The Minerva - Alkmaar Diary Oct 2002. 

 Race for the Challenge Shield - 3000 metres

Friday 11th October.

Dorine and Liesbeth are already in the country lording it up at the annual coffee dinner. The other 6 are as follows, The Quad 4 of Pim, Dan, Wil and Tom supported by Marselle and Mariam depart in the early hours to catch the EuroStar arriving in Bath on time @ 5:15pm. Mr Hamilton and Mr Fry pick them up from the station and take them to the Club House (The Pulteney) and set in motion the plan to regain the shield.  We provided them with beer a plenty and feed them with the world famous Pulteney Yorkshire pud with chips, beef and gravy. We depart for the hosts, but not before quaffing a few more ales in the Bear.

Saturday 12th October.

Early start,  10:00 am, The 6 Juniors take the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the narrow river, trying the quad and even testing themselves with a sweep oar 4. The Dutch girls try the double scull and find the going tough. Marselle eventually succumbs to an outing with Eros, a life long ambition fulfilled. Back to the Pulteney for lunch where we meet Dorine and Liesbeth who have arrived feeling a little jaded from the previous night.

After lunch Part 2 of the plan, the Handicap treasure hunt, this consists of 31 picture questions on a circuit of Bath via a number of pubs, and a pint in each pub on the route. Upon completion we head straight to the Ocean Pearl for an as much as you can eat for £12.50 buffet, absolutely fantastic, but even the lads could only manage 2 plates, oh yes and 3 pints.

Part 3 of the plan is a trip to Tuckers Grave, After our trip to Alkmaar earlier in the year the Dutch lads boasted on how they could easily drink 4 pints of Somerset Cider, for the record they couldn't.  So after 2 pints we head back to Bath and settled in the Green Park Tavern. Last to leave we all head for home, three of the Dutch lads have been sick, the plan is starting to bear fruit.    

Sunday 13th October.

After a hearty breakfast we make our way to the club, unfortunately the weather has turned and its pouring with rain. Despite this the Dutch are ready to go and post a very good time of 8:49.92. Weather worsening the Minerva crew fly down the course in an awesome time of 8:11.25. On paper you would think it was all over, however, the dreaded handicap has yet to be applied, and as all Minerva rowers know the handicap systems that have been applied over the last few years have turned up some startling results.  Mr Hamilton and Mr Fry take the rest of the afternoon to calculate the result.

That evening we dine at Garfunkels for the farewell dinner and result. After a reasonable meal the time had come to announce the result, it seemed the confident Minerva crew were having doubts after a brief discussion with the Chief time keeper Mr. Fry.

This year we chose to the little known Cider handicap to decide the result.

As it stood the Alkmaar lads had stolen victory from the jaws of defeat, fate was however to take a turn for the worse. Information came to light that the Dutch had missed two pubs in the treasure hunt, this meant that Alkmaar had to be penalised 1 second. The Minerva crew were now very relieved and thankful that Mark Melbourne had decided to drink two pints of cider whilst the rest took to an early bed. The Chant began to reverberate around the restaurant  "It's coming home, It's coming home, It's coming, the shield is coming home".  The master plan had worked, Hamilton and Fry had won the shield single handed, albeit aided by our Veteran Quad 4. 

The Dutch lads, very disappointed make up for it by having yet another beer. They do however lay down a very serious challenge for next years 20th AA Race, with only one plaque to engrave next time it's for keeps.

Monday 14th October.

Alas, the final farewell, it was time to say goodbye. Our guests depart on the Alkmaar Express to plot their revenge.
The whole weekend was absolutely fantastic, and we hope the our guests enjoyed the experience even though they departed empty handed.

Many thanks to Andy and Chris who organised the weekend and the generous hosts who provided a bed, breakfast and the good old pick me up Resolve.

 The Challenge Shield page for pictures and reports from previous races