News Archives
Vesta News
[Jun-2008] Jul-2008
Flat Request!
Big Jon Brown is looking for somewhere new to live in the Putney/Barnes/Hammersmith (general vicinity of the Tideway) area; he would be very grateful if you've any suggestions for for spare rooms/etc. available to let. You can get in contacts on JonathanB <at> frankhirth.com or 0752 7878943.
Posted Wed 23-Jul 2008. Tags: frontpage
Cycling series starts in style
Thirty-eight cyclists came along for Gordon's first time trial series in Richmond Park, which is the largest group ever!
Each rider raced the flat course from Robin Hood Gate to Roehampton Gate and back and there was a three-way tie for fastest ride! Our slightly loopy Kate Wright decided to do it twice and Isabelle did it on sit up and beg with a basket. Nice one Izzy!
Next Tuesday we'll run a time trial of a full lap of the park. All comers and all bikes welcome. Meet at Roehampton Gate at 7:45.
Molesey fun
Just one win for the women's squad at Molesey regatta on Saturday afternoon in the WS3 8 against AK. Well done to those ladies and everybody else who raced, especially those who raced for the first time in single sculls and also club captain Zim and partner in pot-hunting Ed, in their coxless pair. Surprisingly the two old hands did beat the formidable-looking Henley RC - yes it's true - but lost out to Eton Excelsior in the end. Indeed it was a surprising regatta on the whole: apparently HSBC won the Victor Ludorum... I think we'll have to do better at HT & V boys and girls!
Wind and waves at Nat Champs
Five members of Vesta took the trip to Nottingham on the weekend for the Nat Champs at Holme Pierrpoint. Three rowers, one umpire and one superstar supporter defeated Nottingham's nasty ring-road and ploughed on to face the conditions at the lake. We competed in the LW1x and the LW4x in a composite with Tideway Scullers' School.
Saturday's weather wasn't too bad and Cheryl won her heat in Lane 1, which was taking the brunt of the wind, but Sunday was worse. Having made it to the final, she battled into 5th place in a fast field, a great result given the circumstances.
The LW4x had a straight final on Sunday afternoon and put in a terrifically gutsy row to take 2nd place by less than a second - an incredible push in the last 500m in that wind! Well done to Fran and Kate plus Lizzie and Elaine at TSS for their well-earned silver medals!
Vesta at Westminster
On Thursday 17 July Vesta senior women visited the House of Commons for the All-Party Parliamentary Rowing Group's annual race.
Members of both houses of Parliament raced head to head in the Lords versus Commons Boat Race, the Lords beating the Commons in a splashy battle in rough water.
Then Vesta women demonstrated how to really row and they wiped the floor against Thames RC women in the process. They were rewarded with free goodies and by taking tea in the Houses of Parliament. They particularly enjoyed the post-race speeches with plenty of heckling in true parliamentary fashion. Many thanks to the organisers for inviting Vesta to participate.
Pots at Kingston Regatta
Well done to all those racing at Kingston on Saturday. Our star performer was Charlie Dempster who won in the women's novice single sculls and the women's novice double sculls with Anna Barkensjoe. That's a stylish way to lose novice status! Also we won women's senior three coxed fours with Liz Adams, Hilary Blandy, Kat Hedges and, new girl from the USA, Sarah White, coxed by Andy Mac.
We never manage to race at Kingston without some sort of incident though and I think we managed a broken blade, a swimmer and a minor crash this year. No harm done and the excellent chocolate brownies made amends!
Congratulations to Sarah and Chris
on the birth of their daughter Eleanor Alice or Ella for short. The newest Vesta girl was born on Saturday weighing 6lb 9oz.
Vicki's cross channel ergo
"was bl**dy hard work", but they did it! Well done to the two teams that went across the channel, there and back without leaving dry land.
Vicki is collecting sponsorship so if you would like to contribute please email jcbenefit@live.co.uk. All proceeds go to her brother-in-law's cancer treatment.
Summer cycling starts Tuesday 22nd July
Once the serious business of Henley and Nat Champs are over and done with, the Vesta cycling series starts.
Gordon Barnes invites all-comers to try the cycling time trial series around Richmond Park, now in its fourth year!
Every Tuesday at 7:45pm Vesta rowers, Pearsons' cyclists and any game tag-alongs from London RC or other clubs meet. All abilities and all types of bike are welcome, as an incentive, it starts with a nice short flat course! Helmets are compulsory though!
See the attached doc for more details of the courses
Posted Wed 9-Jul 2008. Tags: frontpage
Summer starts now!
We're really proud of the Vesta men who raced at Henley Royal Regatta. They've shown some grit and class in their racing this year, but, barring Harry, who's going to Nat Champs, now it's time to lower one's standards and get pot-hunting boys. Forget the diamonds, it's the tin pot.
So this is what's coming up (subject to somebody trailering boats for us):
- Kingston Regatta this Saturday and Vesta will be well-represented by the women's squads, novice and senior.
- Henley Veteran's Regatta also this coming weekend, where there will be, well, Vets.
- Molesey Regatta on 19th July, for those not going to Nat Champs - i.e. everyone apart from Cheryl and Harry and dedicated crew support...
- Henley Town and Visitors on 2nd August, where we might just get some sunshine - please God.
I've also heard a rumour about a Vesta crew travelling to Germany... What with the novice women going to the Head of the Charles this year as well we are becoming quite the jet-setting club!
Don't forget if you want to race in a regatta you must have race fees in your account and speak to the lovely Tash, our entries secretary, to put in your entry
Posted Wed 9-Jul 2008. Tags: frontpage
Sponsored Channel Crossing this Saturday at 1pm
Our deputy captain, Vicki Williams, is holding a charity event on Saturday in the club to help her brother-in-law raise funds for his cancer treatment in South Africa.
Vesta rowers and some keen amateurs will be crossing the English Channel on the ergos - it's basically 6x2kms to you and me. Vicki's looking for volunteers - single or teams of three - and willing sponsors. Afterwards there'll be the friendly Vesta welcome in the bar, the more the merrier.
For further information contact Vicki on jcbenefit@live.co.uk. Or if you are on facebook please join the Friends of Jason Coetzee.
Posted Wed 9-Jul 2008. Tags: frontpage
Henley News
In an early race on Thursday, Vesta's A eight lost it's second round race to one of the favourites in the event, Agecroft, going down by 2 lengths.
Mixed Wednesday Fortunes
Henley Regatta started in the best possible way - with Vesta's A crew bringing home a solid 2 length win over Lea RC in the first round of the Thames Cup. Later in the day less good news as the B crew went down fighting to near neighbours London's D crew.