Olympic dreaming

It's always fun to row at Dorney Lake - the venue for the Olympic rowing events. The Wallingford Regatta starts the regatta season and is a tough event of the best crews in the country competing in 6/7 lane side-by-side racing. Which makes it all the more interesting for the spectator.

Unfortunately the boys were blighted by illness again with one of them barely functional. Still they did well in the heats coming second overall and just 1s behind a tough Marlow crew with two GB rowers in it. Afterwards we fuelled them up with flapjacks and lucozade and had them rest before the final two hours later. This was an exciting race, especially as four crews sprinted towards the finish line with just a few feet between them.  They did get 3rd place, though, although the unwell boy had to practically be lifted from the boat afterwards he was so lightheaded.

The other boys, joined by a last minute fill in, went on to compete in the J18 quads, unfortunately they were drawn in a heat with the absolute favourites - a stunning beautiful crew to watch race - but they still managed 20/28 and got to race just before it got so windy racing had to be abandoned.

For the parents, the 7 hours day, £10 parking fee, plus programme, plus very expensive hot dogs, and 2km walk to/fro the carpark several times with armfulls of kit, and emotional support to athletes left us rather jaded and light in the pocket too.

Now - with just a week to exams it is revision, revision, revision for the next month! (with a few small rowing events thrown in).