After winning the Challenge Shield at the last two attempts we decided that, if invited we would take a slightly weakened crew to Alkmaar. This year it was decided that the race would be between Veteran Mixed Eights racing over the shorter 5000 metre women's course. Andy Hamilton was relieved as his training had been over a much shorter distance, 250 metres.

After the successful visit of Alkmaar to Bath in October we did expect a rush of rowers wanting to race. As usual we were slightly disappointed, however we did manage to put together a experienced crew from our more aged members. Andy Hamilton decided to come, but he wasn't rowing, yeh right.  Andy Ursell decided not to come as he broke their boat last year and was too embarrassed to come.

Saturday 28th April 2007

Due to Queens Day falling on our usual departure day of Monday we decided to fly out early Saturday morning (7:30am) and return on the Tuesday. Arriving at the airport we had our first casualty of the weekend. Gary John had a sore neck and wouldn't be coming, due to the late notice we couldn't find a replacement, oh dear, it looks like Andy will have to row.

The flight uneventful, we arrive in Holland and make our way to Alkmaar, where a reception committee was waiting. Since the arrival of our ex-member Colin Williams, the organisation has been taken to a new level. On arrival Pym takes our bags marked with our names and drives them to our hosts houses. We hire bikes and cycle to the club to practice for Sundays race.

After last years promotion to a better eight (Ibis), Alkmaar have made the first attempt to thwart our bid to win three in a row. OCTOPUS! leased from the Dutch navy, saw many years service as an aircraft carrier. Due to Gary's last minute cry off we have to re-think our selection. We tried to build a crew around last year's selection, the trouble was where do you put Andy. Stroke, Bow and Cox were out due to his width. Stroke side; not good enough. 7; hands too slow. 5; not enough power. The only place he would be really comfortable would be the passenger lounge, 3 seat. He was also our 4th women.

The final combination was. Cox: Sue Lees. Stroke: Erika. 7: Bruce (Captain). 6: Chris 'The Power' Fry. 5: Mark Smith. 4: Mike. 3: Andy Ham. 2: Mark 'I told you I can row on stroke side' Melbourne and last but not least, Bow: Wendy.

Due to the late crew changes and boat our expectations were not high. We decided to save our energies for the race next day and opt for a short sharp outing. A quick 5K row finished off with a 2k sprint. Well, surprise surprise it went quite well, despite being swamped by a drunken barge, Octopus still had some steam in the old boilers. The worry was whether they would last for 5K at race pace.

Showered and changed we head for Wim and Janneke's for an evening barbecue. A fantastic spread with pork, beef and prawn kebabs washed down with 80 litres of beer. Ideal preparation for the race next day...not!  Janneke entertained us with a selection of Dutch video's, no not that kind. The 11 cities tour and their visit to Bath last year.

Wanting to feel fresh for the race next day we make our way to our hosts houses at midnight. The cycle home took 30 minutes!

Race Day - Sunday 29th April

Colin's instructions plainly said that we had to be at the club for 9:00am, why, we still don't know. I suspect it was the second attempt to stop us winning three in a row. Fortunately most of us didn't turn up until 10:30. Bruce was there at 8:30, why?

Renowned for our organisation skills, Andy Hamilton and Chris Fry are given the responsibility of the recording the finish times in the first heat. Old hands, they carry out the task with aplomb, unfortunately attempts to bribe the other officials for heat 2 were unsuccessful, we were actually going to have to row and probably break in to a sweat.

The Race... Despite the weather being absolutely fantastic, the wind is blowing at gale force 'Very Hard' and it's a cross/head wind. We row to the start without much problem, arriving at the start things start to go wrong. Due to the strong winds we struggle to get to the side of the canal, normally this would be a real problem as Andy Ursell has to pee/poo at 15 minutes intervals or he'll explode. Try as we may we cannot get near the side and before you know it we are off and racing at a steady 28. We're holding our own and after 2k we are still ahead of the Alkmaar crew. Making good progress, Sue shouts 'Only 200 metres to the bridge'  now we're still not sure what she was looking at as 1000 metres later we go under the bridge very closely followed by both Alkmaar crews.

Fight as we do, we cannot stay ahead of the young Alkmaar crew who pass us on the corner, however this acts as a spur as we still have clear water between us and the Veteran Alkmaar crew. Stroke by stroke the Alkmaar crew are creeping forward and gradually they are starting to overlap. At this point in the past Minerva crews have given in, but not this one. Cheered on by shouts from Chris Fry the crew responds with a final push from 1000 metres out, caught by surprise the Dutch have no response as we sprinted to the finish. An outstanding performance for a crew made of members who at best have rowed once a week since last year's race. Andy hadn't rowed since last years race.

THE CHALLENGE SHIELD RESULT

This year’s challenge was to have been a straight race between the Veteran Mixed Eight crews with a minor handicap for the age difference. Colin spent hours coming up with a number of complex algorithms to calculate weight and age differences. He did forget to tell us that despite the age difference his crew were all built like primates.

Well there was no need as they didn't need the handicap, our handicap of Octopus and Andy Hamilton was enough. We had lost the shield. and gained the new 4 foot long wooden spoon.

De Studio was the venue chosen for the celebration dinner. Due to AZ Alkmaar playing for the Dutch football championship we had to eat at 7:00am as they expected to be very busy later celebrating the Championship. Unfortunately they lost, so decided to smash the town up instead.

A very nice meal over we walked off the food with a quick tour of the town and the stalls laid out for the Queens Day party. We looked long and hard for the false leg, but came back with various items of Orange clothing.

Back at De Studio we settle in for a long nights dancing and a few more beers. The music, typically Dutch is aided by two Right Said Fred bongo drummers, who stand on the bar and drum along with the disco beat. Wendy driven by the beat, pole dances round the wooden spoon eventually gyrating up on to the bar with Right Said Fred. Andy Hamilton leads the way in a massed dance, swinging those wide hips. Jelle comments on Chris Fry's hips, not bad for an old man, bloody cheek. Wendy gets the spoon confiscated when she starts weighing things, know what I mean.

By 3:00 am (Monday) enough is enough and we head for home. Andy and Chris get separated from their hosts Vincent and Daphne. Lost, Andy calls Vincent on his phone for directions, 'what can you see around you' asks Vincent. 'Sharks (Stars) in the sky, the moon and we just passed a windmill' says Andy. 'That's good' said Vincent. 'How Many'. 'Only one' says Andy. 'Oh, that's not good' says Vincent. This conversation goes on for hours................Andy's idea of a joke, for both he and Mr Fry are already home. 30 minutes later Vincent and Daphne arrive home, Daphne worried that we were lost is not happy. What a wally Andy is.

Monday 30th April - Queens Day

Due to the exertions of the previous night we have a lie in, Hamilton and Fry have a leisurely breakfast of porridge and chocolate - Health food for fatty's.. We cycle back in to town and all meet up at the Beer Museum for a quick beer, but not before lining the stomach with a portion of chips and mayo. Cracks are beginning to appear as a number of the party (Mike) seem to be very hung over from last nights exertions.

We find a place in the crowd by the Lindeboom Bar and spend the next 6 hours drinking beer and taking in the atmosphere. It's hard to put Queens Day in to words,  the mass carpet of Orange, Beer and Music make it a truly Dutch experience, one you can only fully appreciate by being there. The weather is unbelievable and we are fortunate that there are plenty of helping hands willing to rub in the sun cream. Tired, burnt and full of beer we head to Colin's for more beer and 15 pizzas, Andy was hungry. We sit out in Colin's landscaped gardens, guarding the various chairs with Bruce spending the evening waving his arms around like a dervish killing the resident mozzies with an electric tennis racket.

All good things must come to an end and by 10:30pm most are ready for bed. The hard core head to Atlantis for a few more beers and a quick dance. The dance is not so quick as the floor is so sticky with spilt beer it is hard to walk, let alone dance. Closed by midnight we depart with our hosts for a deserved sleep after another 30 minute bike ride.

Tuesday 1st May.

Another lie in, Colin has excelled himself with organising such a laid back weekend. After breakfast we pack up and head to the rowing club for 10:00am. Bruce has arrived early and is helping to pack up the boat racks, the rest sit by and drink coffee and mull over the events of the weekend.

We say our goodbyes and head for the station. Colin has arranged for use to go to Amsterdam and tour the old Heineken Brewery, anyone would think we were beeraholics. Bags dumped at the Central Station we tram down to the Heineken Experience. The concept is the same the world over, this is how we made it, this is what it tastes like, here are 3 free samples and here is a shop that sells souvenirs. It was a great experience and done with real Dutch flair. A DJ/VJ experience, mix your own club track, what it had to do with beer, who knows, but it was funny. We rounded the trip off with a video sing along to Tulips from Amsterdam in Dutch. The video was sent home and hopefully most will have seen it, if not ask Erika.

Colin, Vincent, Pim, Daan, Jelle, Janneke have done their bit and leave us to find food, we settle for a Indonesian street restaurant and watch the world go by as we drink our last beer of the trip. The final entertainment is watching some Chinese tourists pay to have their car unclamped, it seems clamping is a disease the world over.

A short and uneventful trip to the airport where we stock up on chocolate, waffles and sweets. The dreaded wooden spoon has made it, confiscated, trampled on the spoon is coming back to Bath. The last gate before boarding and Mr Officious turns up, sorry you can't take that on board it could be used as a weapon, what to stir your tea. Alas it now lies in Lost Property, all alone and no one to love it. Never mind we will try to claim it when we go back next year.

Yet again the weekend was highlight of the Minerva calendar, for those of you that haven't been, you don't know what you're missing. I can honestly say that having been to Alkmaar at least 10 times, this year was the best. Being able to join in with the Queens Day celebrations, take part in the race and just spend time with people who have become our friends. 

I would like to thank, in no particular order, Colin and Nicolien, Wim and Janneke, Ivo and Hilde, Chiel and Chantel, Anton, Jelle, Daan, Pim and Finally Vincent and Daphne. I would also like to thank the whole Alkmaar club for putting up with us, again. I look forward to seeing them all again in October.

THE EDITOR

Pictures to follow when I get them.