I thought we did really well – though we could have done better with a little more practice beforehand – just knowing how long the race really is and discovering how hard we could push ourselves.

Without wishing to appear gushing, I want to thank everyone!

Whole crew, I thought you backed up stroke brilliantly – at no time during the race did I feel that I was being driven by you and that’s brilliant. Well done!

Neil, James, Carlo, you fitted in so well and we have had fun with you – you’ll be welcomed by me any time!

Tina, great coxing in incredibly difficult circumstances – round the Tideway Scullers boathouse was a particular nightmare, but you kept us all in check!

Jen, you’ve KISS’d us (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) into a style that we can almost keep to when we get tired and almost caught us up to the Hutch boat – I’ll be delighted when we beat them… Reminds me of a few years ago now when the then “Rugby” boat did the same all year to the then “Hutchinson” boat – different crews in each – and that culminated in us bumping them in front of the pink house on the reach on the Friday… brilliant!

Gez, your enthusiasm is infectious – David would never have persuaded me to give up rugby on Saturday for the crew! Lovely mix of fun and hard work. You have even got me training – if only the once. You must be doing something right! You deserved your snooze (and associated drool) on the way home yesterday afternoon.

See you all on the river soon.

–
Dick

PS Absolutely knackered on Monday – legs cramping, shoulders aching, back stiff, hands sore and LOVING IT!