Henley Winter Series Race 2

Henley Winter Series Race 2

Once again the brave winter warriors of worcestershire trickled into the muddy field (sorry, carpark) at the Eyot Centre, Henley.

The second of the Henley winter series of the year. Quite an improvement on last year, when only one of the possible 5 dates had sufficiently clement water conditions for us to actually race. However, while the water was not running too high, it was still desperately cold, the air temperature just making it above zero and the sun peeping out from behind the clouds occasionally. It did nothing to warm up the water, though!

Worcester's red cags were looking a little thin on the ground, only 18 intact paddlers able to make the trip, and several of those sore and blistered from walking 30 miles over the previous two days for Helen's fundraising walk between Hereford and Worcester, or from the rigours of Saturday's BNTS training. But despite this and having to borrow a slightly cronky old boat from Henley, everyone was typically cheerful as they sipped their hot drinks and hopped from foot to foot trying to warm up, Jenni and Petra bobbling about grinning in their santa hats.

Spirits dipped a little when we discovered that we were somehow back in our old position, as the rabbits at the front of the pack. We'd been hoping for a place in the middle of the field after our excellent 6th place at the first Henley of the season, but our history of being 'a bit rubbish' at the long distance stuff and the fact that we were borrowing an old, heavy boat told against us. I think Maggie, on the helm, was a bit disappointed to learn that she wasn't going to get to show off her overtaking manoeuvers. So anyway, into the boat we hopped. Kevin, Kieran and Simon were all looking a little apprehensive, as this was the first Henley that they had paddled in- though Kieran had seen it all before from the drum seat. We headed down to the start line ahead of the other crews, hoping this time to show them all what we could do.

In the calm before the starter called us up, I could sense everyone around me steeling themselves for the ordeal of ploughing through the frigid water for half an hour- Raph went uncharacteristically quiet, Ben's shoulders hunched over as he visualised the race, Max's eyebrows furrowed with concentration as she looked up the course. I turned and looked around at the rest of the boat, and saw similar expressions of determination mirrored back at me. OK, I thought. this should be GOOD!

The safety boat revved its engines and a marshal gave us the all clear. Paddles and unhappy fingers dipped into the icy water, engaged and we were off! Ben and Max set a solid, confident pace as we came up to the start line. Maggie called us up to full power and, just as we started to drive, the starter's horn honked. As the pressure came up I realised I could no longer feel my fingers, glanced down and saw that they had gone white with the cold. Oh dear. Nothing for it but to paddle as hard as possible to warm up! Everyone else must have had the same idea, the boat surging forwards at each stroke, and in no time at all, Temple Island was gleaming ahead of us.

The first turn went without mishap, Maggie expertly taking us round and over to the side of the river where the current fought us less. Heading upstream, paddles biting harder into the water, we headed back towards Henley and the finish line. Emily on drum told us that the other crews were still comfortably behind us, and we redoubled our efforts as 'The Bridge of Pain' loomed up ahead. once under the road bridge, we knew we were on the home straight. The finish line flashed past us on our left, but it wasn't over- the course takes you past the finish line and round another island, and then finally back downstream for the finish. With Maggie exhorting us to further effort, we rounded the final turn, whooshed into the friendly current, and stormed over the line.

As we all gasped in pain (personally I thought my fingers were trying to detach themselves from me in disgust) and looked back up the course, to our delight there were no other boats in sight! we'd come over the line comfortably in the lead. Hurrah! We didn't have to wait long before the fastest crews, Batchworth (uk club champions this year) and Longridge (GB Opens training crew), came flying along, and all the other crews valiantly heaved their boats over the finish line.

After a tense half hour, during which we gratefully struggled out of our wet kit and into as many warm layers as we could find, the results were announced. Much rejoicing! Worcester were 4th, a mere 5 seconds behind 3rd placed TAO, who will now have targets painted on their backs for the next event!

Huzzah. After that there was beer and food and a log fire, and the warm glow of a job well done. Congratulations to you all, Worcester Dragons!