A successful annual 'Boston Head of the River' race took place on the
River Witham this weekend attended by more than 20 rowing clubs from around the
country. Three divisions throughout the day resulted in170 crews and nearly 300
rowers taking advantage of the high water levels from Anton's Gowt to Boston
Rowing Club's boathouse.
Nottingham Rowing Club proved to be the inform club to beat and took away
12 status wins, followed by Norwich Rowing Club on 8 wins. Boston Rowing Club
were limited to mainly junior crews on the day as members assisted in ensuring
the smooth running of the event as hosts. Boston did taste success however as
Will Campion and Ben Thomas (Nov 2x) ensured victory in one of the largest
status classes of the day, and won by an impressive 11 seconds over their
nearest rivals and seven other boats, in 10:26. The pair looked very strong and
composed on their home water and rowed a good technical race. Harriet Housam
gained 3rd place in her WJ15 1x single scull in 12:25 and continues to progress
well. The women’s novice coxed quad of Lorrie Armstrong, Megan Malloy, Livi
Rynston and Nicole Hendy coxed by Nick Stow had their maiden event as a crew and
showed promise with a 3rd place in 12:30. The women’s eight of Leanne Cozens,
Angie West, Fuchsia Summerfield, Jasmine Cross, Emily Gall, Catherine Grayson,
Ailsa Linnell, and Violet Summerfield coxed by Nick Stow rowed exceptionally
well and after an impressive start and maintaining good balance were beaten to
first place by Peterborough City (10:58). Ben Thomas then linked up with his
Nottingham regional team partner to attempt a second race in J16 double scull,
beating his previous time by one second (10:25), but unfortunately piped into
2nd place by four seconds by the Norwich RC crew. Nicole Hendy and Harriet
Housam gallantly attempted to hold off five other crews in the WJ15 2x double
sculls but found themselves out of trophy contention after a time of 12:35.
Boston's final crew of the day saw Catherine Grayson and Fuchsia Summerfield in
the women’s novice double scull and after a controlled race could not quite
match their York City rivals and recorded a good time of 11:40.