Thames Valley launch Explore Rowing league

Sunday 11th October saw Marlow rowing club running the first round of the Thames Valley Explore Rowing league.

Five clubs from around the Thames Valley: Marlow; Maidenhead; Hillingdon; Staines and Reading entered eight crews between them with the boats generously being supplied by Marlow and Maidenhead. Most clubs brought subs and so in total over 60 participants, both male and female, took part. Racing was fierce but good natured over the 250m course which finished outside Marlow’s new boat house. Some crews really took the racing to the line, winning by only a few feet in some races.

Races came thick and fast and a massive 28 races were run in three hours, racing was so tight that the final overall and inter club results were not known until the last four races of the day. Staines beat Marlow Imps to win over all honours with six wins and three crews tied for 2nd place on five wins: Marlow Imps; Marlow Rovers and Reading Explore. The Reading crew had no subs and raced all seven races with the same crew. Hillingdon High Fliers & Hillingdon Stripes tied for 5th place on three wins each and Maidenhead stripes beat Maidenhead Stars for 7th and 8th.

All crews gathered together in the bar after racing to talk about their races and complimented the organisers on the event saying it was really enjoyable and well-run.

The next round will be at Maidenhead RC on Sunday 29th November following the same round robin format. Following that a skills events is being planned at Hillingdon in February.