Five victories for Loughborough at The Soar Head
ON SATURDAY Loughborough Boat Club hosted their annual rowing race on the River Soar, with 93 boats from 18 rowing clubs competing to be crowned ‘Head of the Soar’.
Generally referred to as ‘The Soar Head’, the event saw crews racing over a three kilometre course in ‘time-trial’ format. Fastest time of the day, at 11 minutes 48 seconds, was achieved by Stourport Boat Club’s Masters ‘D’ Quadruple Scull, eight seconds ahead of Burtonbased Trent Rowing Club.
Loughborough’s Tom Scholefield was awarded the silver trophy for the fastest single scull, at 12 minutes 17 seconds, finishing six seconds ahead of his closest rival from Welbeck College.
Club members from Loughborough took advantage of their local knowledge to navigate the challenging and narrow bends of the River Soar and win in four other boat categories: band two of the Open Single Sculls was deservedly won by Tim Ives, whilst Erica Gummery was the fastest Open Womens Single Scull and Hannah Ferris continued her successful season at Junior 17 level.
Loughborough’s single success in multi-crew boats came in the Womens Open Double Scull, crewed by Becka Hambleton and Freya Ingham.
Gill Kershaw produced a determined performance in her return to competitive racing; she rowed in the club’s newly acquired single Scull ‘Ruby Red’, kindly donated by the family of Andrew Hill, a popular club member who passed away last year.
The Victor Ludorum for the club with the most wins was closely contested between Loughborough and Trent Rowing Club, with five wins apiece, with the tie resolved in Trent’s favour based on the number of individual rowers.
Fine china tankards were presented to all winning participants by Loughborough Boat Club Captain Keith Hudson.