What is it about this rowing lark?
We get up really early, socialise as late as possible, go through the pain barrier, scars, blisters and bruises to show for it, be really competitive, enjoy coffee and scones, saunter out to the bass in company, drive miles for regattas, camping? All in the name of FUN
On Saturday 20th September a small number of NBRC set off for Newburn on the Tyne river, ENGLAND. This all started with a wee chat over refreshments at Portsoy, and the Row Family Robertson Crew +1 was out and rowing again, after our success on the Nith we decided with missing it in name of Tiger cup, we'd go for it. With a bit of toing and froeing on our arrival to get cars and trailors to the finishing line at Tynemouth, over a 1 1/2 hour round journey, those of us left enjoyed the bacon rolls and cake to keep the time going. We had timed the drop off perfectly for briefing in the super wee club house.
34 crews took part in the 25 km race, 7 of those were skiffs, fancy dress to which we hadn't quite got ourselves sorted for, party boats, Frog on the Tyne, gondoliers, nurses to name but a few. So with our start time of 1440 fast approaching, we made our way to the slip way to launch Skiff John B, we were in the second wave to start off with a Celtic Gig, and 2 other skiffs, the Wee Michael from Newhaven and St Ayles, Anster. We set off at a great pace and tusselled with Wee Michael for nearly an hour to keep our lead. They had obviously been practicing their changeovers, which were seamless, and when Eli and Fin changed we did lose some ground, the dulcet tones of Wee Michael’s cox pulled ahead. Still we pushed on and quickly came across the nurses in the Byker boat from the first wave. It seemed no time at all before we started going through all the bridges in the centre of Newcastle, still no sign of our Zev ahead of us. There were quite a few folks around cheering us on our way downstream, Phil had a wee bit of a row to warm up, giving the tiller onto Sheena, we then changed Eli and Fin back over again and rammed in more Mars bars to give us extra energy. So being back to our original seating plan on we pulled, by the time we started getting into the more industrial part of the city, the slidey seats started passing us thick and fast, you know they never look very happy? Maybe something to do with their seats, we got the very occasional encouragement but not anything like our skiffies.
We then became aware of a lot of boats up ahead and ribs with visi jackets on-board, we were all being stopped by the river police to allow the ferry to leave port, damn... still no sign of Zev. We all bobbed about and got some chats, quickly getting chilly and stiffening, also blisters starting to burn, we tried some stretching in the boat to keep us going. After half an hour we were all set on our way. How were they going to sort this out for times? Had anyone taken an order of which boat stopped when? So back into focus, not easy to get those stiff muscles back working again. Passing some huge tankers, the skiffs were all slowly left to fight it out at the back, it seemed hours before we passed the finishing hooters at North Sheills, we still had to row round into the bay to keep clear of another large tanker coming in through the harbour wall, then navigate over towards Tynemouth Rowing club where a very organised landing and stowing boats was executed. The music was loud, burgers cooking and cider flowing, it wouldn't take many of those to get you wobbly, it was now well after 6, we'd been on the water for 4 hours, probably rowing hard for 3 of those, although I’m not sure what the times will be like. Prize giving, Our lovely Zev getting fastest fixed seat, Clive’s face just showed so proud, Anstruther got best fancy dress with Frog on the Tyne and faster male fixed seat too. And I got the top raffle prize a bottle of Bowmore whiskey, so NBRC did actually do pretty well, flags and bubbly too.
Packing up the boat zapped the rest of our energy we then had to trail through the city again to retrieve the Robertson car. Ian was certainly quiet on the way back, he did enjoy his mars bar experience too though. By the time Louise and I dropped JB at the harbour the town clock was striking midnight, Cinderella needs to get home before her legs and hands fall off.
A fantastic day, long, but so worth it, just seeing the look on Clive’s face to win, well worth organising and doing again.