Tideway Scullers School

Saturday's stormy autumn weather saw the Fours Head being called off - crews had to settle for an erg instead - but the Veteran Fours Head went ahead the following day.

The club had seven crews and two composites in the draw, with entries from the men's and women's veteran groups, as well as the weekday ladies.

Top TSS finisher was Rob Smallwood, in the pennant-winning TSS/Ardingly Vet C quad that finished fifteenth overall in a time of 20:04.68, closely followed by the all-TSS Vet C quad that was 17th.

Frank Llewellyn, Francis Pinkerton, Brian Sweeney and Dickie Clarke, coxed by Guy Greaves, won Vet F coxed fours, while in Vet G/H quads the TSS crew won on raw time, the adjusted handicap time put them second, behind a Vet H entry.

TSS is one of the event's organising clubs, along with Auriol Kensington and the Army RC, and thanks must go to the huge number of club members who gave up their time to help, from serving behind the bar to marshalling crews and timekeeping - the day was a great success.

On a surprisingly sunny Saturday, the Junior Women, joined by the Behan Clan, arrived in Henley to race their singles. This was their first head race of the season, and the intention was to test race technique and stamina before their target head at Hampton in a couple of weeks' time.

In fact, some very important lessons were learned even before the race began: the ones about making sure your own boat is actually loaded, and that your own blades are in the trailer.
 
Following the long trek from the trailer the girls got afloat. Once started, the absence of the booms led to some difficulties steering and some frustrated scullers! The final division ran more to plan, with some very strong performances. Sophie ploughed past several of the scullers in the age group above to win WJ14 1x comfortably.

Thanks to David for towing the trailer and Kristian and Kristiane for fetching and carrying and providing shelter for scullers and coaches, even though Kristiane wasn’t racing, to all parents who answered the call for help. JB

All club members are invited to an evening to celebrate the first of many World Championship medals to come from Olympian Alan Campbell.

Films : Q&A : Food and Drinks

Thursday 19th November, from 7pm.

Alan Campbell yesterday won the 169th Wingfield Sculls, the club's fourth successive victory in the Amateur Championship of the Thames.

Alan, who first won in 2006, took on 2007 and 2008 winner Mahe Drysdale and finished three lengths ahead in a time of 20.27. Graeme Coleman of Nottingham & Union was third.

On 14th November Alan and Mahe will be joined by Iztok Cop and James Dunley to defend the club's Fours Head crown.

Over half term, Sophie and Hermione took on Weybridge Silver Sculls and came out top.

In WJ14 2x, they won by just a second over a very quick Ross crew, then had a five-minute turnaround before hopping into their singles to race the 3.3km course once again.

Hermione was very unlucky to be held up by a cruiser, but Sophie ploughed through the opposition to win WJ14 1x by over a minute.

The TSS Great 8 raced in the snow in Boston to win Men's Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles Regatta.

The crew of Warren Anderson, Ondrej Synek, Mahe Drysdale, Tim Maeyens, Alan Campbell,  Lassi Karonen, Iztok Cop and Marcel Hacker, coxed by Ali Williams, completed the 3.2-mile course to win the blue-riband event in a time of 14:33.239.

Row2k's Head of the Charles coverage includes reports and photos, as well as video interviews with Mahe and Ali.