Our (Ladies) Spring training culminated in masters racing in fours. To keep us all focussed after the Tideway races the captains decided to concentrate on 4s rowing, this allowed us to train and race in age specific crews.

We took 3 crews: B 4-; B 4+; and a F 4+.

After sterling work on the trailer WhatsApp group, Rachel managed to get us space on the Xpress trailer for Tishka and Spare Rib and off we went.

It was a glorious day for racing, sunny, warm and not too windy (well for Nottingham anyway).

The 4- had a morning race and the crew was Catherine steering, Manja at 3, Natalie at 2 and Eszter stroking. They started well and held off Putney Town A right to the end.

The F 4+ crew was coxed by Rachel and stroked by Anne followed by Jo, Shonu and Karen. They got no time advantage for being over 10 years older than at least half the other crews. Despite being 19 seconds slower than the crew in front of them they were 22 seconds faster than the crew behind. It was a good race with great commitment throughout from the crew. This was also Rachel’s first time coxing a regatta and getting on a stake boat - not that you could tell as she acted like a complete pro.

In the penultimate race of the day we had the B 4+ crew, coxed by Manja with Masha at stroke, Kaisa at 2, Louise at 3 and Beccy at bow. For the bow pair it was their first taste of regatta racing, and I’m sure not their last.

Everyone really enjoyed their first or first-in-a-long-time regatta racing and felt with some more racing we’d do even better - we can’t wait to enter our next regatta.

It was also great to spend time together and enjoy the sunshine and hopefully the work put in will help the bumps crews.