Northern League (WSRA) Race Day
25th May 2025
Wall to wall blue skies as the team set off from Deganwy to Porthmadog for race day. The entire event would prove to be simply splendid not merely because we had weather that rivalled the south of France, but because of the huge amounts of preparation and energy that went into making this day possible.
Hats Off to MYC Porthmadog
We owe a massive thanks to the amazing team at Porthmadog for organising the event and their generosity. The Deganwy Crew were met with a warm welcome, hot and cold refreshments, and ended up with the best seat in the house. That was down to our early risers who not only towed the boat but they also staked their claim and guaranteed us the best view of the race with the possible exception of the Marshalls.
20 boats entered the race across the 4 different categories – Men’s, Women’s, Mixed and Novice
Race day began with the novices rowing 1st…
Novices: From Dog’s Dinner to Dining Like Champions
Captain and cox Kate prepped the Novice Crew in advance, drilling them on tight turns that, in training, looked like a dog’s dinner. But on race day, they transformed into a masterpiece. The crew left barely a ripple between themselves and the buoy, powering into the return leg like they had a secret outboard motor.
Benefiting from a shorter course, a cool breeze, and calm conditions, they rowed like absolute sea-monsters, seizing first place with style.
The Mixed Team: Turning Up the Heat
As the sun turned the day into a furnace and the cooling breeze vanished, our Mixed Team took on a much tougher challenge—double the distance of the Novice course. What began with fresh faces ended with heroic, sweat-soaked determination. They left nothing in their tanks, displaying the kind of grit that would make lesser mortals question their life choices. Legends, every one of them.
Gratitude and Glory
A massive congratulations to both crews who gave it their all right to the finish line.
To everyone involved in making this unforgettable day happen — thank you!
Special shout-outs:
Gary T our Tow Master, who ensured the boat made it to and from the event in style
Kate H for her flawless coxing, limitless patience, and uncanny ability to extract an ‘extra 10%’ from her crews
Simon H for his expert herding of the novices, turning chaos into coordination.
And, of course, to everyone who has generously shared their rowing tips, equipment, insights, training, and best wishes.
If there’s a better club out there, I’ll eat my oar.
Roving Reporter: Rois
