1 week till boatrace

1 week till boatrace. This is my 5th boatrace. You would think after 5 years that the feeling would become numb and that excitement will slowly die away.. but it hasn't, and thats the power of boatrace.

girls A crew

Its that power which keeps me competing year after year,

that power which keeps the old rurc alumni asking "hows things going".. "hows the crew looking", "how you guys feeling",

the power which keeps the hundreds of purple rhodents coming back to line the banks between the bridges and add voice to the thunderous roar everytime a purple crew rows past,

that power which keeps the rurc old making the long trek back to port alfred, coming back to support such as mouse, rox, carl and co.

dianartemis 8

Its one week to go but the fun for us starts now. We head up to PA tomo and each crew are staying in separate houses till wednesday. Then we move into the ferrymans. Its been a while since we last stayed at the ferrymans, as we've chosen houses and lodges in the last couple of years. but the stories have gone round about ferrymans and the crews are pretty keen to experience the vibe. one such story from my experience:

paddy 'patches' matteshuik had enjoyed a successful season in '07 and '08 but had decided not to row for '09. he was still pretty keen to come to boatrace though for his latest pastime.. the never ending mare, and had taken whatever accomodation was available in port alfred which had happenned to be a room in the ferrymans.

our gonndwanaland crew were a member short however and managed to convince him to do the 6km row the day after checking in, much to the amusement of supporters on the banks as a fully unfit and blown patches rowed past shipwreck corner.. still a good km left in the race.. the boatrace course spares no man.



i tried to find a picture of the gondwanaland crew by checking liams pictures, but all i could find was liam in his natural habitat
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kidding



gondwanaland crew

so the crews are pretty keen for this last stretch. sickness has hit the crews a little making this last week a bit hard but it looks as if we should be in the clear for the training ahead. i feel a good few seconds can be made if this week is used effectively and the right focus applied. it seems as if thats exactly what the A guys have in mind with a mock scheduled for tomorrow.

please stay posted for the announcement of the crews to follow as well as regular updates.

mens A8