Catastrophe won’t stop Minerva
Drama characterised the start of Minerva Bath Rowing Club’s away race at Ironbridge when at the eleventh hour the electrics failed on the van taking the trailer to the race. The first day’s racing was cancelled for the club resulting in some disappointment. But with the help of various members and parents another vehicle with a tow bar was found and day two of racing was on. The senior men’s crew borrowed a boat and blades but struggled to get the set up right and the rhythm. They made it to the finals on day one but were beaten over the short 550m course with a close finish. The J16 boys coxless quad fared better. Consisting of Tom Hollingsworth, Ben Hardy, Ben Rogers and Alfie Prescott, they raced a straight final against a strong crew from Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Hollingsworth steered an excellent course gaining a half-length lead around the first bend, using the power of the middle pair Ben Rogers and Ben Hardy and being driven on by Alfie at stoke the crew pulled out the lead to 1.5-lengths as they crossed the finish line. Celebrations all around followed as they were presented with their tankards. Meanwhile the girls double of Elsie Clark and Bryony Smith took part in their first side by side regatta. Even though Bryony has only been rowing for six months, they gave each other confidence and performed admirably against much stronger and older girls, losing out by only a length in the 500m race to a crew from Birmingham.