While October has thrown just about every condition at us, Poplar’s rowers have pushed on with training and racing as much as possible. This month we had crews racing at Pairs Head and Weybridge Silver Sculls, with great performances across the board.
Pairs Head
On Sunday 4th October Pairs Head began with a very gloomy start in Putney. Foggy photo updates from our crews suggested they would struggle to find the water. However, the organisers delayed the race start and the weather eventually improved for a lovely morning on the tideway. Bob Milligan comments that the conditions evolved from the dismal to ‘tremendous, sunny and hot with a benign wind’.
In the Mixed Masters G, Bob and Joelle were the 2nd fastest crew. They lost out to this year’s British and World gold medallists by 23 seconds, in a time of 16.10. It was a solid and rewarding race and they could not have done any more: a pleasing result! Our Masters B crew, Ben and Tommy, also put in a strong performance in a predictably competitive field. They look to build on this throughout the winter months. James and Miles stepped up in a strong Club category, placing 5th with a great row. Notably, they also brought canine support, the hallmark of any good race!
Weybridge Silver Sculls
On Saturday 17th October Tommy and Charlotte took their mixed double to Weybridge Silver Sculls for their second outing of the season! Off the back of illness and the realisation that their average age was too low for a Masters category, they bravely took their chances in the Open field.
It was a surprisingly sunny but crisp morning in Weybridge. The double tackled the course enthusiastically, holding their own in the category. They placed 6th with a strong time, and enjoyed the scenic post-race paddle back to the trailer. With renewed energy and lots more to learn, the crew looks forward to races in coming months, particularly when they finally break into a Masters category in 2027!
Well done to all crews who represented Poplar this month. We look forward to more great racing at Docklands Head next month! Follow our Instagram and make sure you have subscribed to our newsletter for more updates, crew announcements, and club news!