Gorey to Carteret win for prototype
GUERNSEY’S newly-formed crack men’s quad, Out of the Blue, smashed the opposition at the annual Gorey to Carteret race to lay down a marker for the upcoming Sark to Jersey.
With Lloyd Le Page coxing, the four of Simon Johns, James Coquelin, Shaun Kelling and Paul Isaacs just ducked under the two-hour barrier to come home in France by more than five minutes from the leading Jersey Rowing Club boat.
It was a terrific effort by the Sarnians and Johns said it could hardly have gone much better for the quartet who are now intent on winning the Sark to Jersey and, with it, ending Jersey’s run of victories.
‘We haven’t race together for a few years and in Wed Osmond’s prototype we hoped to be competitive because as an island we haven’t had a flagship four for a while.
‘We put the squad together over a one month period with the intention to do the Sark to Jersey.
‘It’s a very good boat.’
Having not rowed for a two-hour period for some time, Johns said Out of the Blue made a conservative start.
But 30-40min. in they realised they were ahead and thereafter pulled out to a big winning margin.
Meanwhile, the four of Tim Martel, Andy Yabsley, Karl Pedersen and Adrian Brown, with Nicky Will coxing, came home ninth almost a full half-hour behind the GRC counterparts, while there was another podium spot for the men’s pairs of Chris McClean and Chris Markham.
Clocking 2hrs 22min., they were defeated by the Frenchmen Rodolphe Pfaifer and Arnaud Pornin and the crack Caesarean pair, Ian Blandin and Rob Cassin, the latter finishing 2min. 8sec. ahead in the race for CI class bragging rights.
Guernsey were also well represented in the mixed quads class won by a Exmouth/Club d’Aviron de mer de Paluden boat in 2-12, 14min. ahead of the Guernsey quad of Martine Middleton, Wayne Barrett, Matt Toussaint, Kristine Vavere and cox Ben Vaudin.
Three places back in eighth spot, was the GRC combination of Sandy Ozanne, Julie Elmy, Dave Perrio, Trevor Coulter and cox Stuart Horsepool.
Guernsey had one boat in the women’s quads and the team of Mandy Damarell, Paula Wickham, Rachel Bailey, Sharon Jones and Nicky Walsh (cox) placed in a shade under 2-52.
The Sark to Jersey is on 11 August.
