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The Alkmaar Diary 2001. |
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18e Akersloot to Alkmaar Race - 6500 metres |
Minerva Men travelled to Alkmaar to defend the challenge shield and hopefully bring it back to Bath for the second successive year. This year we were only able to select from the ten who took up this arduous challenge, we decided to blood an untried double of John Roycroft and his mystery friend Brian. The eight had a godly flavour with Chris Fry, Mark Melbourne and Andy (Fat Man) Hamilton abley backed up by Mike Ashman, Mark Smith, Andy Greener, Andy Ursell and our very own Vice Captain, William Wadsworth. Thursday 26th April. John and Brian (Party A) depart Stanstead and head successfully to Amsterdam, at the same time Mark Melbourne, Andy Ursell, Andy Greener, Mike Ashman, Mark Smith and William Wadsworth (Party B) depart Bath heading for Heathrow. In short due to traffic problems they don't make it, after negotiations with British Midlands they end up in Brussels for the night. John and Brian having waited for them, spent the night on the floor of Schipol Airport. Friday 27th April. Mr. Fry and Mr. Hamilton (Party C) make their way to Bristol Airport before flying to Schipol, where they meet a despondent John and Brian. Taking the two under their wing, Party C escorts Party A to Alkmaar, John however disappears at Alkmaar South Station as we change trains. He reappears 15 minutes later at Alkmaar North Station. Party B make it to Amsterdam, where they make up for lost time and try to drink the town dry. Eventually all parties meet up later that day. After a few relaxing beers we make our way to the Rosa's Canteen for a slap up Mexican meal washed down with a number of cold beers. All tucked up in bed by 1.00am. Saturday 28th April. After a hearty breakfast and a sachet of Resolve we arrive at the club for a morning training session in the aptly named Octopus. Pushing off from the landing stage we look like a very disorientated octopus. However, after an hour we were rowing like a well oiled machine, albeit with Andy Hamilton at three. John and Brian had arrived much earlier, and seemed to be taking things far too seriously. To warm up after our cold wet outings we decided a quick ergo was needed, in Andy's case it was very quick, I blinked and missed it. After a shower, We deservedly set of for lunch at the yacht club in Bergen on Sea, where we ate a banquet fit for a king, Smoked fish, meats, cheeses, Cretins Ball?, Salad and Wine. Foolishly we thought that was it for the day. Liesbeth however, had arranged for us to scull around the canals of Alkmaars old town. Very nice we thought as we rolled up at the beer museum and cheese market. Several beers later and a portion of Belgium's finest Frites we set of back to the club dodging the numerous low bridges and dredging the canals(Andy U). As Andy Ursell will tell you it was a lot harder than it sounds. We retire to the club for a fantastic Chinese meal, and yes, more beer. (As you can see beer plays a large part in the Alkmaar trip). By 10 o'clock Party A and B are feeling a bit tired and make a hasty retreat to bed. Sunday 29th April. Race Day Oh No! the big headache and why is my back hurting. We all arrive at the club feeling slightly the worse for wear, why do we do it. Heat One: John and Brian collect their numbers for the race and pace nervously about the landing stage waiting for the off. Chris and Andy do their best to reassure them that it's a long way and it will bloody hurt, they don't seem very reassured. eventually they set off for the start, rather stupidly Chris and Andy follow then on bikes to the start (excuse No 1). Setting of at a steady pace they dropped behind their Alkmaar opponents, at half distance they had started to close, but it was looking like a very tough race. Chris and Andy shout encouragement from the bank "Pull harder you lightweights", "your nearly halfway!". Approaching the only corner of the race John made a decisive move to cut the corner making up a length and a half. The last 1000 metres and they were closing, we think they have done enough. Andy makes them winners by 1 second. The euphoria soon turns to despair as we are told they had in fact lost by 2 seconds to finish 2nd overall. A very brave effort at their first attempt, they had pushed Alkmaar to a new course record. Well done lads, see you next year. Heat Two: Now it was the turn of the Eight, just our luck, after a morning of sunshine it had started to rain (excuse No 2). It really is a long way to the start, especially against a very strong headwind. Unfortunately the start was delayed and the tailwind had dropped to a whisper (excuse No 3). Mark Smith was starting to become hypothermic, the only way to keep us warm was the hot air coming from Fry's mouth, and oh yes, from Mark Melbourne's Ass. Once off the start it was all going well, the rate was high and we were holding our own. After 20 metres it started to go wrong, surely the blades were geared too heavy, someone had tied an anchor to the boat, we couldn't understand it, we were going backwards fast. The crew behind caught us so quickly, they must be on something. The Gods lift their effort, things improve, but two more crews catch and pass us before the bridge. Oh dear we are now last in the whole race, Mark Smith is not a happy man. At the corner, salvation, another crew and yes were going past, hooray we're not last and we've done the race in a faster time than last year, but so have Alkmaar, and in a faster time than us. Alas the shield is lost. To drown our sorrows we drink to the victors and retire to Vestibule for the farewell meal. Andy Hamilton gracefully concedes defeat and hands the shield back to Alkmaar, but issues a challenge to defend it on Minerva's water later this year. Alkmaar are making the most of this victory and challenges are flying thick and fast, The men's and Women's crews are coming over and even the junior men think we are there for the taking. In fact one of the junior's has stated he will beat us even after drinking 5 pints of cider, we've reserved a bed at the local hospital for him. We continue with the excellent meal and wash it down with a few more beers. Feeling suitably tired we stupidly decide to visit a few more bars, and joined in with the Queen's Day celebrations. John and Brian had departed earlier to catch the evening flight to Stanstead, a call to Andy later that evening confirms that it was a morning flight, John and Brian £180 lighter, depart. Monday 30th April. Queens Day. Everyone in Holland is on holiday to celebrate their Queen's birthday. For us its time to leave. We assemble at the club for our final farewells and set off to the train station. Safely on board and standing due to the overcrowded train, its off to Schipol we go. A quick change a Sloterdijk and 10 minutes to Schipol, or so we thought. Due to the excessive behavior of a few celebrating yobs the trains have been cancelled. After half an hour we decide to get a taxi, Andy stays on the station just in case a train arrives. The rest wait at the taxi rank, with Chris somewhere between the two, panic a train arrives and all rush for the platform, Andy's on board, Chris makes it, the rest miss it by seconds, Stranded they wait for the next train, an hour later and still no trains in sight they get a taxi but miss their flight, fortunately they do get a later flight. However, by this time Chris and Andy are sitting in Bath drinking a nice cup of tea, later that evening everyone makes it safely home. The whole weekend was absolutely fantastic, and as usual our Dutch hosts made us feel very welcome and went out of their way to make sure we had a good time, and I can assure you we certainly did. Many thanks to all who helped in organising the weekend. We have invited our Dutch friends over for the Gloucester/Bristol weekend, they are already looking forward to defending the challenge shield.
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