Tim and James win at Twickenham Regatta

Tim Condon (E) and James Symes (BFr) won the Open Novice Double Sculls competition at the Twickenham Regatta last Saturday.

With a bye into the semi-final, their first opposition was a men’s crew from Ardingly RC. This was a very close race: a less-than-perfect start left the boys half a length down early on, but they clawed their way back by the halfway mark. Determined sculling over the next 500 m and good steering to make the most of the stagger at the finish meant that they crossed the line just in front.

The subsequent final was against Putney RC, whom we had beaten at Chiswick three weeks ago, so the psychological edge was with us, although Putney were not to be completely discounted, having won twice already to earn their place in the final. A much better start from Haileybury this time meant that we led for the whole course, although Putney never let us relax.

There having been six starting crews in the competition, and this result counted as a qualifying win, so Tim and James are officially no longer novices! Very well done to them both.