The 1.33 mile Race, between Westminster Bridge and Westminster Boating Base, takes place each year and the Company’s Cutter, the Water Forget-me-not has won the Glaziers’ Company Rose Bowl for ladies’ crews for years. The rules require the cutter to be in full regalia: canopy, four oars, coxswain and two passengers – usually the Master and Consort. The crew this year were Natasha, Valerie, Andrea and Laura.
Sitting comfortably, under instructions from the Cox (Johnny, the Company’s Bargemaster), we left the assembled cutters for a bit of practice. It’s very pleasant being quietly rowed around as the crew warm up. But then, we noticed that the Race had been started by City Sheriff Christine Rigden the other side of Westminster Bridge. We were about seven lengths behind the back markers, never mind the leaders! The ladies, knowing an injustice when they see one, set off with a vengeance.
There’s not much time to pick up that distance in a short race, but we did, with lots of encouraging shouting from the Cox. By the time we got to Westminster Boating Base we were several lengths ahead of our rivals. The team (right) received their prize from Sheriff Christine, but the whereabouts of the Rose bowl wasn’t clear. Congratulations to the team and thanks for a great evening.
The Race is organised by the charity TTRA, (The Thames Traditional Rowing Association) which supports and promotes the sport of fixed seat rowing and sculling on the River Thames in Waterman’s Cutters.
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