Race Report - Exeter League Event, 10th June 2007

The Runners and Riders

Premier Teams	Standard Teams
Henley Bristol Empire Dragons Kingston Royals Thames Taniwhas BA Hurricanes WAM Three River Serpents	Worcester Dragons Thames Raging Dragons Colenorton Secklow 100 Notts Anaconda Typhoon Tigers

Scratch Teams
Fallen Angesl

The Report

All change for Exeter during the week we were concerned that we didn’t have a helm available and that the duty may have fallen to me.  Ok I can handle a training session and a charity crew when I don’t have the weight of the expectations of the team and the determination of teams alongside me.  I’m a paddler first and foremost and feel comfortable in that position until I can’t paddle anymore – hopefully a few years away.

I got an e-mail confirming that Doc would helm despite an arm injury (torn bicep – so only a slight injury then).  Buoyed by the thought that some big crews were not there Amathus, Batchworth and our friends 3 River Serpents we set off for the 200.  Lined up against our long standing friends BA.  We set off and took the lead but BA had other plans and reeled us in at the finish – it was to be one of those days.  BA Hurricanes 54:67 Bristol 54:94 .  We progressed to the repechajes and faced Exe-Calibre and Fallen Angels.   A slower time but still the win that we wanted. 

Back into the mix and up against Henley and Typhoon Tigers.  Typhoon took the first place and we finished third.

No change for the 500 metres as we faced BA and Fallen Angels.  Off we go again it’s a good start and we immediately take the lead holding BA all the way.  A really great close race I can hear BA on my right and can tell that it’s going to be tight – correct BA do it again what are these guys on today? BA 1:45:10 Bristol 1:45:33.

Here we go into the reps and no one wants to go there as the competition is fierce with everyone wanting to go through..  Maybe it won’t be so bad  or will it?

The first race is again against Exe-Calibre and Fallen Angels its getting all too familiar.  Again it’s a slower time but we have rested a couple of paddlers.  We take first place 1:47:98, Exe-Calibre 1:57:96, Fallen Angels 2:01:04.

OK we are through who do we get next -  Thames Taniwhas and Henley.  Off we go we hold Thames for some distance and then they break away we hold on valiantly but fade at the end once again almost losing to Henley as well.  OK second is good and the time not bad.  Thaniwhas 1:39:88, Bristol 1:43:65, Henley 1:44:60.

The time is good enough to take us to the Minor Final and we line up against Typhoon Tigers and Henley.  Time for revenge we know we are better at the longer races.  An extremely close and hard fought race sees us come up on the wall and squeeze into first.  It’s a great result.  Bristol 1:46:20, Typhoon Tigers 1:46:54 and Henley 1:46:95 that could not have been closer.  4th place overall is excellent.

The Bristol Empire Dragons' Boat

Drummer	Will Edwards
Crew	Left Side	Right Side
	Del Kyme (Coach)	Shaw Beattie (Club Captain)
	Gary Edwards	Ian Elliott
	Gary Corr (Vice Captain)	Candy Elliott
	Bob Meridith	Matt Hodgson
	Bharti Tailor	Chris Rusworth
	Tim Donovan	Rob Britton
	Ginnett Corr	Adam Mills
	Ben Callaghan	Darren Duval
	Pam Beattie	Sylvia
Helm	Bill Beattie (Assistant Coach)
Team Manager	Shaw Beattie

Prelimery Results of the 500meters

Premier	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Thames Taniwhas	16	1st
2nd	BA Hurricanes	15	2nd
3rd	Kingstone Royals	14	3rd
4th	Bristol Empire Dragons	13	4th
5th	Henley	12	6th
6th	WAM	11	12th

Standard	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Typhoon Tigers	16	5th
2nd	Thames Raging Dragons	15	7th
3rd	Secklow 100	14	8th
4th	Worcester Dragons	13	9th
5th	Exe-Calibre	12	11th
6th	Severn Warriors	11	13th

Scratch	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Fallen Angels		14th