A vintage WSR!

Aug 2013Silver RudderWargrave & Shiplake Regatta Newsletter

Great weather. Good crowds. Excellent racing. And a real buzz in the Enclosure. We had them all in 2013!

The sun shone almost throughout on both days. The crowds started to build from 0500 Friday morning (honest, there were 65 gazebos up and all ready by 0630!). It was one of the best years ever for racing, with more close ‘on the line’ finishes than anyone can ever remember. And there was that special WSR atmosphere in the Enclosure throughout both days, with families and friends enjoying themselves by the river!

The good news? Receipts were up on 2012, meaning that more people came to visit, and more people competed! That said, the numbers weren’t quite back to 2011 levels, so we still need to spread the word even further!

It was a great year! The launch of three new Dongola punts, generously gifted to us by the Stubbs Family Trust. The first outing for our new rafts, fresh from the medal ceremonies at the Dorney Lake Olympics. And the Celebratory Challenge, recognising 125 years of Dongola racing at WSR.

Roll on the 147th regatta in 2014!

WSR: dates for your diary...

2014 Friday 8 & Saturday 9 August

2015 Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August

2016 Friday 5 & Saturday 6 August

2017 Our sesquicentenary!150 years of WSR!

A vintage winner!The Gents Single Paddling event - for the Mardon Challenge Cup - is the regatta’s ‘hard man’ event!

All the way from the bridge, on your own, kneeling and trying to keep the canoe straight at the same time as giving it your all! All too few take it on as a result!

But not William Konarzewki. He IS the Regatta’s hard man! At an amazing 63, he returned to win this year’s Mardon exactly 31 years after he first won it in 1982. It was his 20th win in this event, and perhaps his greatest in beating a field at least 20 years younger than him ...

William: we salute you!

WSR Open Water Swim ...Over 70 intrepid swimmers entered the Thames just before 0630 on Saturday morning for the third WSR Open Water Swim!

On a still morning, conditions were perfect and, with the stream considerably less than last year, the scene was set for a new course record. The winner of the 2000 metre swim was Gary Dressel in an amazing time of 25 mins 42 secs - he made a strong start and held his lead throughout two laps up to the railway viaduct and back to beat last year’s winner, Matt Baker, by an incredible 1 mins 42 secs. The winner of the 1000 metre event was Matt McQuillan in 14 mins 27 secs. The winners were presented with prizes donated by Hotel Du Vin, Henley. WSR Swim Chairman, Dick Goodall said: ‘Gary Dressell produced an amazing swim and set a new course record - and it was great to see local swimmers of all abilities

enjoying the unique and friendly atmosphere of the Regatta Swim. And the really good news is, many swapped wetsuits for paddles to stay and take part in racing above the water too! The swim is indebted to its sponsors: Chancellors, Hotel Du Vin and Mailsports.’

See a full round-up of the results on the Swim’s dedicated website(www.wsrswim.org.uk) and keep in touch with plans for 2014 via the Swim’s facebook page(Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta Swim).

New punts!On Friday lunchtime, Regatta Chairman, Guy van Zwanenberg cracked open a bottle of champagne as Mike & Fiona Stubbs and family launched three superb new 3’ dongola punts, generously gifted to WSR by the Stubbs Family Trust!

Built for us by Michael Dennett Boatbuilders of Laleham Reach, Chertsey, they were used throughout the regatta and have already proven to be great boats to race in, as well as an invaluable addition to WSR’s fleet of dongola punts, now probably the largest in the world!

Dongola Celebratory ChallengeDongola racing first took place here at our regatta in 1888, celebrating the relief of General Gordon at Khartoum by troops travelling through the Dongola region of the Sudan. Hence the name ...

So this year, we celebrated 125 years of Dongola Racing at WSR!

The race was between the winners of the Regatta’s four premier Dongola events.

Handicaps were set based on their winning times in each of their respective finals, and we were hoping that would allow sufficient time between each crew in the Celebratory Challenge!

It did! - but only just! - because a mere 12 seconds separated the four crews in their actual finals! Fastest down the course had been the Veterans at 1:10, followed by the Grand winners at 1:14, the Thames winners at 1:15 and the Junior winners at 1:22 ...

Watched by the largest crowd of the day, crews set off at the appropriate intervals and it was neck-and-neck all the way to finish within a length of each other!

And the winners? The Grand Dongola Champions for 2013: Many Out, Many In ...

On behalf of all - competitors, spectators and Regatta Committee alike - we offer our sincerest thanks to the Stubbs family for their overwhelming generosity and ongoing support for Wargrave & Shiplake Regatta!

From the air!You may have seen a couple of microlights buzzing the regatta field on Friday ...

Here are the results! Quite fascinating ...

RHYLVA CHALLENGE CUP (Gentlemen’s Double Sculling Skiff Race)

Edward MannJames MannCaroline Mann (cox)

A first Gents Double win for the Mann family ...

LADIES DOUBLE SCULLING SKIFF RACE

Rosie BradyLucie DamanWilliam Denham (cox)

A first for Rosie and Lucy ...

QUARTERMAINE CHALLENGE CUP (Lady’s & Gentleman’s Double Sculling Skiff Race)

Sian MaloneyAdam PennockKate Pennock (cox)

Second year running for Adam, and a first for Sian ...

MARDON CHALLENGE CUP (Gentleman’s Single Canadian Canoe Race)

William Konarzewski

A legend with a paddle ...

BRIGHTEN CHALLENGE CUP (Lady’s & Gentleman’s Canadian Canoe Race)

Belinda CorkeDavid Corke

They’re back! - and winning again after several years in Australia!

DONGOLA GRAND CHALLENGE CUP

Many Out, Many In(Donne St.Clair-Whicker, Caroline Simmonds, George Paddison, David Paddison, Will Paddison, Tim Schofield)

A popular win for three Wargrave families, closely connected with the organisation of the regatta!

RUTTER JACKSON TROPHY (Thames Dongola)

All Rows Lead to Rome(Laura Bower, Emily Ashford, William Earle A’Hern, Nick Podevyn, Ignacio Ortiz de Zevallos, Juan Benytez)

A special win for Laura, daughter of this year’s Regatta President, Delia Etherington

VENTURE CHALLENGE CUP (Gentleman’s Single Punting - Handicap)

Adam Pennock

A first for Committee member Adam ...

Winners 2013WARGRAVE CHALLENGE CUP (Lady’s Single Punting - Handicap)

Lucie Daman

A first for Lucie in the senior handicap event

LAWRENCE CHALLENGE CUP (Lady’s & Gentleman’s Double Punting - Handicap)

Laura-Jane RobinsonAdam Pennock

A first for Laura-Jane and Adam ...

GENTLEMAN’S SINGLE PUNTING IN CANOES

Bruce Maidment

A third win in succession for Bruce, the umpteenth of his career! Even he can’t remember how many!

LADIES’ DOUBLE PUNTING IN CANOES

Kate WatsonCorinne Peacock

Second year running ...

DOUBLE PUNTING IN CANOES

Chad BurgeCedd Burge

At last! The Burge Brothers ...

VICTOR HERMON CHALLENGE CUP (Lady’s Dinghy Race)

Caroline Simmonds

Another win for Caroline ...

RYALL CHALLENGE CUP (Boy’s & Girl’s Double Sculling Skiff Race)

Anna DaviesHenry Blois-BrookeLucy Stanton (cox

A second win for Henry ...

UNDER 12 DONGOLA RACE

Rapid Rapedos(Ella Shute, Billie Moore, Charlie Bradbury, Hector Elrington, Cameron Parke, David Blomfield)

Huge cheers from family and friends on the bank!

PETER GOUGH CHALLENGE CUP (Under 15 Dinghy Race)

Ollie Rosen

Nice one, Ollie!

HERMON SISTERS’ SALVER (Under 12 Dinghy Race)

Eleanor Blois-Brooke

Another triumph for the Blois-Brooke family!

SIDE BY SIDE DINGHY RACE

Tom CookEleanor Blois-BrookeLily Snell (cox)

Always a tough event to win ...

BUSHNELL TROPHY (Under 17 Canadian Canoe Race)

Ella JenningsAlex O’Brien

Watch out the Senior event!

EASTERLING CHALLENGE CUP (Veterans Dongola Race)

Mine’s a Pint(Sandra Greenslade, Janet Thompson, Peter Greenslade, Richard Verrall, Mike Lynskey, Grahame Thompson)

A second win in two years for the Shiplake crew ...

VETERAN LADY’S & GENTLEMAN’S DOUBLE SCULLING SKIFF RACE

Sandra GreensladePeter GreensladeTina Dalzell (cox)

Two years running for the Greenslades!

VICKERMAN CHALLENGE CUP (Boys’ Double Sculling Skiff Race)

Freddie BradyHenry Blois-BrookeLucy Stanton (cox)

A tough event to win any time ...

GIRLS’ DOUBLE SCULLING SKIFF TROPHY

Amy BirdLucy BirdHannah Rapley (cox)

Strong contenders ...

PINTO LEITE CHALLENGE CUP (Junior Dongola Race)

And the Winners Are ...(Eve McGrath, India Sinclair, Arthur Sinclair, Charlie Pooley, Dan Buckley, Sarah Stotter)

Popular winners ...

HARDING SALVER (Veteran Gentlemen’s Double Sculling Skiff Race)

Jeremy DobbinNick HorneKitty Horne (cox)

Long-time WSR competitors ...

DIANA LONG CHALLENGE CUP (Novice Status Gentleman’s Single Punting)

Adam Wolley

Possibly the noisiest win of the weekend! Huge support from the river bank!

NOVICE STATUS LADY’S SINGLE PUNTING

Lucy Bird

Watch out the Senior punting event!

SCRATCH DONGOLA

Crew V (Georgie Ralston, Allison Russell, Nicola Lynskey, Simon Rayner, James Gill, Tom Crook)

You never know who you’re going to be drawn with!

VASSAL ADAMS TROPHY

Madeline Pooley

The most stylish punter at the Regatta!

HERMON TROPHY

David Bushnell

For sportsmanship ...

DONGOLA 125 years CELEBRATORY CHALLENGE

Many Out, Many In(Donne St.Clair-Whicker, Caroline Simmonds, George Paddison, David Paddison, Will Paddison, Tim Schofield)

Almost the closest final of the day!

Wargrave & Shiplake Regatta Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity Registered Company number: 6516594

Registered Charity number: 1146611Registered in England - Registered office: 1 The Forbury, Reading, Berks RG1 3EB

See pictures of this year’s regatta on our website:

http://www.wsregatta.co.uk or go to http://www.photoboxgallery.com/georginakiddphotography