Johnson and Storey win Burton plaudits
TWO Loughborough Junior Rowers were crowned ‘fastest crew’ in the WJ15 Double Scull category at the recent Burton on Trent Head Race.
Tara Johnson and Thomasin Storey completed the 3500 timetrial course in 13 minutes 37 seconds to finish 23 seconds ahead of rivals Derwent and a full 43 seconds ahead of home club Burton Leander.
Highlighting this achievement was the fact that the Loughborough girls were also faster than all the crews competing in the year older J17 category.
Loughborough’s Masters Men found themselves as the only Coxless Four entered in the race, so were without direct competition; however, they had the honour of being seeded as boat Number 1 and were thus first to start down the wide but curving course.
This position gave the men the unusual opportunity to enjoy rowing on undisturbed water, and also to be able to steer the optimum course without hindrance from any preceding boats.
With Jerry Heygate rowing in the bow seat as steersman the crew took full advantage of the fast-flowing stream in the middle of the river, navigating the centre span of the four arch railway bridge with just a few inches to spare on the port side.
Club Captain Keith Hudson set the tempo from the stroke seat helping the crew to maintain their position ahead of all following boats and to cross the finish line first, in a time of 12 minutes 45 seconds. This put the crew in 12th position overall out of the 68 boats competing in the event.
The club’s less experienced Mens Coxed Four also put in a brave performance to finish in 13 minutes 56 seconds, in their first Head Race together as a crew.