- Kingston take
3 Wins at Bedford Head - Kingston Juniors perform at Hampton Head
Since the river closure during the
late January and early February period
Kingston Rowing Club's athletes were busy
preparing for competition once the
Thames was declared safe. Extra weights
and ergometer training were supplemented
by the cycle ride around Richmond Park, or
some rowing either on the Olympic
course at Dorney, or on the Tideway at Putney.
Last Sunday, Kingston competed at the Bedford
8's and 4's Head, participating
in 13 events over the 2000m course in the
centre of the town. The club
scored 3 wins through their Senior 2 Men's
Coxed Four, Women's Senior 2 Coxed
Four and Kingston University, who are now
looked after by KRC, took victory in the
Senior 4 Quads, despite hitting the bank at
one stage, a second behind was the
Kingston entry.
As well as these wins, Kingston scored four
other second places in what was a
positive first race for Senior Coach - Ian
South who had just returned from the USA
where he had been looking after his
international scullers. The second places were
taken in the Eights events by the
Men's Senior 1 and Women's Senior 2 crews. In Coxed
Fours the ladies finished second in Senior 3
and the Men's Novices took second in their event.
The Saturday before, the Kingston Junior Squad
had performed at the Hampton Junior
Eights and Fours Head race over the 3,000
metre Molesey course. With 5 crews entered
By Senior Coach - Richard Ayling, the group
scored a third and fourth with both their
Women's Junior 16 Coxless Quad crews and a
fine fourth from their youngest crew, the
Women's Junior 14 Coxed Quad which finished
fifth from the twelve crews entered.
Their two other crews both finished tenth.
Friday February 15th saw the 150th Anniversary Dinner held at one of Kingston
Rowing
Club's former homes, Ravens Ait in Surbiton. 200 guests were due to attend with
all surviving
KRC Captains being present.
The Kingston Senior and Junior Squad's continue their Head Racing Season apace.
The Seniors
are next competing in Eights at Reading Head on February 23rd. The Kingston
University crews
are preparing for the BUSA Championship Head on the River Trent the next day.
The following
weekend will see the Kingston ladies on the Tideway Championship course for the
Women's Head
on March 1, followed by the Junior 16 girls over the same course on Tuesday
4th. The day
before five Junior Quads will have raced over the Henley course in the National
Junior
Sculling Head, run by Kingston member and Dulwich College rowing master,
Patrick White.
