Molesey Win GB Trials

For once Boston gave GB's finest and aspiring finest flat water and clear skies. Rowing full stop is a bit of a novelty for our athletes this winter and rowing on quality water even more for those based at the Club. The Men's Pairs was won by our very own Andrew Hodge and Mo Sbihi, by 22 seconds over George Nash and his CUBC partner. The expected threat from Reed and Gregory of Leander didn't appear due to illness. Fred Gill, with his partner Cook of UL, finished 9th, with Ed Ford and Colin Williamson a few seconds behind in 10th. Matt Talock and Phil Congdon finished 15th. Both results about as expected after barely any rowing since October but clearly plenty of work to do.

In the Women's singles, Karen Bennett finished 22nd and Nel Castle-Smith 37th out of 45 Scullers. Ruth Walczak, now Caversham based, did not race in the Lightweight Women's 1x due to illness.

Our club crews hope to be next seen in action at Reading Head and against OUBC but let's see what this wonderful winter holds in store for us!
 

Andy Hodge and Moe Sbihi on their way to winning trials (Photo by Peter Spurrier)

Sponsored Cycle in aid of CRY and the new development.

 

Acer Nethercott: 28/11/1977-26/1/2013

He was one of Britain’s best ever coxes. To his crews, he brought a combative desire to win, together with an incredibly sharp mind. Both were real confidence boosters whether your boat was in the middle of a really tight head to head race, or half-way through a 20k UT2 session and needed some inspiration. He will rightly be remembered for his role in two memorable Oxford victories in 2003 & 2005, together with the Olympic silver he won coxing the British eight in Beijing. But unsurprisingly for such a high-achiever, there was far more to him.

Having come up through the ranks of Oxford rowing – steering the Dark Blue women in the 2000 Boat Race, Acer knew what a crucial role that coxes could play in the development of young rowers.  Therefore he had no hesitation in offering to help out with the Sporting Giants programme at Molesey Boat Club in 2008 – the same year he was driving for Olympic selection. Beneath his sometimes quiet, cerebral and focussed exterior, lay a  man with big heart; responsible for giving a helping hand to so many in British rowing.

More than anyone, Acer knew how fine the lines were between the cox making a real difference to the crew’s performance. In 2003, it was in part down to his refusal to concede any water to the Light Blue eight along Chiswick Eyot in the 2003 Boat Race, that Oxford were able to hang on and subsequently go through to beat their rivals by the narrowest of margins. Yet just 12 months later, it was Acer’s decision to push Cambridge hard early in the race that led to a clash that Cambridge profited from. Those are the type of calls you want your cox to make and it was no surprise that Sean Bowden once more trusted Acer with the job of steering Oxford’s legendary 2005 crew. They were a boat packed-full of international talent and Acer ensured that they delivered their best on the day.

The Olympic cycle of 2004-08, saw Acer once more involved in crafting a top-class British eight, though the process took its time. There were no medals for the crew in the first couple of years. But by the Munich championships of 2007, the crew were good enough to win a bronze medal. By the time of the Beijing Olympics, it was clear that the British and Canadian eights would dispute the Gold medal. And it was a mark of the crew’s desire and Acer’s competitiveness that their silver medal was seen as a disappointment.

It was typical of the man that he refused to discuss his illness. And when he went for coxing trials in 2012 for the British Olympic eight, many of the crew did not know that he was suffering from cancer. At 35, his death has taken him from us too soon. Our thoughts are with his club mates, friends, and family. 
 

Martin Cross
 

(L to R) Andy Hodge, Acer Nethercott, Tom James after the 2008 Olympic homecoming.

Mavis Pickett