Nephthys Head and Regatta

The Lightweight Blues hold an annual two-day event in the run-up to Christchurch Regatta - the first day being a Head race, and the second being a regatta over the Christchurch course. The women's novice eight(the men did not compete) had their first taste of competition at the Head race. To their very great surprise (but not to that of their coaches), they won - and by quite some margin. In fact, they even beat one of the women's senior crews and one of the men's novice crews. The first victory of many this year for KCBC, I have no doubt.

Their sterling efforts in the Head won the women a bye through the first round of the Regatta. The draw set up a grudge match against a well-drilled St John's crew, previous winners from the first round, for our girls. I was privileged enough to bank-ride for this race and despite a number of panicked moments during marshalling, the crew kept their cool and dispatched St John's by a distance. Their timing was a thing of beauty and a cause for comment among strangers along the riverbank. Although they would go out in the semi-finals to Wolfson after marshalling in the freezing cold for over half an hour, the whole crew have reason to be extremely proud of their victories. Credit has to go too to the girls' regular coaches, Liz Birch and Hannah Kaye for their extensive efforts in preparing the crew.


Julian Bubb-Humfryes
Men's Captain