The Commonwealth Rowing Regatta 1999

The Rowing Service

During the week of the Commonwealth Regatta, August 2nd-8th 1999, the English women's lightweight quad crew sent back reports to the Rowing Service. We thought you might like to read them...

Index of stories

Thanks to Victoria(the main typist), Becky, Naomi and Helen.

Jet-lag Jollies

Next installment.....

Day began poorly at 4:30am. Lots of people indulged in a jet-lagged wee-weeat the same time, and no-one got back to sleep.Then it was up at 6:15 proper for an early brekkie - and the the firstrace of the day - who gets to the course to bag the only launch. Needlessto say, we won, and hogged it all morning. Mark Hatley (who is lookingafter us in Rosie's absence, and doing a fine paternal job) charged aroundthe lake with us and the men's light and heavy scullers, as we crashedinto one another and tried to beach ourselves at every opportunity. Nodoubt about it Naomi has a fancy for the lightweight sculler, as she simplycouldn't leave him alone. With every affectionate clip of their blades,they weredrawn ever closer. Lovely, it was. Anyway, between their exchanges,we managed to scull like arses, and Mark (now known as "Dad") decided totake our boat apart. This was fine with us, as the crap scull couldn'tpossibly be us anyway, and we were more than happy to blame our equipment.So a couple of hours of steady state rigging began, with much swearing andthe odd subtle adjustment with a bit of scaffolding. Quick spin in the newvessel - some improvements - running out of reasons to blame the boat sogetting a bit nervy. More to come on this, I'm sure....

Bored with rowing, we went shopping. (Did I mention how hot it is - wellit is). To make ourselves feel better, Becks spent £100 on knickers. Sheis wearing them all, as I write, and very minxy she is, too. I found a pairof transforming trousers, which can, with a couple of nifty zips, convertfrom full length to shorts in an instant. You have to see them to believethem - and all for £30. I also managed to find a crop-top tight fittingwonderbra, which I failed to fill. I must be at weight.....

Speaking of which - the organisers in their wisdom have causedelation and bemusement among the lightweights, as all have to weigh inat the FISA maximums - no low crew averages required. So Becks and Naomiare eating for Canada - it is not nice to watch, but they seem happy eatingRefresher-flavoured icecream with crisps.

And thence back for a sit down, and a lot of frustration with my computer,which simply would not receive any of the numerous mails (5 - thank you verymuch) which England had sent in support. And then off for another row - bitmore titting around with the rig by Dad - still managed to scull like arses,although there were glimmers of togetherness. Very rare and verybeautiful moments, they were. Hope to have more like them. The course isstill humming to the tune of 4 Portaloos, and we have found that the laneson the course are banana shaped where a hideous cross-wind turns the waterupside down. There will be a certain strategy to racing at this place....

Bodily, we are feeling fit and well. The food is taking its toll, and theflatulence is more than the best Canadian air-con can cope with. We areEnglish, and like to think that we are leaving a memorable mark. Also, thejet lag has manifested itself in bouts of uncontainable hysteria - we keeptittering unstoppably, thinking we are still at University and we lookall right in our expensive knickers and transforming trousers. Naomi haseven stopped wearing socks. All in all, we are all enjoying this wholebusiness hugely, and are beginning to understand why people make a career ofit.

It's reet champion...

Other important points: we did some washing, Diet Coke is in 600ml bottles,which we like and Dad locked himself out of his room while stark bollocknaked. It's all go.

Must sign off now - bit more loafing around to do before getting someserious zzzz's in.

The Girlies' Lightweight Quad