The newly formed Novice crew of Tom Bond, David Rogal, Ollie Williams, Jonathan Williams, Sergei Kleshnev, Dan Arnold, Alex Thomas, Mark Calvin and Becks Palmer (cox), raced as TSS B. Starting at the back of a very large novice category, they had a steady start before putting in a push at Barnes Bridge, and continuing to press on through the field for the remainder of the race to Hammersmith, overtaking around ten crews, winning the pennant by 19 seconds and finishing 15th overall in a time of 11:31.

TSS A, racing IM1, finished in 9th place, and fourth in their category in 11:23.

The men's Vet E crew of Hugh Williams, Roger Swift, Chris Mallon, Peter Lander, Chris Williams, Dickie Bannenberg, Tim Russell, Frank Llewellyn and Guy Greaves (cox) won the Vet E/F handicap category in 12:20, with a margin of more than a minute over the second-placed crew. The TSS boat was 55th overall, and second veteran crew overall on adjusted time.

TSS A had a strong row to finish ninth, and second in the Senior category, just a second and a half behind pennant-winners Osiris A, and four-seat Sarah Lonergan was the highest-placed junior overall.

TSS B, listed as Vet D but actually Vet C, got off to a good start, hotly pursued by a student crew whom they held off for the first half of the race, loudly encouraged by the returning TSS A, before pulling away and overtaking the crew ahead just before Hammersmith Bridge. After passing two more boats, the crew put in a strong push for the finish and 204th overall (eighth veteran crew on corrected handicap).

Pauline Bird took a break from training for the Macmillan Etape Caledonia to stroke the Vet E composite that finished 134th overall, and second veteran crew on handicap.

TSS A: K. Grose, E. Mann, R. MacCallum, S. Lonergan, S. Hoffman, S. Supple, N. Fiechter, A. Finn, R. Palmer (cox) 19:21.51, 9th overall

TSS B: Z. Burns, R. Thom, J. Adams, K. Lawrence, Z. Gullen, J. Behan, F. Barton, N. Sellars, F. Jones (cox) 21:56.35, 204th overall

TSS/Barnes Bridge Ladies/Burway/Fredensborg/Maidenhead/Muelheim (Ruhr)/Sons of the Thames/Thames composite: P. Bird 21:14.10, 134th overall

Nathan O'Reilly reports on the trip:

We had our first run-out in the eights at the Amsterdam Heineken over the weekend. I think the coaches wanted to test combinations for the Head and it threw up some close racing – it was only ever about knocking lumps out of each other and we ended up 8th and 9th overall.

The format is four pieces over two days – on Saturday a 2500 followed by 250 straight after, and on Sunday a 750 then the 5k. We started all right in TSS 1, with a good row in the 2.5k, but we had some help from the Dutch lightweights crashing into TSS 2, and the marshal who gave them a time penalty straight after. They picked themselves up well, though, and took us down convincingly in the next two pieces. The 750 particularly was a good show from them – we were drawn together and our cox Freddie had done a great job of getting our bows in front off the start but they dug in and rowed right through us to set up a nice decider in the 5k.

We'd been arguing about the best line for the first corner (video here to see why) all weekend but in the end whichever way Freddie took it was bang on – we cut a chunk of time out of the other guys straight away and kept gaining. It has to be said though that TSS 2 had a bit of bad luck again – they went off hard and caught the boat in front early so Miranda had to be creative with her steering to get around an erratic German crew and I'd say it cost them some time.

These things happen in racing, though, and it was good to get one over on the other guys, but I think the margin flattered us a bit.

Either way, they won two, we won two, so the rivalry's still strong going in to the one that matters next week.

TSS 1: C. Clarke, N. O'Reilly, A. Taylor, G. Sharpe, E. Griffiths, N. Marriott, W. Hoodless, A. Smith, F. Foks (cox)

TSS 2: K. Petersen, S. Robinson, T. Wheeler, B. Fields, G. Benton, T. Youd, R. Dyer, T. Marshall, M. Fisher (cox)

Mimi, Xanni, Isabel and Eleanor (pictured above) won silver in WJ16 quads, with an overall time of 21:38.2 for the three 1900m legs of the race, 13.4 seconds behind the winning Nottingham boat, and 10.4 clear of Sir William Borlase's in third.

The Junior Men were out in force, and the J18 A quad (Aaron, Jonathan, Ollie and Thomas) came 7th in their division, a result that reflects the quality of the competition, with Eton's quad from their outstanding VIII finishing 4th. The B quad (Aran, Matthew, Alexei and Peter) were 15th, and second among the B quads, a very good result given that three of the crew were novices last year. The J15s (Harry, Benjy, Adam and Dan, coxed by Otto) came 17th in a field of 36 crews.

The J13/14 group raced twice over 1900 metres. The WJ14 A quad  (Sophie, Hermione, Ella, Saskia coxed by Hamish) came 5th, while the B crew (Issy, Christa, Jenny and Jackie, coxed by Lucas D) sculled to a very successful B-crew 2nd place.
 
Thunder and lightning delayed the start of the next two divisions, but the J14 boys (Jack, Kyle, Alex, Lucas R, again coxed by Lucas D), eventually raced, and after mixed fortunes in their two runs finished 25th.
 
Many thanks to Andrew Eames and Judith Behan for their race reports.

The day before the event, Alan Campbell took the time to talk to the Intermediate Juniors about commitment, passion, team work and inspiration. All of these virtues were apparent when of the thirteen juniors competed in J15 and J16 categories, twelve came home with medals.

In the team events, the J15s - Rowan, Jack, Jed and Felix - fought hard for a well-deserved silver medal, while the J16s (Robert, William, Nicolas and Otto) had the arena on its feet as they took bronze in an exciting finish. Olivia, Georgia and Jess all raced up a year, joining Faustine to win bronze in a great WJ16 race.

Sammy, Nicholas and Olivia all achieved personal bests in individual events.

Of the younger juniors, Hamish and Bertie teamed up with Rory and Alex of Bishopsgate to win silver in the J12 race.

The veteran men started 2010 racing at Quintin Head. The Vet F crew of Hugh Williams, Roger Swift, Peter Lander, Brian Sweeney, Tim Russell, Francis Pinkerton, Dickie Clarke and Frank Llewellyn, coxed by Des, beat the only other Vet F entry by ninety seconds, and finished second veteran eight overall.

Thames Valley Trial Head

On Sunday the Juniors raced in Marlow's Thames Valley Trial Head, held over a 1900-metre course on Dorney Lake.

Undaunted by the very cold conditions, there were some creditable performances, particularly from those racing in their first-ever head.

The WJ14 quad of Saskia, Sophie, Hermione and Ella, coxed by Issy, took a commanding lead in the first division, which was not to be overtaken for the other two divisions, giving them victory by ten seconds over their closest rival, Molesey.

Sarah and Anastasia (racing as a TSS/Canford School) composite won Women's Senior pairs, and took the first three places in WJ18 singles: Anastasia won while Sarah, racing in two divisions, posted the second and third fastest times.

Kit and Cake Sale

The kit and cake (and book) sale raised £236 for club funds. Many thanks to all who contributed and washed second hand kit, baked cakes and supported the sale on the day.

TSS v Isis

Two men's squad eights raced against Isis on Sunday. See the YouTube video here: TSS 1, TSS 2.