Somehow Bev,  Stu, Tim and I (collectively known as the Robert Maxwell Swimming Club) got talked into taking part in the Stratford Upon Avon Boat Club fun rowing regatta. I’m going to attempt to live blog it:

9:40: we’ve arrived to a torrential downpour, our first race is in about 30 mind against The Four Muscateers. I think everyone is a little bit nervous, but a lot more interested in staying dry.

10:45 we’ve just finished our first race and after 2 false starts (neither of them were our fault) and we won by 3 seconds. We got away really well, but it all got a bit unbalanced in the middle but we managed to keep the momentum up just enough to get to the finish line. We are totally saturated, but happy with our win. Next race is AT 12:24.

12:00 we’re getting close to our second race, the sun has come out, but we’re still pretty cold. The other 2 Amec teams have just raced eachother and the Rock and Rowers beat the Julies Cease-ores by quite a distance.

13:15 we’ve just done our second race and disappointingly we lost by 2 seconds. To be honest we where pretty lame and uncoordinated. We’ll have to wait a bit to see if we’ve made it through to the quarter finals. On the plus side, the sun is out and we’re drying out nicely

15:21 All of a sudden we where called back to the boat for a row off as we had tied in our mini league for next place. Tim was still in the middle of town having lunch. We got up to the start perfectly, and we where quite confident of getting through to the quarter finals. Unfortunately after a few strokes we lost an ore and not long after we nearly capsized when Tims seat came off its rails. We lost by a mile, and our rowing day is over. Unfortunately Julies Cease-ore where also knocked out despite winning there second race easily. Rocking rowers, the other Amec team have made it through to the quarter finals so we still have some hope. Time for a beer!

16:32 rock and row are through to the final.

17:24 Let’s Rock and Row won the mixed final. Well done Charlotte, Katherine, Pete and Jules. We’re still hanging out for the best name/costume prize. Hmm, maybe a little over optimistically