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Paul Finn & Simon Finn row the Great River Race - 20 May 2006
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The Great River Race is a 22 mile rowing race down the tidal Thames using traditional boats.
The race starts Richmond through the centre of London to the Docklands of Island Gardens at Ham near Greenwich.
Approximately 300 boats were rowing in the event from all over the world. The traditional boats included Cornish pilot and other gigs, dragon boats, skiffs, Viking longboats and many more.
The Bede Haven crew were included (in alphabetical order) Chris Bale, Robin Bale, Wendy Bloomfield, Pete Dixon, Paul Finn & Kelly Watkins. Dave Watkins was in the Cox’s seat and Hilary Finn was in the Pilot seat. Kelly one of the crew members dropped out due to injury in the previous day’s Thames Nelson Flotilla. So Simon Finn, who had just returned from holiday and was in London took her place, having spent 30 minutes rowing a few months before he was told he had trained enough.
The race was a great success, Bede Haven had a respectable time of a little over 2 ½ hours despite an average age of over 50 (Simon 24 and Robin 35!) and had the whole crew felt it was a privilege of rowing in such a great race.
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