So Tuesday 11th saw our novices taking to the ergs for their first competition. Hughes Sprints, our own miniature version of Queens Ergs, had helped us in the selected 2 crews of 8 women to compete.

NW1 were up first with their division at 18:00. After a delay of 15mins, and a spot of drizzling rain, we were going into the Hall to the Drum and Bass of the speaker system and making our way to erg 9. With our first rower ready at front-stops we waited for the ‘Attention…GO!’ The girls did really well, coming 5th in their division with an average time of 1.55. 4 which was only a second behind the crews in 3rd and 4th place. We had to wait for the last NW1 division to be won before we knew if they had made it through to the final…and they did!

Whilst NW1 recovered with chocolate and pasta, it was time for the NW2 to show their mettle. They too put in a good performance coming 8th out of 14 boats in their division with an average time of 2.05. One of our rowers got a time of 1.56.4 which was only 3 seconds off the fastest girl in the division.

After a long wait it was time for NW1 to line up once again; this time for the final. Even though they’d raced nearly 4 hours before, the adrenalin was still pumping, and they finished in 10th position with a time of 1.55.8 Between all of the bottom 6 crews, there was only 0.9 of a second in it, so it really was very tight! There were 30 women’s crews that competed in the NW1 division, so to beat 20 of those crews is a job well done indeed!

Bring on Emma Sprints!