The New Boats Arrive.

The new boats were delivered on Saturday at the end of the Half Term break. It took the Wednesday Games afternoons to get the riggers coloured coded as we have new riggers for a 4x+, a 2x and a 8x+ to sort out. That's 14 pairs of sculling riggers (28 riggers) and sweep oar riggers for the four and pair (6). A lot of riggers to work out which boat they belong to.

Thursday Games afternoon was a busy one. JPJ and DY arrived early at lunch time to start the rigging of the boats. Thirty four boys still needed to go rowing as well. It was a boiling hot afternoon and all boys enjoyed perfect rowing weather on the river with DY and RGT. While the boys were on the water JPJ rigged the boats with the help of a Sixth Form and checked all the measurements. By the end of the Thursday Games Session, the coxed four and double scull were rigged and ready to go.

The coxed quad / four is named after the previous rowing Master, Tim Lucas. Tim had a huge effect on developing the Club and was responsible for many regional and national successes over a sustained period of time, as well as building up the pool of boats which many boys have learnt to row in. In fact, part of the money for the coxed quad was raised by ROCAP, the parents committee that he set up and worked with for buying new rowing equipment. This was the last of the ROCAP funds that we needed to spend up. Tim was responsible for encouraging many boys to start rowing and who are now OLs. The purchase of this boat was mainly funded by a generous donation from an OL.

The double scull /pair is named 'Scott & Mason Durant' after our most successful rowers of recent times (current GB oarsmen). The boat was bought with generous funds donated by The Friends of LRGS.

By the end of the session, the current J15s were able to launch 'Tim Lucas' and try it out. The boys were amazed at how smooth and quiet the slides were and were very impressed by the quality of the boat. It is definately a winner!



The new sculling riggers to turn the eight into an octuple have also arrived from ES Rowing and have been fitted. This has been a huge success and the octuple has been racing up and down the river with boys who are learning how to scull. It will be reported on separetly, when I can catch up with them!

We are now working hard and trying to seek funds for some new sculling blades for these new boats and the octuple in time for the Founder's Day weekend and the official launching of the new boats.