Rowing NEWS

In cool and overcast conditions the Leander elite heavyweight men’s quad reigned supreme with the fastest time of the day over the 4 ¼ mile course between Mortlake and Putney, while their the club’s lightweight quad crew was just 1.4 sec behind in second. Two-times world champion Paul Mattick, competing in the bow of the lightweight quad, later described as “a very clean race and a really strong row”, with the quad stormed ahead of the surrounding lightweight crews, enjoying the advantage of the calmest water out in front.

Finishing in a time of 18.12.39, the lightweights were only bettered by their heavyweight club mates, competing as Leander IV, who completed the course in 18.11.01. Marcus Bateman, stroke of the quad, wanted the win but was very aware of some fierce competition from fellow GB teammates racing for London RC.

“We were focusing on a long continuous rhythm and I think we maintained that. We haven’t had that much time in the boat and everything is now focused on trialing in our singles. We gave it a good crack and we enjoyed it” he said.

Tom Solesbury, sitting in 3 seat, reflected on a long rowing career to add: “That was potentially my last race on the Tideway, so I’m happy to come away with the win”.

Not to be outdone by their teammates, Leander’s second boats in both the lightweight and open weight category also stormed in to the top 10. Leander V came home in 18.27.88, just three seconds shy of Tideway Scullers, with Olympian sculler Alan Campbell on board.

Enjoying his highest-ever finish at Fours Head, John Collins said: “Rowing for Leander gives you the opportunity to train amongst the national squad, which is really good for making the step up from club level. Rowing the Fours Head is great fun; you know you’ve got to perform well. We did ourselves proud today.”

Leander II, the second lightweight entry, came home in 18.34.74, enjoying a sixth place finish, whilst the third lightweight crew finished 11th, aptly demonstrating the depth of lightweight talent at Leander.
The fastest women’s crew of the day was the elite quadruple sculls finishing forty-first overall. Battling the tail-end of some male crews, the women enjoyed an eventful race, steered exceptionally by bow seat Debbie Flood to finish in 19.35.01.

World Champion Anna Watkins said: “Rowing for Leander is always great fun. We don’t have much time to prepare, it’s a completely different challenge. We aren’t aiming for perfection, we’re aiming to get as much speed as possible in the time that we’ve got. We focus on the simple things and enjoy the change of scenery.”

For twenty-year-old Rachel Gamble Flint, this race was another stepping stone in her 2012 game plan.

“I’m going to do everything I possibly can to get to London 2012. After being in the quad with these girls, I’ve realized what I’m doing isn’t that different, I just need to be consistent. The standard at Leander is just so high and you learn so much from the people around you. These girls have been so unselfish in sharing what they know. You feel comfortable in your surroundings at Leander and you’re not afraid to make mistakes.”

Leander cox Phelan Hill enjoyed his third Tideway victory this weekend in the elite coxed fours. Leander VII stormed to the Putney finish line in 18.54.8, 10 seconds ahead of rivals Molesey.

World champion Rick Egington, the Leander captain, remarked on the difference between coxed and coxless status: “After rowing the coxless four all year, we really noticed the difference. We enjoy weekends like this with the club.”

The women’s elite four came away slightly disappointed, finishing second to a faster composite crew including the World Championship silver medallist pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning. Vicky Thornley reflected: “We lost our line after Barnes Bridge overtaking crews, and went out of the stream and that’s when the other four took a lot out of us".

1 November 2011: The Fours Head of the River Race in London on Saturday will be the last chance that many of Leander’s athletes have to compete in their club colours before next summer’s Olympics. And with some already signalling their intent to retire after London 2012 this weekend’s competition may be the last time in their rowing careers that they race in the historic cerise.

Last year’s race clashed with the World Championships in New Zealand, denying any of Leander’s senior athletes the chance to compete. This year it’s a different story, with a total of thirteen Leander crews racing the 4 ¼ mile time trial from Mortlake to Putney, including entries for men, women and juniors in heavyweight and lightweight fours and quads.

Starting in the coveted No 1 slot at the head of 492 crews will be Leander I, the first of three elite lightweight quads, featuring Olympic champion Mark Hunter, U23 world champion Kieren Emery and former world champions Paul Mattick and Richard Chambers.

The pedigree of the crews is no less signficant in the coxed fours division where members of the world champion men’s four from Bled 2011 include Rick Egington, Matt Langridge, and Alex Gregory together with Olympic champion Pete Reed, and GB silver medallist Phelan Hill in the cox’s seat.

Leander is boating two crews in the women’s elite quads, including world champion Anna Watkins, Olympic silver medallists Debbie Flood and Frances Houghton, and GB development athlete Emily Taylor in the lead boat.

Leander crews will be boating from British Rowing HQ in Hammersmith from about 10.40am with the first crews crossing the start line below Chiswick Bridge at 11.30am.