Saturday Reviews
Sydney Rowing Club v Thames Rowing Club ‘B’
It seems that the odds were stacked against the Thames Crew, making it to the weekend as a club’s second crew almost guarantees that the competition they’re facing will be the top crew that their competition put out. Sydney went out harder, driving the rate up to 47 and sneaking to a half a length advantage. Sydney held this margin up to the Barrier. By Fawley, the Sydney crew had found an extra gear of rating, up a beat, they stretched out to a full length as Thames tried to hang on. As the race went on, Thames seemed to be losing gears as they slipped from 36 to 34 whilst Sydney held their speed through the second half of the race, stretching the lead to three lengths by the Mile and finishing four lengths up.
Thames Rowing Club ‘A’ v London Rowing Club ‘A’
London vs. Thames is an age-old battle, and two crews will have been up against each other all season. London led out of the blocks, rating 45 into the crosswind, rating three higher than their competitors from Thames as they sought to gain an early advantage. At the end of the Island, Thames had managed to sneak out to a canvas ahead, yet by the Quarter-Mile, London had reversed the result, pushing out to a half-length lead. As the race progressed, Thames stopped any further advancements as they held London at a length. As the wind strengthened around Remenham, Thames wobbled, losing a pip of rate in the process, whilst London was able to stay loose and continue to hold their speed as they closed in on the Enclosures. A late surge from Thames saw them jump up on the rate and close the gap to half a length, yet it was too little too late as London bought their second finals ticket of the day. An appeal by Thames saw them argue that they had been washed down as the London crew came across, yet it was quickly dismissed, and the result stood.
Final Preview
London Rowing Club ‘A’ v Sydney Rowing Club
Neither of these crews is the club’s top entry, yet both have secured seats in the final. Sydney had the easier race today, managing to dispatch the Thames’ B’ crew by four lengths and slowing their rate down at the finish to conserve energy for the final. London had a bit of a tougher race today, unable to slip away from Thames ‘A’ as they held them out at a length and, in the dying stages of the race, couldn’t mount a serious sprint to fend off Thames. I think Sydney seems better through the middle at going through the gears and breaking clear. They’re fast off the start, and once they get a taste of shutting a race down, they waste no time acting on it. For this reason, I think Sydney will have the edge and take home The Wyfold Challenge Cup.
