Traditional boats race in the Carrow Cup 2012

On 15th December 2012 fourteen traditional boats    joined the fleet of modern boats in the Carrow Cup race from the centre of Norwich. The race, one of the oldest rowing competitions in the country, was first rowed on 6th May 1813, when crews in 4 four oared boats took to the river Wensum to compete for a silver cup.

Norwich Rowing Club first invited traditional boats to take part in 2010 and three crews took up the challenge. Following the 2011 race David Bolton, chairman of Norwich Rowing Club, extended the invitation once again and this year
crews from Langstone Cutters Rowing Club, Brightlingsea Coastal Rowing Club, Lower Thames Rowing Club and Norfolk Skiff Club continued the tradition of racing through Norwich in fixed seat boats, which had started almost 200 years before.

The traditional boats, ranged in size from Raineach a 15 feet 3 inch Norwegian faering  crewed by Roland Harris and his daughters to Sallyport and Bembridge, 30 foot Solent Galleys rowed by crews from Langstone Cutters. In between were a variety of rowed gigs and sculled
skiffs including the randan rigged Leigh Ho from Lower Thames, and  the vibrantly painted gigs Vanduara and Velocity from Brightlingsea.

Norfolk Skiff Club was represented by the veteran skiffs Cherub and Widgeon and Roland's Raineach.

Norwich Rowing Club added to the fun with the club tub double rowed by Santa's elves and Father Christmas himself; the boat beautifully decorated with Christmas trees and parcels. I'm sure that I was not alone to notice that Santa had chosen two

tidy and powerful scullers for his little helpers on this occasion.

All the boats received a handicap related to their size and crew composition. The slowest boat started first, a full 4 minutes ahead of the next to go.

The first half of the race follows the twisting course of the river Wensum through the city and under five bridges, where spectators had gathered to watch the event and encourage the crews. Beyond the Trowse railway bridge the river widens giving the faster crews an opportunity to overtake as they pass Carrow Yacht Club and the Whitlingham Boat Houses. From this point the race is on the river Yare and the crews can lengthen their strokes for the 1000 metre straight leading to the finish line.

By the time that all the crews had recovered their boats and made their way to Norwich Rowing Club, the results of all the day's races had been published.

Spirit of Dunkirk had secured the prize for the fastest boat on handicap and Renown, also from Lower Thames Rowing Club, was awarded the prize for the fastest sculled boat to complete the course.

All agreed that it had been a marvellous day and were making plans to return to Norwich next year.

Carrow Cup 2012 RESULTS

Congratulations to Lower Thames Rowing Club, which secured both prizes in the TRADITIONAL BOATS category, Spirit of Dunkirk winning fastest time on handicap and Renown winning the prize for the fastest sculled boat on handicap.

The race was rowed at a slightly faster pace than last year. Last year's winner Bembridge's crew taking 32 seconds off their pervious time and Millie's, also from Langstone Cutters RC, slicing a minute from their previous best.

Pictures of the event will follow in another post.

Club	Boat name	Boat Type	class	Crew	hh:mm:ss
					Corrected Time
					2012	2011
Lower Thames RC	Spirit of Dunkirk	Hanningfield hybrid gig 4+	4+ F	4	00:19:01
Lower Thames RC	Dauntless	Hanningfield hybrid gig 4+	4+ F	4	00:19:11
Langstone Cutters	Bembridge	Solent Galley 4+	4+ F	4	00:19:12	00:19:44
Norwich RC		Tub double 2X+	X	2	00:19:20
Langstone Cutters	Sallyport	Solent Galley 4+	4+ F	4	00:19:26
Lower Thames RC	Renown	Hanningfield skiff 3X+	XF	3	00:19:53
Brightlingsea CRC	Velocity	Harker's Yard Gig 4+	4+ F	4	00:20:02
Norfolk Skiff Club	Cherub	Thames double skiff 26' 2X+	XF	2	00:20:22	00:20:24
Langstone Cutters	Millie	Teifi Skiff	XF	2	00:20:26	00:21:27
Brightlingsea CRC	Vanduara	Harker's Yard Gig 4+	XF	4	00:21:41
Norfolk Skiff Club	Widgeon	Double skiff 20' 2X+	XF	2	00:22:25
Norfolk Skiff Club	Raineach	Faering 15' 3" 2X+	XF	2	00:22:43	00:23:00
Lower Thames RC	Leigh Ho	Hanningfield skiff 3X+	4+ F	3	00:22:56
Lower Thames RC	Proud Mary	Hanningfield hybrid gig 4+	4+ F	4	00:26:23
Classes: 4+ = 4 oared, F = fixed seat, X = sculled

Carrow Cup 2012 Traditional Boats

Club		Crew		Boat Type	Classes	Handicap
		All	Women
		rowers				base	crct'd
Norfolk Skiff Club	Raineach	2	1	Faering 15' 3" 2X+	X F	0.70	0.67
Langstone Cutters	Millie	2	2	Teifi Skiff	X F	0.85	0.77
Norfolk Skiff Club	Widgeon	2	0	Double skiff 20' 2X+	X F	0.80	0.80
Lower Thames RC	Proud Mary	4	4	Hanningfield hybrid gig 4+	4+ F	0.92	0.83
Brightlingsea CRC	Vanduara	4	4	Harker's Yard Gig 4+	X F	0.90	0.81
Lower Thames RC	Renown	3	0	Hanningfield skiff 3X+	X F	0.85	0.85
Lower Thames RC	Leigh Ho	3	0	Hanningfield skiff 3X+	4+ F	0.85	0.85
Lower Thames RC	Dauntless	4	2	Hanningfield hybrid gig 4+	4+ F	0.92	0.87
Wivenhoe Gig Club	Audacity	4	1	Harker's Yard Gig 4+	4+ F	0.90	0.88
Lower Thames RC	Spirit of Dunkirk	4	1	Hanningfield hybrid gig 4+	4+ F	0.92	0.90
Brightlingsea CRC	Velocity	4	0	Harker's Yard Gig 4+	4+ F	0.90	0.90
Norfolk Skiff Club	Cherub	2	0	Thames double skiff 26' 2X+	X F	0.91	0.91
Langstone Cutters	Sallyport	4	2	Solent Galley 4+	4+ F	0.96	0.91
Langstone Cutters	Bembridge*	4	0	Solent Galley 4+	4+ F	0.96	0.96
Norfolk Skiff Club	Willow	2		Thames out-rigged gig 2X+	X	0.98	0.98
Norwich RC		2		Tub double 2X+	X	0.98	0.98
	Delight	2		Cambridge out-rigged gig 24' 2X +	X	0.98	0.98
Classes: X= sculled, 4+= 4 oared, F= fixed seat
* Winner 2011
Handicap:	First column shows base handicap. .
	Second column shows handicap corrected for crew composition M/F