conducted themselves over the weekend!
DJP
J15 1
15-1 went to National Schools with the simple aim of making it through to the final from
what appeared to be a deadly heat comprising, along with Radley, St Pauls, Abingdon,
Latymer and Kings Chester. All of these crews had beaten 15-1 before earlier in this
season, so to finish in the top two and qualify straight for the final seemed like rather a tall
order. However, the boys rose to the challenge and rowed a superb race, keeping up
with event favourites Latymer up to halfway, by which time Kings Chester had been
dropped off the back of the pack and Abingdon and St Pauls had to struggle and chase
to get back on terms. It was a blinder of a race as only the first two finishiers would
guarantee a place in the final with the only other chances open to the fastest two nonqualifiers
across the two heats, so everybody was giving it their all. 15-1 were filled with
new-found confidence by hanging onto their second place and they felt positive about
a chance of a medal in the final.
In the final they didn't get quite the start they hoped for and this time other crews were
on their guard and were not to be caught napping. Gold and silver were never in doubt,
going to Latymer and Eton respectively. There was a shoot out for bronze as anticipated,
with broadsides being fired in all directions between the cannons of the St Edwards,
Radley and St Pauls boats. 15-1, in fourth, released the Kraken but the monster could not
catch St Edwards who, having manoevered themselves into third, weren't going to
surrender the medal easily. There was a price to be paid for the brave efforts of 15-1 to
reach third and St Pauls eased past the spent Radleians in the final few metres of the
race. Result: fifth place. But there was a sense of the boys having given their all and some
satisfaction that so much progress had been made since the rather lacklustre start to the
season. We'll probably meet most of these crews again at Marlow Amateur on 16th June
so we should look forward to another chance for some exciting racing then.
AJM

J15 2
"In spite of being the first crew at breakfast at an unfashionable 7:00am, spirits were high as the
boat was placed on hallowed Nottingham water for the processional. A decent row, confusion
at the start notwithstanding, saw the indefatigable J15-2 overtake the Cheltenham crew
ahead, although they subsequently found themselves pushed right the way to the finish line by
a very fast Eton boat. The boys did very well to hold off push after push from Eton, opening up
clear water again by the end. The semi-final draw highlighted some local rivalries, with St
Edward's and Abingdon both featuring - the same Abingdon crew who managed to stretch
out a lead of 5-6 lengths at Dorney a couple of weekends earlier. This time, the boys jumped
out of the starting blocks, getting their noses in front after the first 10 strokes, but found
themselves lacking in base speed as the race progressed. A mighty tussle ensued with the
bigger St Edward's crew, with honours even until the final 500m, at which point St Edward's
found another gear and pulled away. Even though this performance was not enough to
propel them through to the final, they can take heart from the lengths they had made up
against Abingdon in the couple of weeks leading up to the competition."
DLC
14.2
The J14.2 boat qualified either 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th (it was 8th - Jamie is figuring it out by
the way the lanes were allocated - NJT) in the time trials with a time of about 3 minutes
30 seconds (3:29.8 well done Dr Hughes!) We worked well as a team, and it definitely
paid off in the first race. During the Semi-Finals it was another solid team effort from the
J14.2 boat, overtaking Winchester, to come 4th out 6.
Racing itself aside; everyone from Radley including Andy, other boatmen, all of the
supporting parents or spectators and the coaches, were all extremely supportive, so
thank you. The team worked very efficiently and professionally when rigging and
derigging the boat.
Doctor Hughes was a fantastic coach, one of many! He greatly supported, guided and
encouraged us throughout the day, giving the whole experience an overall lively and
extremely enjoyable atmosphere for the whole crew.
Nic and the other coaches and boatmen, thank you so very much for fabulous
introduction racing at a national level!
Jamie Moir.

J14s
It was with both excitement and not a minor degree of trepidaton that J14B left the beautiful
surroundings of city centre Derby to meet their destiny at NSR. They arrived to an overcast, windswept
Nottingham course and the preparations began in earnest. Boats were rigged, blades
were transported to the pontoons, gallons of energy drinks were consumed, and the sausage roll
and salmon canape-filled tuppaware mountain grew steadily in the Radley tent. Eventually the
processional race, which was to determine which J14 octos would be gloriously sent through to
the semis, and which would be unceremoniously guillotined from the event, drew near.
Stoic faces from Jamie Bantoft and Hector MacDonald prior to the race concealed their
jangling nerves, and even Jamie Codrington's ever-present grin was notably absent as the boys
carried their boat with determination and focus to the rafts. Despite the jitters, confidence was
high. Solid coxing tactics by Ed Fitzalan-Howard of intensive water consumption prior to, then
intensive depositing following, the all important weigh-in added to this confidence as the boys
realised they would be carrying a massive 0.5kg less over the course. J14B did not disappoint the
thronging masses on the bank; the crew blazed down the course at an impressive rate of 37
strokes per minute, yet also showing deft control and quality bladework, and they powered into
the semi final draw with consummate ease. Following the wild bankside celebrations food
became the sole focus of the boys' attention. Jamie Moir, Miles Rowse and Luke Bishop in
particular (a.k.a. 'The Locusts') swiftly demolished the lunch table, citing 'incredible effort' as the
justiification for ingesting 10,000 calories each in half an hour.
It was not long before 2.37pm approached and the boys collected their thoughts ahead of the
all important semi final. With a strong collection of London octos in the 6 lane semi, the crew
knew qualification was a very tough ask, but the boys set out to give the race their all. As they
pushed off the pontoon, stony faced and professsional, the coaches dared to think that this
might be our year. However, on the scull to the start the rowing deities were not smiling on us
behind their blanket of stratus clouds; an umpire launch sped past a little too close and the boat
took on more than a few kilograms of water. Not even some emergency bailing out with
Lucozade bottles and Ed Fitzalan-Howard's frantic sweating could bring the weight down, so the
boys' race was run with a slight penalty. However, despite this, the crew's positive attitude shone
through once again. Fred SImpson led the boat by example from the stroke seat as the 'GO' was
shouted from the start marshal. A never-say-die attitude from all nine boys, despite the excellent
opposition from St. Pauls and Oratory predictably drawing away over the first 500m, led to a epic
struggle for a qualification spot. Despite not quite having the legs to make the top three, J14B
managed to fend off a quality Westminster crew by half a length to take a well deserved fourth
place and bragging rights over the light pinks. London did not have it all their own way on the
day.
Sitting around the decimated food tent an hour later, cheering on the other Radley crews,
everyone agreed that all in all it was a very fine effort from a crew that had only sculled together
on a few occasions due to the floods at Radley. What impressed me most was the attitude and
team spirit displayed from the boys and I certainly enjoyed coaching J14B a great deal. There is
much to come from these boys in the years ahead and revenge will be sought next year with
half as many blades...
GJAH

The J14 squad did themselves proud at National Schools Regatta 2012. The result for 14.1 was to
come 4th in the semi-final but that doesn't tell the whole story. A courageous row after a ropey
start saw the crew battle from one length down from our neighbours in lane 2 Abingdon, to rowing
right through them to be a length up.
And that sums up the attitude of the whole squad really - not just the National Schools' boats - we
have had a rotten start to the summer rowing season - as have many boat clubs, but these
athletes just bounce back with more enthusiasm and effort and willingness to learn.
Congratulations to the crews that raced - but also the three and a half octos extra we had to
leave at home - who compete for seats, improving the standard and meaning no-one may rest on
their laurels, therefore pusing up the standard further. If ever there was a way of ensuring long-term
success in a year group it is this sort of spirit.
Mention must also be made as to how impressed the hotel staff and the coach driver were with
the boys' conduct. Of course many thanks to the behind the scenes team of people booking
things and getting kit there, and front of house in supporting and picnic provision.
I am really pleased to be associated with such a great bunch and am really looking forward to the
rest of the season.
Nic Thomas
J14's

J14C woke up on the Friday morning of Nat Schools, and all the boys came down to breakfast
nervous but eager to get racing. After having arrived at the course the boat was rigged, and the
time for the boys to take the boat down grew ever closer. After having got the boys to take the
sculls down to the pontoons, and following a team-talk the boys were ready to go racing.
The time-trial started and J14C were the last crew to go off. They rowed down the 1000m course
with confidence, settling into a solid rhythm and following the coxes’ orders right till the finish line.
Being a C crew in a B event meant that qualification for the semi-finals would be possible, but it
was not going to be a guaranteed result. On the announcement of the times from the time trial,
we discovered that the boys had missed out on qualification by 6 seconds.
All of the boys rowed to the best of their abilities, and did themselves proud. After consuming
copious amounts of pasta the boys de-rigged and then watched the other racing, cheering the
other Radley crews on. Overall, it was a great day for the boys, and I hope it has ignited the want
in them to win as many regattas as they can over the years to come with the Boat Club. The boys
have improved hugely over the time that I have been coaching them, and not only has it been
tremendously rewarding but I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching them.
Will Storey
J14C Crew: James Mocatta, George Trelawny, Matthew Dixon-Ward, Ollie Henderson, Ed Day,
Harry Behrens, Jacob Peel, Henry Rees, Sam Shepherd

Please click here for results
from Bedford Regatta
Reading Town Regatta
Please click here for full results

Social Eights
at Radley
On Sunday 10 th June, Radley held a fun Social Eights regatta on the Radley stretch of
the Thames. It was a great afternoon of racing, and the weather held off just long
enough for all the races to finish ! Well done all the crews, and to Dave Cox for
organising the event.

Henley Royal Regatta
CLICK HERE FOR HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA WEBSITE
Radley raced against Winchester College on Weds
beating them by one length. Radley face Bedford
Modern School at 2:30 today ( Thursday 28 th June).
Summer Term
Wednesday 27 th June:
Thursday 28 th June:
Friday 29 th June:
Saturday 30 th June:
Sunday 1 st July:
Saturday 7 th July:
(until Wed 11 th )
Thursday 12 th July:
(until Mon 16 th )
Sunday 15 th July:
Sunday 22 nd July:
(until Sat 11 th Aug)
Friday 20 th July:
(until Sun 22 nd July)
Wednesday 15 th August:
(until Sun 19 th )
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
GB Final Trials
GB J16 Training Camp
GB v France J16 Match
GB Pre-Worlds Training Camp
Coupe de la Jeunisse (Spain)
World Junior Championships (Plovdiv,
Bulgaria)