On Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June, Will Hayes and Andrei Lebed raced in several events in a 2- at Metropolitan Regatta at Dorney, while Andrzej Hunt competed in events in a 1x.
The Saturday of the regatta saw the Lebed/Hayes 2- win comfortably in the semi-final for IM1 pairs, which had over 15 entries. The final for IM1 Pairs looked like an easy win for the CULRC pair 1000m in, until a highly impressive sprint effort from the Latymer Upper School top pair with 800m to go. Despite the Latymer boys closing the 2.5 length gap towards the finish line, the CULRC pair held their ground winning by less than a second. With only an hour and a half recovery time, the pair then raced a straight Senior final, which looked like a win for CULRC until 1000m to go when buoys and fatigue unfortunately led to a comfortable second place. Nevertheless, the pair returned rested on Sunday to win the Senior final at the end of the day, which was combined with the Elite final, won by Donald Evans and Nick Buckle of Leander Club, the former being a CULRC alumni.
The regatta got better as the days went on for Andrzej Hunt, this year’s President, who despite not managing to grab wins at Senior level 1x on Saturday and Sunday, stormed to a confident victory in IM1 1x on Sunday.
(Report thanks to Andrei Lebed)