Well done to Clio who collected the WJ14 Single Sculls pot at Peterborough Regatta last Saturday. Drawn in Lane 1 for her straight final over the full 1000 metre course, Clio got the better of her big rival from Norwich RC, next to her in Lane 2, just before the end.
A solid start from both girls saw them slowly draw away from the other competition and engage in a private battle along the road side of the course. The Norwich sculler inched in front of Clio in the middle section of the race with a long, smooth and efficient stroke action. With 150m to go the Norwich Junior was sitting one length up on Clio but was wandering over into Clio's lane.
One brief loss of concentration was enough to make the Norwich girl whack a lane marker, catch a giant crab and slew right over onto Clio's side. Miraculously Clio's blade passed over the front section of the other boat and a collision was narrowly avoided, but Clio seized her opportunity and, with a quick burst, put herself one length in the lead with 100m to go. A big sprint from the recovering opponent was not enough and Clio took the race by half a length.
Down-to-earth again on Sunday, there was no Junior event for Clio, so she joined the seniors and rowed in the Novices for the 500m sprint event, while Alex got her turn to shine in the WS3 Quad
In her heat, superior tactics, and a blistering start saw Clio lead the fleet by one length at the 250m mark but her lack of size and power eventually told and two of the bigger ladies overhauled her before the end. Still - a superb performance and invaluable experience for future races.
A doubly impressive result also for Alex who won her Novice sculling pot and took a senior point too, as part of the awesome Sudbury WS3 Quad who annihilated their opposition. In the straight 4-boat final on Saturday, the big powerful crew lead from the first stroke, being half a length up in the first ten strokes and extending their lead to two lengths before half way. Here they rather took their feet off the gas (to the admonishment of their coach!!) but were still efficient enough to romp home with nearly two lengths of clear water. Well done Alex - from Novice to S3 in three and a half minutes!
CHRIS JILLINGS
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