The boathouse was buzzing on
Saturday 16th August 2008
for this year’s Round Table
Trade Fours. The weather
was very kind but it was
touch and go whether the
event would go ahead due to
recent water conditions but
luck was on our side and the
days racing got underway.
Thirteen crews, consisting
of at most, one club rower
and three non rowers battled
it out for the Trade Fours
2008 title. Again, this
year was very popular with
the ladies and as a result
five crews entered.
First on the water for the
ladies were Beijing’s Best
versus The Bay City Rowers.
Both crews dressed superbly
for the event. A bad start
cost the Bay City Rowers the
race but all was not lost as
they had a second chance in
the first round against
Babes of the Waves and went
on to go through to the
second round. Hil’s Angels
took on the very well
drilled crew of Tweedle Dee
and Tweedle Dum with Hil’s
Angels going through to the
semi-final. Babes of the
Waves also got a second
chance in the repechage and
again raced the Bay City
Rowers. The tartan clan
were out-classed in this
race with Babes of the
Waves, who had not rowed
together until the day,
going through to the final
against the women’s
favourite Beijing’s Best.
The deteriorating water
conditions for the ladies
final were too much for the
less experienced Babes,
crowning Beijing’s Best,
comprising of Sam Seaton,
Michelle Williamson, Susan
Blackett and Nicole Wilson
with the Women’s Trade Fours
title.
The men’s competition was
always going to be
interesting, with such a
wide range of abilities.
First off for the men were
Motley Crew, captained by
Les Eke versus MT Space
Cowboys, captained by Chris
Eke, two well matched crews
with little or no practice
saw Motley Crew going
through to the semi final.
Event sponsors, Round Table
unfortunately were drawn
against last year’s winners
and well practised 4 to 1
and were overhauled from the
start. The Superheroes,
complete with masks and
capes, were no match for
MKM’s Torpedoes. Crash
Bandy Crew were up against
indoor rowing champs,
Bandana Boys, but rowing in
a boat proved too technical
for the heavy weight Bandana
Boys giving Crash Band Crew
the last slot in the
semi’s.
Motley Crew were up against
Michael Guthrie’s 4 to 1 and
another win for 4 to 1 seen
them on their way to yet
another final. MKM’s
Torpedoes got off to a
flying start against other
semi finalist Crash Bandy
Crew but with water
conditions deteriorating,
the Torpedoes made critical
errors and Crash Bandy Crew
took the lead for a place in
the final.
The men’s competition
under-dogs, Crash Bandy
Crew, were through to the
final against last year’s
winners 4 to 1. It was
going to be tough for the
under-dogs, especially as 4
to 1 got of to a flying
start but after a few errors
from 4 to 1, Crash Bandy
Crew managed to keep their
cool in the rough water to
row through 4 to 1 and go on
to win by half a length,
crowning Crash Bandy Crew
comprising of Shea Grimsdale,
Neil Seaton, Gordon Johnson
and Tim McColl with the
men’s Trade Fours title.
Thanks go to Berwick Round
Table for sponsoring the
event, to everyone who
helped make the day run
smoothly, to the many
spectators and to all the
competitors who we hoped
enjoyed the days racing and
making it such a memorable
day. We look forward to
seeing you all again next
year and anyone who can’t
wait to get back into a boat
will be most welcome at the
boathouse for training every
Tuesday evenings at 6.30 pm.
