Last weekend Laura, Ellie, Nikki and Louise travelled up to Boston for the second GB assessment and small boats head, both held over 5km. After the first water trial was cancelled due to adverse weather forecast, this was the first opportunity for many to show their water speed. On arrival they were greeted to a lightly frozen river, which was quickly broken up by some launches. A beautiful day emerged, despite the chilly -2 degree temperatures with slight tailwind conditions promised fast times. Laura and Ellie raced first, with Laura coming in a very strong 17th, beating some notable names who raced internationally last season. Ellie was racing in the BUCS small boats head and put in a good performance and gained valuable experience of racing down the trials course.

In the second division Nikki was due to race the GB trial, whilst Louise was vying for a medal in the BUCS competition. Unfortunately both girls were forced to withdraw after catching a sickness bug overnight, causing a lot of frustration for both after a good run up and promising times clocked in the weeks prior to the race.

The group now turn their focus to the Womens' Head of the River Race in London where they aim to improve on their 5th place finish from last year.

In a blink of an eye a twelfth of 2013 seems to have snuck by already. We seem to be stuck in a flood - freeze cycle, resulting in the ergs feeling (mistakenly) more loved than usual, whilst spiders in our boat bay believe we have built them all lovely carbon fibre shelters. The beginning of January was taken up with training camps. On the back of her excellent 3^rd place finish at the ergo test in the first set of GB trials Laura was invited to the sunny climes of Portugal on the GB senior team training camp. The rest of the group stayed in Nottingham and put in some solid (if slightly colder) training in preparation for the 5km ergo test. The training clearly paid off, with almost the entire group claiming hard earned PBs. We were due to race at Boston Head, although this was unfortunately cancelled due to the recent flooding so next up is the second set of trials on the 9^th February, raced in singles over 5km in Boston. We also have athletes racing for their respective universities at the rescheduled BUCS small boats head, held in conjunction with the GB trials. Sights are then set on the Women's Eights Head, where we have successfully won a pennant every year since the club was founded- no pressure then!

The first GB assessment for the 2013 season was due to take place on 24/25th November, consisting of a 2k erg test on the Saturday and a 5km water trial on the Sunday. Due to the poor weather forecast, GB rowing took the decision to cancel the water trial, whilst still asking athletes to travel up to Boston to complete the erg test under their watchful eyes. Illness had hit the squad quite badly towards the latter stages of November, meaning that only a small group of survivors made the journey up to Boston. Despite the low numbers, three out of the four athletes gained PB's, proving that the first block of training for the year has gone well. Notably Laura came 3rd overall, beaten only by NRC alumni Vicky and previous pairs partner Lucinda Gooderham who both medalled at the European Championships last year, whilst Fiona went sub 7 minutes for the first time. Based on their test performances, both Laura and Fiona have been invited to participate in a 4k water trial in Caversham on the 8/9th December. 

Meanwhile, back in Nottingham, all those who had to submit medical notes but have recovered from their illness and injuries will complete their ergo tests which must be submitted before Christmas. 

A Senior 4- and an IM1 4x travelled down to London to race the annual Fours Head of the River Race, a processional head race over the boat race course from Chiswick to Putney. Fresh from their success at the Diamond Jubilee, the four of Lindsay, Fiona, Laura and Catherine were looking to win their category. Starting behind men's IM2 coxed fours, they weaved their way down the course, steering clear of trouble, whilst others in their category tangled with the slower mens crews ahead. Although the four didn't feel they had their best race, they won by over 15 seconds, smashed the course record and were also the fastest women's four on the water.

The IM1 4x of Nikki, Ellie, Philly and Louise struggled with illness in the lead up to the event, and although they had a solid first half, overtaking 2 crews before Hammersmith, the lack of sustained training pieces in the lead up to the event meant they were unable to build momentum into the finish. In a large field they managed to overtake 3 crews, and caught a 4th and finished 7th in their category, which was won by a very strong Molesey crew containing a European medallist and athletes close to the squad. 

The squad now concentrate on GB trials coming up on the 24/25th November, where they will race against all athletes wishing to be considered for the GB squad for the 2013 season.  

 

The group travelled down to Dorney Lake, host of the Olympic rowing to race at the Diamond Jubilee regatta last weekend. This was a unique showcase event celebrating the success of teamGB at the Olympics and a chance for crews to race against some of the very best, with all triallists who wished to be considered for the 2013 season required to race, and a number of Olympic athletes also attending, racing for their clubs. Racing took an unusual format, with 1900m time trials being used to determine allocation into A/B semi-finals, C/D semis etc. All the categories were combined, for example the women’s heavyweight, lightweight, under 23 and under 19 doubles all competed against each other, providing some very close racing.

On the Saturday two heavyweight fours, a heavyweight double and 2 lightweight doubles were entered. With the phrase ‘As long as we can see your bow number through the fog’ still ringing in our ears everyone boated, heading into the unknown of both the fog and the experience of racing a flat out 2k in October. The time trials went well, with the top four of Lindsay, Fi, Laura and Catherine and two doubles making it into the A/B semis, and the second four of Laura Champion, Rebecca, Ellie and Philly finishing 13^th and just missing out, going on to win the C final later in the day. The top four went on to race against Leander and Sport Imperial for the top spot, and after an excellent final won silver, beating the favoured Leander boat. The U23 heavyweight double of Pippa and Katie Bartlett came in 3^rd in the B final, placing them 9^th out of the 44 entries, the lightweight double of Louise and Yasmin came in 15^th, and the lightweight combination of Nikki and Lizzie Polgreen from Isle of Ely came 5^th overall, in an event won by the European bronze medal winning lightweight crew, but beating an Olympic gold medallist in the process.

On the Sunday Yasmin travelled home and went on to win in her single at Notitngham Autumn Head, impressive given the amount of racing she had done the day before. Staying down at Dorney, the two fours combined into an 8 which finished 5^th overall. Due to some last minute substitutions, Pippa and Katie raced in a scratch quad with 2 girls who competed at Junior Worlds last season, but had to race as time only due to these substitutions. Nikki joined with some fellow lightweights to race in a quad, which came home with bronze, beating 24 other quads, and only beaten by girls who had represented GB last season.

The following month is a busy one, with Fours Head coming up in a fortnight, some girls travelling out to defend their title in Barcelona the following weekend, and then GB trials at the end of the month so watch this space!