Loughborough Boat Club
Northwich Easter Head
After a winter of cancelled races due to floods and poor weather conditions, Loughborough Boat Club were keen to make a good impression at Northwich Head – and they certainly achieved that, coming away with seven wins in the 2200 metre races.
Emily Clarke and Sarah Mee were the two fastest women scullers of the day with Clarke winning the Women’s Senior 1 Single Sculls in 9 mins 50 secs and Mee taking the Senior 2 event in 9 mins 54 secs. Pauline Barrett won the Women’s Senior 3 race to give Loughborough a clean sweep in the women’s senior single sculls.
Clarke and Barrett teamed up in the Women’s Senior 1 Pairs to win the event over 30 seconds ahead of local rivals Derby. Another local club Leicester also lost out to a Loughborough crew in the Women’s Senior 3 Double Sculls when Mee was joined by Marie Gaingouian who was racing for the Club for the first time. Their time of 9 mins 8 secs put them 6 secs in front of Leicester and York.
The Women’s Senior 3 Quad gave a chance for all four of the winners – Sarah Mee steering at bow, Marie Gaingouian, Pauline Barrett and stroke Emily Clarke to challenge for another medal, which they did successfully in the Club’s fastest time of the day 8 mins 21 secs.
Club Captain Keith Hudson started off the new season well for the men’s crews winning the Veteran C Single Sculls with a margin of 6 secs over his Ironbridge opponent. "This is a great way to move from the winter to the summer racing season", he commented, "it has been a frustrating winter with events cancelled at very short notice so it is encouraging to see all the hard work club members have put in over the winter coming to fruition. The main regatta season is about to start and we are confident of having another successful year."