Concerning Trials,Tribulations and getting too close to Cutting Edge Technology

It seems difficult to believe it is now over a week since the Burton Head took place, but I thought some of you might be interested in hearing about some of the events leading up to it, involving myself, John Ash, and a number of the senior squad. On the organisational front, John Ash was responsible for organising Umpires and drawing and marking up plans of the course, I was responsible for organising course monitors, launch drivers and manual time keeping, while Trent RC’s general responsibilities were buoying of various course obstacles and assisting with removal of trees obstructing the racing line. So our main duties had been defined – it was just a matter of getting on with them – no problem – I wish!!!!

The first little fly in the ointment appeared when BUSA decided to hold a small boats head on the same day as the Burton Head. This would not necessarily have a dramatic effect on our entry but it was potentially going to reduce the number of Umpires available to John. We would have to spread our net further afield.

Following a foray up the river to survey the course, a second fly in the ointment (No, more a case of a Hippopotamus in a mud bath!!) became apparent. The trees obstructing the course around the Leicester Line Bridge pillars and below the Ferrybridge were substantial and heavy duty gear was going to be needed to shift them and/or cut them up. As most of you know I am a natural worrier and my anxiety levels were starting to rise. However, in stepped Kenny Holmes with a heavy duty chain pull lift and with the assistance of Rob Arnold, Rob Gipson and others successfully moved the big tree below the Ferrybridge off the racing line towards the Stapenhill side. Stress levels subsiding!! Unfortunately, while trying to pull said tree out on the Burton side, our intrepid tree shifters successfully got the beast stuck in the middle again. Kenny assured me it was no problem and not to worry! Anxiety levels rising again!!! We will return to the tree saga later.

It had not all been bad news around this time because the long awaited grant from Staffordshire County Council(£4500) had been received by the Regatta Association. This grant was largely to be used to purchase megaphones, an aluminium launch for BLRC, and an outboard engine for Trent RC. The items were ordered and the megaphones duly arrived safely two weeks before the Head. The launch and engine were available but had to be picked up from Putney. It would be really useful to have an extra safety launch for the Head but we needed a trailer to transport it. Up steps Clive Sayers with the offer of his trailer and it was arranged for Clive and myself to pick up the launch and engine on the Tuesday before the Head. Subsequently, because Clive couldn’t make it, it was rearranged for John Ash and myself to do the job on the Wednesday. Stress levels levelling – things seem to be under control. Went down to John’s on Tuesday afternoon to discuss arrangements for the Head – location of Umpires, launches, monitors, and duty roster, course safety arrangements, buoying , course plans etc. only to discover there were problems with the trailer lights. We did the usual checks but could not get either brake lights or indicators to work. Clive arrives stating that he never bothered about lights or indicators – that’s all right then, I don’t think so!!!! Stress levels starting on an exponential rise!!! Only thing for it was to dash over to Burton Caravan Centre and pick up a trailer board and fit it to the trailer. This actually went quite smoothly, although we had to curtail our discussion on Head arrangements somewhat prior to getting down the Club for Junior training. Wednesday morning – off to London to pick up launch and engine. Arrive at John’s(7.00a.m.) to find him struggling with the toe ball connection which had a built in lock. I had a go without success – the key was turning but the locking mechanism would not move. Stress level approaching steep part of exponential. After 10 minutes wiggling and twisting the key, by pure accident I ended up pulling the lock cylinder out, which allowed us to open Pandora’s box. How embarrassing would that have been if we had not discovered how to unlock it – Thank you Big Yun!!(That’s God for you non Scots!!). The trip to London and the picking up of the equipment went well and we safely unloaded the launch at Leander and the outboard at Trent – a successful day!!! Well, not entirely – while unhitching the trailer at John’s I let the trailer roll back onto the porch pillar, smashing one of the lights. I said oh dear isn’t that a shame! Well, actually there may have been a reference to spherical objects or worse.

Thursday – four days to go and there’s good news and bad news. The good news is John has had positive responses to his trawl for more Umpires, I have confirmed that we have 5 launch drivers, 5 monitors, and start and finish timing teams for both divisions and most of the essential paperwork is complete or in the process of being completed. The bad news is that the weather forecast, which looked OK on Tuesday, has changed for the worse and we could have winds and rain on Sunday – delightful – can only hope it changes again. The other bad news is with only four days to go we still have obstacles to get moved – back to the tree shifting saga!!

Thursday evening – down to the club to check if any advances have been made with regard to tree shifting. Kenny and his tree fellers, or was it four, had been up the river and successfully moved the bulk of the Ferrybridge tree to the Burton side, unfortunately leaving a large piece which broke off, buoyed, but in the middle of the river. I receive a call from Kenny to the effect that he can’t get his car off the washlands because the gate at the Tesco entrance had been locked – did I have a key? No was the short answer but I would see what I could do – don’t hold your breath! Everyone at Trent and Leander found the situation quite hilarious. Anyway to cut a long story short, via a contact number my wife had, we eventually got Kenny released from his washlands prison around 9.00p.m. Returned home to take stock of progress. All the information packs for Umpires, launch drivers, monitors, timekeepers had been dispatched by one means or another. The radios had arrived and all was in order. I had all the paperwork in place for the 16 course officials folders and clipboards –they would be labelled and put together tomorrow. I can relax – everything is under control. Except – on Saturday we have to buoy the obstacles and move the trees off the Leicester Line bridge and away from the Ferrybridge and put Danger Beware signs out and we have to find people to put gazebos up at start and finish on Sunday morning and Kenny says it will be no problem!!! Anxiety levels rising again – where’s the malt whisky?

Friday – Spent most of the day preparing paperwork necessary for all the clipboards and folders and everything went surprisingly smoothly. I even persuaded Adam Pountney (Milky’s dad) to put the finish gazebo up on Sunday morning for me. The only cloud on the horizon was the confirmation of possible wet and windy weather on Sunday morning.

Saturday – one day to go but most of the outstanding work was confined to the course – putting up signs, buoying obstacles, and removing trees. I had arranged to go out in one of Leander’s launches so our launch was free for Kenny and his tree shifters. I linked up with Mick Duffield and we loaded up with buoys, stakes, Beware signs, rope and mallet and headed upstream. Things went surprisingly smoothly and I was really pleased with the signing and buoying of the shallows opposite the Riverside and the tree upstream of Swan Island. I did take a tumble off the bankside but despite the concerns for my welfare I was only winded. Down to the Speedboat Club ramp which we also smoothly signed and buoyed. I noticed that the TTS’s(Trent Tree Shifters) were busy moving a tree off the bridge pillar, so we went to render assistance. With me in the water lifting the end and the gang on the bank pulling we got it to the side. To get it fully into the side we needed to move the rope which was now very tight. With my Swiss Army Knife I proceeded to cut through the rope and oops!!, my finger also.(Please Big Yun can I go back 10 seconds and not do that!!). Two things became immediately apparent – a lot of blood and just how sharp these knives are!!! Everybody was very efficient – getting first aid kit out, Mick bandaged it up with a large bandage and we sped downstream like a bat out of hell, decapitating a swan on the way( well nearly!). Cleaned the cut and got it re-bandaged by Sue at Leander and up to the hospital with the wife, waited 1 ½ hrs for treatment consisting of steri-strips and a finger bandage.

An eventful few hours but back at the Club the news was good. John Ash was doing a great job clearing leaves, Richard and Mike had got the second toilet up and running and best of all the TTS’s had moved all the offending trees off the course. A great job well done and I’m sorry I ever doubted you. I decided to move all my gear – radios, megaphones, clipboards etc down to the Club that evening because John and I had arranged to put the start gazebo up at 7.00a.m. Stress levels surprisingly low, I relaxed at home with a large beverage originating in the Scotland – yes a pint of Iron Brew!!

Sunday – The Big Day Has Arrived

Things did not start well. The weather was windy and threatening. John and I struggled to get the gazebo erected at the Riverside. By taping the poles together we succeeded in getting it up to half height but had to leave it as we were running out of time. Back to the Club to get stuff ready for the briefing. Stress levels on the rise!! After the briefing all the equipment was issued and I did not seem to have missed anyone out. Got the timing team together and synchronised watches. All the course officials dispersed to their various locations and I helped out on Control Commission until all crews had boated and made my way to the finish. The windy conditions were causing marshalling problems at the start and the first boat went off 30 minutes behind schedule. However all crews completed the course without mishap and with a following wind times were fast. I realised the changeover time between divisions was going to be reduced and would be pushed for time to get all the equipment and paperwork ready. Stress levels on the rise again!. On the way back to the Club the heavens opened up(What did we do to deserve that Big Yun!). Fortunately the deluge did not last, all equipment was returned(bar one clipboard), paperwork changed, equipment re-issued successfully with the exception of one radio, and I just had time to consume a bacon sandwich before assisting on Control Commission again. The weather had improved dramatically and with it things went more smoothly on the second division and I made my way back to the finish with my spirits on the rise. We eventually worked out by a process of elimination, who was missing a radio and duly delivered it to Monitor 4. Division two was a joy. There were no significant problems, the weather was wonderful, and the day definitely finished better than it started. Attached photo highlights a calm finish to a hectic day.

So in conclusion what is my overall impression of the first Burton Head. Well, there is definitely room to improve marshalling arrangements at the start and we already have offers of help in that area, but generally reaction has been very positive and all the effort and stress has been justified. The Burton Head was a success due the concerted efforts of all those involved in the organisation. Lets look forward to an even more successful Head next year,

Jockie 4 ½ Fingers Oram



Please note the opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Trent Rowing Club.