row row row da boat....The Race!

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the day finally dawned for the Corpor8 Rowing challenge

we had to be there at 7.15am! eek - just made it as I had thought they said 7.30am!!!

the thing was - we had got good in practice, but on the day they used competition boats -

These were lighter more responsive, and we felt like there was a good possiblity of us ending up in the drink!....well we technically did, but more on that later!

" this is Quad team 1 Setting off the first time Greg, Me, Jenny & Tracy(male)

"ooh the concentration"
"OK well I smiled once!"

The start...

and where did we finish............... Last (oops - well I did say we were totally at sea so to speak in these race boats...now if we'd been in the wooden versions - we were winning in the training HONEST!)

Any way - since there were 6 rowers we each got 2 chances in the 3 scheduled heats - team 2 were....
starting from the back of the scull, Alistair, Rose, Jenny & Greg
they started well - but unfortunately in the same lane 3 (Kiwi Mettle's downfall in the end) and they got too close to the Buoy and rose's oar got tangled in it - so they came last too!

So it came down to TEAM 3 to change our loosing streak............(oh heck!)
we set off with renewed determination...


we got off to a good start and were actually in the LEAD! the adrenaline was pumping.....the guy in the dingy is shouting at our coxwain to steer the boat to the right.... but some how she steered us to the left???
" ooh the shore looks too close"

and how did it end...............Well we got stuck on the sand bank (well more like pebble bank really!) and we ended - well me Alistair and Tracy ended up in the river pushing us off! and of course we came in LAST!....well at least we were consistant through out the races! LOL

Well we set off again (see the funny shack in the back ground - thats a mi-mi and is used for duck shooting)

well the croud and other competitiors cheered us on to the finish, and at least we had a smile on our face!....because we new that we could have a cold beer now!


At the end of the races we had food and free wine/beer, and also our own beer supply a band and relaxing with the other teams for the afternoons entertainment. you can see all the pictures taken here

I had to leave early for Robs xmas work party, but I had a good time during my stint at rowing... and I may continue......or buy a kayak? we'll see