The Great River Race

County rowers set to compete in London, England

Ateam from the Ayle of Quinte Skiff Club will be heading to London, England to compete in the annual Great River Race on September 16. The race is a river marathon, covering 21.6 miles. It starts at Millwall in East London, not far from Canary Wharf, and proceeds up the Thames River to Richmond, passing under many of London’s famous bridges as well as passing within sight of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The race is for “fixed seat” craft propelled by rowers, and each crew must carry a coxswain and a passenger along with a flag measuring three feet by two feet. The passenger and cox are allowed to switch positions with any of the rowers during the race. The start of the race is timed to coincide with the incoming tide, giving the rowers a little bit of an advantage. There is a competitive component to the race, but many entrants are there simply to have a good time, with some even dressing in outrageous costumes. This year there are 240 boats taking part, in a number of different categories. It is an international event with competitors from Australia, America, many European countries, and now for the first time a team from Canada. A handicapping system is used to ensure fair play. The fastest race time stands at 2 hours, 3 minutes and 14 seconds. There are 36 trophies to be won, and the Canadian team will be competing against four other clubs that are rowing St. Ayles skiffs.

Mayor Steve Ferguson (left, rear) and Councillor David Harrison (right, rear) stand with members of the Ayle of Quinte Skiff Club who will be racing on the Thames River in London UK. (L-R): James Wright, George Molyneux, Linda Molyneux, Peter Campbell, Suzanne Wright, Desmond Bohn and Olivia Butler.

Ayle of Quinte Skiff Club member George Molyneux was alerted to this race last fall by a fellow club member and soon organized a team of rowers who were interested in entering the event. “The same members of our team participated in the St. Ayles Skiff World Championships last year in the Netherlands and three years before in Scotland. We were all familiar with international competition, and since we are the only competitor from Canada in these events we have become very proud to represent our country on a world level,” he said. By participating in previous international events, the skiff club has been able to establish connections with a number of clubs around the UK and they have arranged for the loan of a St. Ayles skiff from a club in Bristol. The team of rowers has been training for this race since last winter, at first indoors on rowing machines and on the water since mid-May.

The typical speed of a St. Ayles skiff is about four knots, and for this race the rowers will get an assist from the incoming tide. “Our race strategy is to complete the course in under four hours. This entails stamina training to maintain a steady synchronized stroke rate that provides consistent exertion. There’s always the risk of exhaustion that we try to avoid. Our main challenges are the weather and water conditions, which can vary significantly. Hot weather, high winds and possible changes in the tides all play a role in how we complete the event,” said Mr. Molyneux. Last Thursday morning, Mayor Steve Ferguson and Councillor David Harrison stopped by at the Waupoos Marina to express their good wishes to the race crew before the start of a training session.

For more information about the Ayle of Quinte Skiff Club, please visit countycoastalrowing.org.