On Feb 1st, Tay went to the Clyde. We had planned to enter the GRC head the week before, but both the weather and low entries meant that it was cancelled. Given that disappointment, the SUBC head was a nice chance to get an extra race in before Aberdeen and Inverness.

We entered two events: the O R2 1x in Div 1 (Lewis) and the O R2 2x in Div 2 (Lewis and Peter). This was largely thanks to the generosity of SUBC who lent us the boats and blades.

O R2 1x Report, by Lewis

After a quick warm up and some adjustments on the row up to the start I was feeling in the zone for a good race. The category had a few rowers I have competed against in the past so I knew I was up against some tough competition. After a quick start off the line I settled into a strong pace and held on for the next 2km. After holding a good line round the last few bends I primed myself for a big push for the finish, lifting the rate and focusing in, before emptying the tank in the last few hundred meters.

I was very happy with the performance and significantly improved on my time from last racing on the Clyde. While the medal remained beyond my reach the race was a great experience and a good launching point for the races to come later this year

O R2 2x Report, by Peter

R2 wouldn’t be my first choice, but Lewis has sculling points so novice categories are out. The draw didn’t help us either. Since no one else entered our category, we got bumped up to the O 2x! Prospects looked poor.

After I slipped on the steps launching the boat (ow, by the way), we had a leisurely row up to the start line. This is maybe a good time to note that the last time Lewis and I tried a double was about 3 months ago, so I found this row up to the start very helpful.

When we got called to start, we set off at a steady rate. We kept that rate as we went through the build and put a little more power in as we crossed the start. It was a smooth beginning, the boat felt settled. As we got going I saw a 4+ setting off behind us, and thought “well we’re going to get passed by them at some point”. But, a little after the second bridge they remained well behind us and, instead, Lewis called that we were about to pass a boat on our left. That was a call I didn’t expect to hear.

Unfortunately, this other boat took the middle channel at the next bridge and, in an effort to avoid them, we caught a crab. We recovered in a few strokes and finished the overtake. At the next straight we had a power 10 which left us approaching the 4th bridge, which is about 500m from the finish. We rounded the last corner and began our push as we passed under the last bridge.

The finish felt strong and we completed the course in 9:48. This still left us last of three in the O 2x, but we did overtake a 4x and hold off a 4+, which seems alright for a scratch double.