The weekend of the 26th and 27th July,for 8 young women will live long in their memory, as everyone remembers when they lost their novices. 
For Catherine Hibbert, Yvette Cook, Desirée Ivegbuna, Jess Robertson, Svenja Feix, Elise Dodelin, Meriel Pritchard and Bryony Mines that was this weekend…
This is the first time in recent years that Curlew has made the trip up the M11 to race at the “2nd biggest regatta outside Henley Royal Regatta.” The journey did not disappoint, with a Women’s Quad, VIII and Single as well as a Men’s Coxed IV all entered on the Saturday, with the Women’s Novice Single and the Men’s Coxed IV racing the Sunday. It allowed those rowers who may not have made the Henley squads a great chance to race and represent Curlew.
For Jess Roberts and Elise Dodelin this was their first race (hopefully of many) for Curlew in the Women’s Novice VIIIs – and what a race to make your Curlew debut. The ladies beat Star Club with a verdict of 4 lengths to record in the final to win their first ever rowing race. It is a proud moment for all those involved with these rowers, 
from Maxine Livesey the women’s captain to Nick King who has spent so much time coaching these girls from the learn to row course to their first pot.
The Women Quad and Men’s Coxed IV fought valiantly, but were beaten in their first rounds…on Sunday Anita beat a Maidstone Sculler in her first round of the Women’s Novice Single with a verdict “Easily”, but came up against a Lea RC sculler (Women’s Henley repeating itself) who was literally twice the size of her. The men’s IV lost in the semi-finals against Wolfson College by 3/4 of a length, after beating Leeds convincingly in their first round.
Seems St Neots was a resounding success and we will be returning on mass next year to clean up a few more pots.