Reading is a notoriously difficult regatta, a Henley qualifying regatta and two weeks before Women’s Henley generally means all the best crews and club descend on Reading for a weekend of top class racing. This year proved no different, with the likes of UWE, Isis and Headington all proving too strong for Curlew. However, it is not always about the winning…its about showing the selectors just how competitive you are, and for that reason Reading was a great success.
Reading also saw the maiden voyage of the development squad. Both men and women took to the water clad in lycra and looking every bit the competent oarsmen (or oarswomen). It was always going to be a tough ask, a novice pot at Reading is like gold dust…yet they equipped themselves well and proved that they can get from A to B without too many hiccups. Regardless of the results, the weekend was a great success for the dev squad and for all the hard work which has been put in by Nick and Joelle was duly rewarded, bring on summer racing…we’ll see them fly yet.
For the senior men, the coxless IV was drawn against some tough competition having made the step up from IM2 to IM1 – sadly, Lea RC proved too strong losing by 2 lengths in the first round. For the coxed IV things were a little brighter, they progressed to the final of the IM1 coxed IVs, seeing off UWE B and Manchester Uni A in the process. Drawn against UWE A, Curlew led for the first 750m but UWE (albeit with help from the stream) pulled away with a 2 lengths victory. The same happened in the semi-final of the Elite category…however, eyebrows were raised, its been a while since Curlew was seen in the elite category…