Sunday 26 September 2010

Victory!

The Great River Race is a masterpiece of directed chaos, with more than 300 boats, crews, helpers and supporters converging on a single slipway in a rather inaccessible part of east London, and then again on a remote field in west London. But everyone mucks in, crews helping each other to manhandle boats down the long pontoons on the Isle of Dogs and again up the bank into the field at Ham.Langstone Cutters were there in force, with five boats entered.It was bitterly cold, with a brisk northwesterly on the nose for most of the course, against the tide creating a nasty chop.
But Gladys triumphed, coming in Fastest Clayton Skiff and Fastest Supervets (over 60s). Mike Gilbert had to jump straight from the boat into a waiting car to take him to a theatre in Southsea where he was appearing as Sherlock Holmes that evening, and Nigel Armstrong had left to tow Gladys home, but here are Nick Parish, Geoff Shilling and me taking the old farts' prize.
Deborah Pentesco-Gilbert and Sandra Russell rowed 15 Seconds the entire course, coxed and passengered by their sons, and won the Fastest Women's Crew and Fastest Women's Veteran's classes.
Here are Debs and Ben with their trophies.
For some nice pictures taken from the bank, see Captain JP's log.

7 comments:

JP said...

Congratulations Chris and crew!

I managed to find a picture of Gladys which have just posted.

Tillerman said...

Congratulations Super Vet!

Peter said...

Well done!

Brandon Ford said...

I was rooting for you. Congratulations!

Brandon Ford said...

Any faerings in the race?

O Docker said...

Hip hip!

Chris Partridge said...

Hi Brandon - there were some faerings and boats that look like faerings. I got one or two pics that I will post in the next few days.