GRC crews survive Jaws attack

Guernsey Rowing Club won 7-3 despite having only seven boats to Jersey’s 17 competing in a 27km stamina-fest rocked by landing restrictions, an event which lays claim to being the first live inter-insular of the Covid pandemic.

Although Jersey’s crack men’s quad, Jaws, clocked the winning time of 1hr 58min. 42sec., they finished just 35sec. clear of a surprisingly strong late entry from Guernsey.

Tim Nicolle, James Tipper, James Travers, Paul Montague and cox Wing Lai only had one practice row beforehand but gelled well to lead for much of the race.

But Jaws’ strong surge from the Paternosters area at 19km to Bonne Nuit made the difference.

‘If you had told me before the race that we’d be second and 35sec. behind, I would have taken it,’ Travers said.

Guernsey won the remainder of the classes in which they were represented, however.

Men’s double TPA – Simon Johns and James Coquelin – posted 1-59-50 for third overall and beat their Jersey class rivals by nearly seven minutes.

Meanwhile, Out of the Blue headed a Sarnian one-two from Ravenscroft in the women’s quads.

Although adverse conditions left Liz Beausire, Georgia Denziloe, Kris Vavere, Hannah Guilbert and cox Neil Brennan far outside the desired class record, their 2-13-09 made them the dominant women’s crew and landed them seventh overall.

The mixed double of Marc Isabelle and Dani Barnett also made their mark by winning their class and cracking the overall top 10.