Rhubarb Issue 12: November 2023

2023 By SCOTT BAIN (Apsley, 2021-2023) Captain of Boats, SES

it all in the form of a German crew on the Tuesday.The lack of knowledge about their speed and various whispers of sub 6:20 2K erg times tested the belief in our crew. But in the chat together right before boating it was clear we were all ready for the challenge ahead.This ended up being a smooth race along with the Wednesday against Hampton.The Friday was sensational and I will always remember there was a pure desire to get our own back against Eton.The crew delivered again moving on to the Saturday against Radley.The belief of the crew was really put to the test fighting off Radley’s constant pushes, but again we managed to pull off the victory. Then came Sunday.The most memorable day. As we started walking to empty boat tents there was the excitement of the possibility of a red box but the nerves of knowing it was going to be the hardest race of our careers.With few crews winning against the stream on Bucks station that day, it is safe to say it was playing on our minds. But this is where my best personal rowing memory came walking out of the boat tent to an entire army of supporters, not even being able to see the river! The mix of OSE, current Teddies pupils, and most importantly the blazers of Hampton, Eton, Radley, Dulwich, and others who had all come to support us.The excitement rose within the crew with cries of “yeah Teddies” from the bank as we rowed to the start.The race was brilliant, keeping ahead the whole way then holding that final push while the noise erupted in the Stewards’ Enclosure. As we crossed the line the splashing was accompanied by deafening cheers from the bank.Then as soon as we got out of the boat we were bombarded with hugs and cheers from everyone. Coming to Teddies in the Lower Sixth the Boat Club was always an escape, a chance to forget about school stress and for me that’s what made it so important. Coach Jonny Singfield made the two years so special, from entertaining us for hours in the truck, to the serious pre-race chats. I hope the medals from this year inspire pupils in the younger years and show the rowing world that the cup and dagger of the Teddies blades are to be feared!

2022/2023 was an incredibly special season for the Teddies’ Boat Club. Of course, the results from the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta were fantastic, however looking back at the year I never think about crossing that finish line first, but instead the build-up to events whether it be ergs, the countless times spent travelling in a minibus together or the pre-race tension. Towards the end of the year, just before setting off on a training camp for our final preparations before Henley, a few of us Upper Sixth were talking about our favourite parts of the year and our times at Teddies.Whilst we all had our own individual memories there was one common denominator taking us back to the very start of the season – our Christmas camp in Seville in Spain.There we worked in two mixed VIIIs that were constantly changing throughout the week, specifically no 1st and 2nd VIII. Constantly working with different people made for a fantastic atmosphere. It is experiences like this that made my time at Teddies so special; it’s not just the Henley medals but fun times rowing together. Fast forwarding to the lead-up to the National Schools’ Regatta and weeks before there was a good feeling in the boat. Everyone was excited for the Regatta and the boat was just getting quicker and quicker each session. In the week leading up to the race Jonny Singfield (1st VIIl Coach) sat us down and spoke to us about how it would really feel to cross that line ahead of everyone else; the feeling of a rock star! This feeling was certainly experienced in both the semi-final and the final. After the semi-final, which we won by less than a second, Head Coach, Adam Moffatt said that it was the first time we had belief in our crew. He was spot on, and it was a truly amazing feeling. Our belief didn’t come out in the form of arrogance, instead, we had quiet confidence. The season quickly came to an end with the hardest challenge of them all, Henley Royal Regatta. Pressure began to rise as the Regatta approached, yet this belief and confidence within the crew remained.The heat truly began in the minibus when the draw was released. It was a mix of emotions. A chance of settling some old scores against Eton and Radley excited some of the Upper Sixth, but there was one dark cloud hanging over

FEATURE

Crew: H. Burford, N. Bechtler, C. Budden, L. Previati, S. Bain (Capt), R. McDonnell, J.Amies, I. Hillicks-Tulip, F. Jamieson (Cox)

Scan the QR code here to watch the highlights from Henley Week 2023.

The crew join Cox, Felix, after his traditional trajectory into the river

A winning hug – father and son share a moment

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