Stockton

My first tour with the Hurricanes! We set off for Stockton around 12 noon and made good time. Booked into the Premier Inn. Brian and Jim arrived around 2pm and had dropped the boats at the centre. We sat down to dinner around 8pm. Most of us enjoyed the meal but unfortunately the Lasagne was dry and poor Brian only ate a side salad. Helen made us all laugh with her joke about a women’s brain costing more than a man’s because it is used more, hilarious!

There was a bit of eye candy for the guys – Very good looking woman with very tight pink jeans! Jim had the opportunity to charf (Extract from South African Dictionary: (Tease, joke, make fun of, flirt with) Charf also means “spadework”, or the attempt to “score” with a member of the opposite sex.)her and told her he liked her spray job! Surprised he did not come back with a hand print on the side of his face.

After 7 pints of cider, I called it a night at 10pm so missed the rest of the gossip. Took some pictures on the night but the quality is terrible! (Must be all the cider) J  

Race day started with Breakfast around 7:30 – the breakfast was good – eat as much as you like! I did not manage much. Got down to the centre around 9am, the venue was great and the weather was even better. Cannot believe that it was warmer than London! The backdrop of those bridges were stunning. Our first race was at 10:30 - Our start was not our best but we did well to recover and won the first race, we pushed right at the end and just edged it! What a feeling!

Hurricanes first place: 55.89secs 

After that our starts were great, we really did pull together and the focus in the boat was great.

As 4th fastest winner in heats, into Semi. 3 Hurricanes 2nd place: 56.69secs 

The officials comment on the third race was that we had lost on the push right at the end.

We really did focus ourselves on the day with the 200’s and found ourselves in 6th place at the end.

Hurricanes 6th place overall in 200s: 57.91secs

The 500’s were much better, we continued with the great starts and managed to keep good pace throughout. We were really egged on by Francesca and Jim’s calls.

Hurricanes 2mins19.06 (2 river serpents 2.19.41) 

Second last race we unfortunately lost the speakers in the middle of the race but still came second. Hurricanes 2mins 15.41

By the last race we were drained and in pain – a quick water break and back on the water. It was a tight race and I will admit on the call for the line there was nothing left in me to push.

Hurricanes 2mins 16.22

The racing on the day felt good, there was a real feeling of togetherness.

Brian thankfully brought his little boom box and had some really good music going all day – I think even the other teams enjoyed it!

All in all a great day, most of the races were extremely close and all very exciting. The focus was immense and teamwork was tight. All the grunting for the pushes right at the end around me was helping to push me just that little bit further! A big thank you to Francesca and Jim for the screaming! I now know I have muscles that i never knew existed. I thought I had pushed myself before but never like this!

Important lesson learnt – don’t try and keep up with the guys drinking night before race day!  

Tanya Smyth

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