Vesta Rowing Club

Oops, they did it again!

Laurence — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:34:07 +0000

I am absolutely thrilled to report our senior women won the GP Jefferies Cup, the senior eights event at Henley Women’s Regatta beating Newcastle University by 3 1/2 lengths into second place in a fantastic performance yesterday afternoon. Our winners had previously beaten Queens University Belfast, University College Dublin, and Nereus (Netherlands) in the heats, and took no prisoners as they laid down an excellent time of 4 minutes 53 seconds in the final.

The winning crew were (B-S): Rahma Barclay, Alex Johnson, Kat Hedges, Vicky Williams, Lara Brock, Vics McLeod-More, Charlie Dempster, Emily Trant and Julia Hedley (coxswain), and are very ably coached by Matt Gilliver, James Parris and Paul Fitzwilliam. This is an incredible achievement, rewarding our girls and coaches for their huge amount of effort, patience, tenacity and humour over the past nine months.

Earlier in the weekend, Vesta was very well represented in the quarter finals of the Intermediate Club eights with our club crew losing by two lengths to the eventual winners, Thames Rowing Club, our lightweight coxless four losing to Marlow Rowing Club, and Ailsa Tremayne losing to London Rowing Club in the elite singles.

A Vesta Senior Women’s crew will now attempt to qualify for the Remenham Challenge Cup this Friday at Henley Royal Regatta, please come and support them along with the Vesta Senior Men’s Wyfold ‘B’ Entry

Vesta Women Dominant Yet Again

Laurence — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:57:24 +0000

In the last dash towards Henley Women’s Regatta, the Vesta Women’s squad proved yet again why they’re the crews to fear this year, making four finals at Reading Amateur Regatta, and winning two.

Having destroyed the cream of British rowing at Met the previous week, the women’s Senior Eight turned their sights on the US. Following their string of recent wins, the girls were racing the elite American crews , St Joseph’s and Drexel, and proved that they have the power to stay cool under fire – rowing through from half a length down to win the final from Drexel by a foot.

Vesta 2, Americans nil – that’s how it’s done, Capello.

In the final of the women’s IM1 coxless 4, the Mighty Lighties (Tamsin Bernard, Pamela Brent, Freya Johnstone and Holly de Gay) cruised to a comfortable 3 length victory over Putney Town, demonstrating that sharp technical focus is more than a match for brute strength. The win so excited coach Matt Gilliver that he threw himself off his own bike and was removed from the regatta to have his leg stitched up.

The women’s intermediate eight made the finals of IM2, but were beaten by the more experienced Thames crew, while Ailsa Tremayne sculled through three rounds of the IM1x but was beaten at last by MAA.

Less than a week to go… be afraid, HWR, the Vesta women are on their way!

L-R: Vicky Williams, Alex Johnson, Kat Hedges, Lara Brock, Rahma Barclay, Vics Mcleod-More, Julia Hedley (cox), Charlie Dempster & Emily Trant

L-R: Matt Gilliver, Holly De Gay, Tamsin Bernard, Pamela Brent, Freya Johnstone, Paul Fitzwilliam & James Parris

Paul Mew, National Masters Champion!

Laurence — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:33:27 +0000

Vesta was represented by at the British Rowing National Masters Championships at Holme Pierrepont by the Masters D 4x of Peter Simpson, James Weatherstone, Robin Purkiss and Paul Mew, and by Paul in his single.

The quad finished in the pack in a competitive final but the highlight of the day was Paul winning the gold medal the Masters F IM 1x in his first multi-lane single final.

Photo: Purdey congratulates Paul on his win on the presentation raft.

Double Parked Met Medals! Boom!

Laurence — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:43:54 +0000

Success breeds success, and in this case, highly sought after medals from The Metropolitan Regatta.

The Vesta Women continue to dominate at the business end of women’s club level rowing, this time winning Women’s IM1 Eights on the Saturday and Women’s Senior Eights on the Sunday.

Can anyone halt their victory strewn rampage towards Henley Women’s Regatta?

The IM1 crew of L-R: (Cox: Julia Hedley, Emily Trant, Charlie Dempster, Rahma Barclay, Alex Johnson, Vics Mcleod-More and Lara Brock (Verity Ansell missing))

The Senior crew of L-R: (Vicky Williams, Vics Mcleod-More, Lara Brock, Cox: Julia Hedley, Kat Hedges, Emily Trant, Charlie Dempster, Alex Johnson & Rahma Barclay)

Novice Status Shed at Putney Town

Laurence — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:53:54 +0000

The Women’s Novice Squad 8+ of (cox, then S-B): Kate Garratt, Caroline Hare, Janet Kidner, Anna Van Den Berg, Sybille Schorm, Sabine Schlosser, Anneke Van Heteren, Irene Calis & Deborah Croshaw were victorious in the W.N.8+ category last weekend, empatically beating Barnes Bridge Ladies in the final by 4 and a half lengths.

Following on from the Novice Men’s Squad win last week, this means that Vesta is rapidly running out of rowers with Novice status!

Gold in Ghent (again!)

Laurence — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:02:54 +0000

Following their impressive display at Wallingford last week, the Vesta girls took it one step further, dominating at the International Regatta in Ghent, Belgium.

Having come away with one Gold medal last year in the quads (see report here) the bar was raised through the roof this year with the squad having 8 Crews in Finals and coming away with 2 Bronze Medals, 2 Silvers and 1 Gold whilst setting a course record (6.51.10) and claiming the International Belgian Championship for Women’s Eights.

In an exciting race, Vesta A tore through Thames (who had beaten them in the heats earlier in the day) to clinch victory by 3 seconds in a well fought final.

Belgian National Champions (L-R): Rahma Barclay, Alex Johnson, Helen Edwards, Vicky Williams, Lara Brock, Vics McLeod-More, Charlie Dempster, Emily Trant & Julia Hedley

Along with the victorious crew pictured above there were other medals in the form of:

Silver Medals for Emily Trant, Lara Brock, Vics McLeod-More & Charlie Dempster in the Women’s Coxless Fours.

Silver Medals for Lara Brock, Ailsa Tremayne, Charlie Dempster & Natasha Bolsin in the Women’s Quads (pictured below).

Bronze Medals for Ailsa Tremayne & Natasha Bolsin in the Women’s Pairs on Saturday (pictured below).

Bronze Medals for Kitty Lowings & Alex Johnson on Sunday in the Women’s Pairs on Sunday (pictured below).

Amongst the medallists there were 8 crews that made finals, including two eights for the National W8+ Final which is a staggering acheivement.

Congratulations must go to the whole squad and coaches: Matt Gilliver, Paul Fitzwilliam and James Parris.

For full Vesta Results click here

Wallingford Regatta 2010

Laurence — Sun, 02 May 2010 10:49:06 +0000

After wins at Quintin and Hammersmith Women’s Head and a fantastic squad result with the first boat coming 22nd in the Women’s Head of the River Race (4th & 21st in IM2 and 50th in IM3) there was expectation in the air for a another good summer performance for the Women’s Senior Squad following their heart breaking loss in the final at last years Women’s Henley.

So it was that they disappeared off to Mulhouse for a week long training camp (noticeably without the distraction of the Men’s Squad) where they plotted their takeover of the world of women’s club rowing.

Winning their heat comfortably at Wallingford Regatta, the IM2 8+ of cox: Julia Hedley, Emily Trant, Helen Edwards, Vicks McLeod-More, Aga Siemiginowska, Hillary Blandy, Kat Hedges, Alex Johnson and Rahma Barclay caught the scent of blood when they lined up for the final. Alongside them at the start were old Putney embankment rivals Thames RC and the club that had denied Vesta a HWR ’09 Medal, York City RC – the scene was set for payback.

In a blanket finish, mighty Vesta pulled out all the stops to beat Thames and York City into 2^nd and 3^rd in a time of 07:02.20.

It was about 7°C, and they do say revenge is a dish best served cold.

Other notable performances on the day came from Kitty Lowings and Alex Johnson coming in a very respectable 2nd in their IM1.2- final and the Vesta Men’s Senior 4- of Rob Shaw, Nick Nevelling, Harry Bond and Jamie Halliday, who despite illness in their boat managed to qualify for their final in a very tough field.

Novice Cherry Poppin’ at Hammersmith Regatta

Laurence — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:25:20 +0000

Congratulations to the Vesta Men’s Novice 8+ of (cox, then S-B):

Celeste Boruvka, Martin Benfell, Martin Graham, Phil Pollard, Matthew Penny, David Blows, David Suter, David Howard and James Oddy who were victorious at Hammersmith Regatta last weekend.

Vesta’s novice men raced at their first ever regatta on saturday, doubling up in novice and intermediate 3 eights. Both races were straight finals and in their novice race they were drawn up on the center station against Auriol Kensington and Kingston University.

There was a certain amount of nervousness in advance of the start as Kingston were late to the line, but this was turned into an awesome start where they sprang into a length’s lead in a matter of strokes. Kingston Uni then spent the rest of the race fighting to get back on terms and looked like they could do it until a spirited finish by Vesta saw them off with the final verdict – half a length.

Racing again an hour later Vesta performed creditably in staying in touch with an Emmanuel School J16 8 until near the finish line when the schoolboys longer experience (and lack of a previous race) told.

Welcome to IM3 – may the winning streak continue….

Vesta Veteran’s Head 2010 Results

Laurence — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:48:12 +0000

The results from the Vesta Veteran’s Head 2010 are up.

Hammersmith Women’s and Junior’s Head 2010

Laurence — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:24:53 +0000

Congratulations our Vesta Senior Women’s 1st crew who won the IM2 W8+ pennant at the Hammersmith Women’s and Juniors’ Head on Sunday the 28th of February.

The Women’s Squad as a whole performed admirably, with the 2nd and 3rd boats finished 6th and 4th respectively in their categories.

Yet another fine effort from the squad and their Coaches, Matt Gilliver, Paul Fitzwilliam and James Parris!

For more Vesta Results, click here