Tuesday 18 December 2012

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.










Monday 17 December 2012

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+  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

Wednesday 12 December 2012

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