Race Report - Stockton-On-Tees League Event, 15th April 2007
The Report
As Dave put it ‘We left Bristol in April and arrived in Stockton in August’, not sure if he meant the time it took us in our charabanc [shar-rab-bang] or the glorious weather that was apparently ordered by our host’s Powerhouse for the weekend only he will know, but with the temperature well into the seventies it was a fantastic way to start the season and may long it continue.
Bristol Empire Dragons first race event as a fully fledge Premier Crew along with Amathus Bees who had both gained promotion from the Standard division for their exploits last season was greeted with excitement and anticipation which was apparent with our long journey ‘Upp Noorth’
For most of us the Saturday started around 9am with military style precision of our crew arranging with each other to be picked up to meet at the two meeting points of Ian’s & Stuarts houses.
As we approached our destination along the motorway with the miles being counted down, Scott our driver for the weekend (and what a fantastic job he did) was following SAT NAV for the first hotel that half the crew were staying in we could see it on our left hand side, a brightly coloured warehouse posing as a hotel. Once into the industrial estate that according to Ian looked liked down town USA on a bad day which all it needed to complete the look was a shoot out, the disbelief that came across the members of the crew that were going to stay there was very amusing for those who had booked a hotel with running water and electricity, Tim commented that it did not look dissimilar to Stalag 1 with Bob adding that he always wanted to know what it would have been like to have stayed in Eastern Germany before the wall had come down. After dropping them off Candy whispered to Gemma ‘thank goodness were not staying there’. We checked into our luxurious hotel with bar, restaurant and a lovely view onto the white water canoe club, went for a relaxing walk before meeting up with the remainder of our squad at a small Italian restaurant. Pam commented many times how she missed the fun and banter of the minibus but she had been training with her fellow members of the woman’s senior GB squad and had to come up earlier. A while later on in the evening the full squad from the senior woman’s team gate crashed the venue, I’d heard about them and the rumours are very accurate, they drank all be for them, beer, lager, wine, wine and more wine, think twice before taking on those filly’s!! Later on in the evening I made the mistake of leaving my mobile around and Maggie from Worchester was trying to ring as many other crews on it as possible.
Race day had arrived but our new race kit of full lycra and we mean FULL LYCRA had been delayed much to the relief to some of us who had not quite attained the six pack look but hopefully would in time for next race meeting.
Shaw, Bill, Pam and Nic had arrived at the race venue before all of us pitching our Gazebo on the upper tier of the club house and what a club house it is, very nice.
With all the boats loaded on to the water the days racing was to begin, Bristol Empire Dragons had been drawn in the very first 200metre race in lane 3 along with Amathus DBC (lane 2) and finally Worcester DBC (lane 1). How would our winters training stand up to the big boys we were about to find out. Up to line slowly, Bill giving his last orders, ‘you know what to do, 200meters there’s the line down to you’. The butterflies are they’re again, a great feeling. The starter calls the three crews forward and were off, a mediocre start that could have been better, Amathus DBC are away, by the half way point there is clear water between them and us but the crew responded which saw Bristol claw back some distance to finish only 0.45secs behind them with Worchester finishing third (Amathus DBC 40.34secs, Bristol Empire Dragons 41.19, Worcester 45.50).
The remainder of the heats passed and with our time as the second fasted placed Bristol direct into the semi-finals, we could not have had a better start to the season and the mood was very buoyant.
Into semi-final 2 along side Thames Tanihaws and our old adversaries Amathus Bees. We were to race in Lane 1, which was to remain our lane throughout the remainder of the day! With Bristol coming into this semi-final as fastest qualifiers between these three crews we were expecting to do well, our members in the stands expected it, Bill expected it and the crew were ready for it but Thames and Bees had other ideas, at the gun all three crew went for it blasting there way up the course, no quarter given and with the finishing horn sounding as one blur and with the offset finishing line no one knew who had won, the time difference between all three was a mere 0.31secs with Thames taking the spoils Bristol Next with the Bees in third (Thames Tanihaws 42.36secs, Bristol 42.64, Amathus Bees 43.02). Unfortunately non of these times were good enough to get into the Major Final and quirky as it may seem the all three crews had to race again in the Minor Final in the same lanes.
Off we went again thrashing our way up the course but again Thames came home in first with Amathus Bees second with Bristol third, not to despondent as we had finished in the top six for the 200metres but with our better racing distance of 500metres to come in the afternoon we were optimistic.
Major Final pitted the Three River Serpents up against Amathus DBC and Typhoon Tigers but the mighty Amathus DBC took the honours in 41.04secs with Typhoon Tigers second in 42.20 and Three River Serpents third in 42.60.
A nice long lunch break ensued and with the glorious weather it was an opportunity for some to swap the standard sun block with bronzing oils (Ginette) and Heather commenting that is was just like back in Australia, Pam quipped ‘see it’s not all grim up north’, Pam’s from ‘up north’ you know, apparently she was born only 20miles away from Stockton so it was like the Salmon swimming back to it’s birth place.
Onto the 500metre racing and this time we were drawn in the last heat against BA Hurricanes and the youngest and newest team Amathus Dragon Jockeys - where do they get the names from?
Tactics slightly changed and from the start it felt ok but come the end we were beaten into second place by BA Hurricanes (2.02.32) Bristol Empire Dragons (2.04.07) and Amathus Dragon Jockeys (2.32.29).
Again the time was good enough to claim a semi-final spot as a second fastest loser in the heats but again we would be racing BA Hurricanes along with Seckloo 100.
Unfortunately BA piped us again at line after we had been in front for most of the race but we had improved on our time by almost two seconds. BA Hurricanes (2.01.00), Bristol Empire Dragons (2.02.36) and Seckloo 100 (2.11.42).
Like the morning racing semi-finals we found ourselves in the Minor Final for the 500metres with Thames Tanihaws & once again BA Hurricanes I think we must have been tied together because where we went they went. This time we were going to beat BA and avenge our defeat earlier in the day in the 200’s against Thames but they had not read the script and despite the close racing with nothing in it for most of the 500metres BA Hurricanes pulled away to finish in 1.57.45, Thames Tanihaws second in 1.58.32 with Bristol Empire Dragons in third 1.59.89.
The Major Final for the 500’s was the same as the 200’s with Amathus DBC, Three River Serpents and Typhoon Tigers and that’s how it finished Amathus DBC first in 1.50.51, Three River Serpents in 1.53.67 and Typhoon Tigers in 1.56.70.
There you have it, once again Amathus DBC have put down the gauntlet, Three River Serpents are going to fight all the way and Bristol Empire Dragons will beat BA Hurricanes next time round!! Seriously we had some quality battles with them and Thames Tanihaws along with all the other crews this weekend but I believe the special mention this weekend should go to the Typhoon Tigers 2nd in the 200’s and third in the 500’s what a performance and many thanks to our hosts Powerhouse Dragon Boat Club with the excellent facilities.
Upon the presentations completed the good byes said and on the road we did head with sparks a flying but as Nic commented ‘the winter’s training had paid off and nice to see the crew come together, you looked fab’ - wait until we get our go faster Lycra then the sparks will certainly fly.
The spirit in the squad and the commitment to each other was faultless, we all want to race every race and with a problem of having a full team present (which is a nice problem to have) Del would like to express his sincere thanks to Dave, Tim, Heather, Janet, Matt, Gemma, Adam, Bob & Ginette who when asked to rotate backed him and the team to the hilt which was also appreciated by all the other crew members.
The Bristol Empire Dragons' Boat
| Drummer | Emily Britton | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Left Side | Right Side |
| Shaw Beattie (Club Captain) | Gary Corr (Vice Captain) | |
| Del Kyme (Coach) | Chris Rusworth | |
| Pam Beattie | Stuart Patten-Lawrence | |
| Ginnett Corr | Candy Elliott | |
| Ian Elliott | Scott Elliott | |
| Heather Driscoll | Bharti Tailor | |
| Janet Cross | Adam Mills | |
| Matt Hodgson | Gemma Saunders | |
| Bob Meridith | Dave Johnson | |
| Tim Donovan | Rob Britton | |
| Helm | Bill Beattie (Assistant Coach) | |
| Team Manager | Shaw Beattie | |
"Strength in Working Together"