History for NSRC competes in Northwich HORR 2006

changed:
-
<br><br>
<table spacing="5" border="0">
 <tbody><tr>
  <td valign="top"><p>On the 1st of April 2006, 3 intrepid crews from North Staffs RC set off to compete in their first race of the year.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.northwichrowing.co.uk/cms/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=24">Northwich Head of the River Race</a> was their destination, and the heady cocktail of excitement, fear, vaseline and Lucozade sport was strong in the air.&nbsp; Caroline and
Isobelle formed a women's novice 2x, Len and Alex a men's veteran C 2x,
and Trish coxing Richard, Stewart, Phil and Kevin formed a men's novice 4+.&nbsp; The backup, technical support, photography and cheerleading was ably provided by Terry and Simon.</p>
  <p>A bright spring day greeted the competitors as they met at Rudyard.&nbsp; Amidst half-jokes about skipping the race and rowing here, the boats were loaded on to the cars under watchful eyes.&nbsp; Alex ensured nothing was missing (bar carefree confidence, of course), and the convoy got moving.&nbsp; Once the hill and gates of Rudyard lake had been negotiated, nothing could prevent our attendance.
  </p>
  <p>Except the subtleties of navigating in Northwich, of course.  After a wrong turn led to group discussions about where the race was, the club got moving again amidst renewed cries of "I know where it is, I was here last year".&nbsp; And give or take a couple of wrong and missed turns and a short sojourn round Northwich, this proved to be true.</p>
  <p>The club moved like a well oiled machine to rig the double, and half an hour later when the rest of the club got back from their sight-seeing tour with the other half of the four and the second double, they managed to rig these too.&nbsp;  Brief sharp showers did nothing to dampen the spirit of the crews, although unfortunately the same couldn't be said for their clothes.</p>
  <p>In what seemed to be no time at all, with barely 2 bananas eaten post lunch, it was time to race.&nbsp; All 3 crews boated in the same division, and rowed calmly with only the slightest hint of panic in their eyes up to the start.&nbsp; A last ditch attempt for disqualification was undertaken by the men's 4+ when they spun early in the marshalling area, but no escape was possible - a shout from the marshal, a quick second spin and they were resigned to their fate.</p>
  <p>Each crew checked out their opposition as they jostled for position and fought the current in the start area.&nbsp; Morale raising words were abundant in the men's 4+, and doubtless in the other boats too.&nbsp; The start finally came, and with it the surge of adrenaline and excitement.&nbsp; Each crew rowed their own race, and strongly, with cries of support from the bank.&nbsp; The men's novice 4+ caught and overtook the crew in front, despite their strongest efforts to send NSRC into the bank!&nbsp; Inspired coxing by Trish took them round the outside.&nbsp; The crews met up at the finish line, and each were quietly confident with their race.&nbsp; All apart from the men's novice 4+, who were a little more vocal!</p>
  <p>The traditional post rowing cup of tea was drunk, and the serious business of derigging, loading up and checking we still had the vaseline was carried out, before excitement got the better of the crews and they went to check out their results.&nbsp; To the delight of all, they were better than expected!  The men's 4+ had come 4th of 10, a mere 9 seconds off the pace of the top crew.&nbsp; The men's double were 3rd in their group, and had beaten the novice 4+ by half a second, sparking off some friendly banter between the crews.&nbsp; But best of all, the women's novice double had won their class!&nbsp; Medals were collected and proudly worn - as far as and including a certain Leek curry house!</p>
  <p>All in all, a very successful first race of the season for the club.  The crews, happy and tired, returned home with enthusiasm and hope for the rest of the racing season, although waiting with trepidation for the photos and the inevitable derision and technique "discussions"!</p>
  <p>Results can be found by clicking <a href="http://www.northwichrowing.co.uk/cms/images/HORS06Res.xls">here</a></p>
  <p>Many thanks to Terry and Simon for their support - the rest of Terry's photos can be found <a href="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/images/northwich2006/">here</a>.</p>
  </td>
  <td width="7">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center" valign="top"><img src="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/reports/reportimages/northwich2006/loadupt.jpg"><br>Northwich Head and Shoulders: Why take 3 boats into the shower when you can take 1?<br><br><img src="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/reports/reportimages/northwich2006/toheadst.jpg"><br>Rich uses his handy extra arm<br><br><img src="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/reports/reportimages/northwich2006/trisht.jpg"><br>Backs to the boat, boys - Rich starts with the vaseline talk again<br><br><img src="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/reports/reportimages/northwich2006/effortt.jpg"><br>Phil doesn't take to Stew's new aftershave<br><br><img src="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/reports/reportimages/northwich2006/womenrecovt.jpg"><br>Smoothly does it<br><br><img src="http://www.nsrc.org.uk/reports/reportimages/northwich2006/postracegrpt.jpg"><br>Proud post race competitors<br><br><br><br>

</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody></table>
<br>