GRIFFEN 2024 | 18 Josh Braithwaite (2018) Competing at Henley Royal Regatta is often considered the pinnacle of rowing outside of international representation. It is safe to say that most, if not all, who have raced in the pink and white will have dreamt of a HRR victory representing Abingdon. However, given the competitive nature of HRR, few Abingdon crews have ever achieved this, leaving the dream of winning HRR a distant aspiration for many. This was certainly the case for both myself and Dan Boddington (2010), who had the privilege of racing at HRR with Abingdon, but had never secured a win. After school we rowed with various clubs and universities, yet victory remained elusive. In September 2022, I relocated to London for a new job and joined Thames Rowing Club in Putney to continue competing. Dan had already been rowing at Thames for five months and we ended up rowing together for most of the year. By May, we had earned our spots in the Club’s top boat for HRR. Following victory at the Metropolitan Regatta and a respectable third place finish at Marlow, we were fairly confident about our chances at Henley. During the early rounds, we defeated Bristol, Agecroft, and Munich. However, the true challenge awaited us in the semi-finals against Sydney, a crew that we had beaten by only a second at Marlow Regatta. Despite our concerns, we had a great row on the day and we secured our place on Sunday. In the final race, we emerged victorious with a convincing win over ‘de Hoop’ from the Netherlands. Finally, after years of effort, we realised our dream of winning HRR. Although victory came while representing Thames Rowing Club, it is worth noting the role rowing at Abingdon played in instilling the determination and resilience necessary to succeed. Adrian Champion (2003) I started coaching for Grey College, spending time as the Club’s Captain and Head Coach. During my time here, the region wanted more students and young people to get involved in umpiring as they were low on numbers. I qualified as a British Rowing umpire in 2006, and spent my first year umpiring in the north-east region while finishing my degree. After leaving Durham, I moved back to the Thames Region (Reading) where I carried on coaching and umpiring. In 2014 I gained my `Multi-Lane Endorsement’, which is an assessment of my skills of umpiring 6-lane races (e.g. Dorney Lake), compared to the standard 2-3 lane river events. In 2018 I gained my FISA (World Rowing) licence, allowing me to umpire internationally. Since gaining my FISA licence I have umpired at the European Junior Championships, the Coupe de la Jeunesse, as well as several international events. In 2023, I was accepted onto the Jury of the World Rowing Cup II, in Varese, and onto the Jury of the European Rowing Coastal & Beach Sprint Championships in France. However, more immediately I will be the Chairman of the Race Committee at Wallingford Regatta held at Dorney Lake. Whilst I no longer coach, I am also the Thames Regional Rowing Council representative for all clubs and events between Oxford and Marlow. Umpiring is a great way for me to stay involved in the sport that not only I enjoy, but has also given me a lot. Whilst in Lower School at Abingdon, I never considered doing sport voluntarily, now most of my spare time is involved in rowing. Getting the opportunity to go to the World Rowing events, and see the world’s best rowers in action, is a fantastic privilege, and I’m really looking forward to both the World Cup II and the Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships. Hockey Oxford Hawks Hockey Club’s summer league team in their OA kit. The team is made up of recent Abingdon leavers and current first team members. The team won the league two years ago and finished fourth most recently. To celebrate my 85th birthday, I joined a crew rowing a shallop in the ‘Tudor Pull’, delivering a ‘Stela’, a slice of ancient wooden water pipe, to the Governor of the Tower of London. His Majesty’s Barge Master, together with robed officials occupying a fleet of seven boats, watched over the Yeoman Warders. Due to high river flows, we went from Richmond to Greenwich – it was very rough below London Bridge where the passenger boats travel fast. The following week, I went cycling with a friend in Provence for a week. We used a company, ‘Cycling for Softies’, to transport our luggage between hotels, while we covered 30 miles a day through the hills on electric bikes. Just a week later, I went to Venice to row in the ‘Vogalonga’, a mass demonstration by over 7000 rowers in around 1600 boats of varying descriptions, including a sixteen crewed gondola. The demonstration is an act of protest against speeding motorboats and has been held annually for over 40 years. We rowed through rough waters in a heavy, wide beamed coxed quad from opposite St. Mark’s Square in the south of Venice, around the island of Burano, and back via Murano. In total, we rowed 30 kilometres, meeting many old friends over the weekend from several English rowing clubs. Myself and a group of retired anaesthetists continue 40 years of skiing and sailing together – although sadly our numbers are dwindling. I count myself lucky to be able to row weekly from Maidenhead Rowing Club, and Leander, Henley, though some in the group are older! OA rowers were treated to the splendid OA Club Strawberries and Pimm’s event at the Henley Royal Regatta in what was a great occasion to meet old friends. Many thanks to Abingdon School and the OA Club for all they do to keep us in touch. Brian Smith (1957)
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