Pairs Head

Boating on the tidal Thames turns out to be rather tricky requiring several friends to keep you stable. It was Tom's first time rowing on a tidal stretch and conditions were windy and choppy.

It was wet and cold for those cheering them on too, especially as we've been spoiled by the lovely warm September. 536 boats set out, four of them with our juniors in them. Charlie and Alice got to the start when it became clear Charlie's injured knee wasn't up to the race and they had to come back in, much to their disappointment. After all the training and psyching themselves up, they both had a little cry about it before rallying and cheering the others on.

Tom and Joe rowed a great race along with 45 other J18 crews. Their aim was to get into the top half, but they exceeded their goal and came 7th with a great time of 14:37.

On the way home we again saw another of those strange motorway warning sighs for 'Animals on road'. What kind of animals? Are they hippos or mice?

I was so cold by the time we got home my teeth were chattering. Goodbye summer!