On Sunday 10th May, a large contingency from Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club attended Poplar and Blackwell regatta, racing over a straight 2000m multi lane course. The day started early, with the women’s intermediate 3 1x with Sophie Ollier, after a good start Ollier settled into a good rhythm and kept close to her competitors after recently moving up into this higher category. Ollier completed the course in a time of 9.08mins.
This was shortly followed by the Men’s Intermediate 2 eight, featuring Guy Sticklee, Richard Ridgeway, Mark Tomkin, Will Purnell, James Knight, Richard Nichols, Geraint, Alastair Cooper coxed by Laura McGrillen. After a good racing start, the other crews pulled away to leave the Maidstone eight in fourth place. With the morning race behind them the men went on to race in the Intermediate 3 eights and finished in third place in a respectable time of 6.14mins.
The sun stayed out for the ladies novice four, featuring Katie Martin, Liz Bennett, Claire Torbica, Kate Povall coxed by Liz Macham. With an excellent start, the ladies managed to stay ahead throughout the race and finished with clear water in a time of 7.56mins. The ladies claimed their novice pots and are now looking forward to racing in their new category of Intermediate 3.
Another win for Maidstone Invicta when Stuart Hampshire competed in the SENIOR 1x, this involved racing his doubles partner Chris Mollison. Stuart finished with clear water in a time of 7.15mins and pushes him ever closer to becoming an elite sculler, with Chris Mollison finishing in 6th place in a time of 7.46mins.
The last race of the day for Maidstone, was the women’s Intermediate 3 eight including Laura McGrillen, Anne Salmon, Liz Bennett, Claire Torbica, Katie Martin, Laura Johnson, Liz Macham, Kate Povall coxed by a junior from London Docklands club to which Maidstone are very grateful. The lilac ladies had a good race and finished a close third, unfortunately their time was not recorded.
Maidstone Invicta now have a couple of weeks to consolidate their crews and race plans before attending Monmouth on 23rd and 24th May.
Laura McGrillen
