Marlow show their strength

11:19am Sunday 20th November 2005

Marlow Rowing Club underlined their potential this season with a strong showing at the largest pre-Christmas event on the rowing calander.

The Fours Head of the River Race takes place on the same four-and-a-bit mile stretch of Thames as the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, but the crews race the course in the opposite direction, rowing from Chiswick Bridge to Putney.

Marlow's men's squad led the way with two second places. The coxless four of Matt Baker, Tom McGibbon, Jim Cotter and Rob Macalister finished second out of 55 boats, completing the course in 19 minutes and 21 seconds to miss out on victory by just ten seconds.

Captain McGibbon said: "I lost count of how many crews we passed. At one stage Rob had to steer through four boats at the same time."

Their performance was matched by the coxed four of Paul O'Boyle, Paul Addy, Rob Downie, Dave Vernon and Lindsay Wilson. In a field of 50, their time of 20 minutes and six seconds was 14 seconds behind winners.

In the women's event, the coxed four of Louise Ainley, Helen Selden, Martina Rizzoli, Sarah Cochrane and Lisa Knill narrowly lost out to Oxford University, while the elite quad comprising England internationals Vic Richmond and Lindsey Ball, Scottish international Clare Haley and Great Britain representative Shelly Wilkins finished sixth - an impressive result after just one practice session together.

Coxless four Tamsin Knill, Tash Smith, Mandy Parr and Fay Beanland also raced well.

Also representing Marlow was Under 23 world champion and senior silver medallist Zac Purchase. Sculling in a composite squad with other Great Britain rowers, he finished in 18 minutes and 24 seconds to finish just behind the winning load, led by current world champion and former Marlow rower Andy Triggs-Hodge.

Club captain Bret King said: "If we can build on these results our squads can look forward to a strong season in 2006.

"Of course we are always looking to improve and would welcome athletes who want to be part of our top squads."

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