Published 2nd August 2005
First, a word from the editor.
I am regularly sent a wide range of weird and wonderful items for the Rowing Service website, some of general interest and some rather more idiosyncratic. Recently there dropped through my in-box an interesting email from what I can only describe as a fiercely proud mother, keen for others to hear her son's story. It's quite a good one, so here (slightly edited), it is.
"Hi. I am the very proud mum of this year's Doggett's winner, Jack Dean.
Jack was not the favourite, and I was told that before the race that he was the 'dark horse' and one to look out for. Jack was not a member of any of the London rowing clubs. He had been doing long-distance training (6-7 miles) at Medway Rowing Cub, and it I think it was this which gave him the strength and stamina to win the Doggett's.
Jack's training consisted of giving other members of his club a head start and then racing them back to the clubhouse and giving them a head start. He did not have a coach, and said that he learnt more from the "wily old rowers with years of experience" than he ever would from a coach. Having to do it on his own I think showed his determination to win Doggetts, and he certainly rowed his own race.
My son works for Bennets on the tugs, and he said that this gave him an advantage over the 'Pleasure Boat Boys' who in the main work the smaller stretches of the Thames. When you are towing a string of barges behind you, you have to use the tide to your advantage to pull the barges safely. You get to know the Thames so well from looking back at the way your barges are pulling against the tide. In the race, he used this knowledge to cross the Thames to the North bank and let the tide help him along the course.
Of course, many of the Doggett's winners come from families of watermen or lightermen. Although Jack's father was not one of these, his great-grandfather was a lighterman on the middle Thames so perhaps it's in his blood. However he got his love of the river from his uncle, Warren White, who always had time for Jack. Warren took him fishing and on his boat, and Jack made up his mind to join the river and became an apprentice to Steve Wright of the Port of London Authority on his 16th birthday.
He has always loved the river, having been a very keen angler from the age of 9, and a rower from the age of 14 at Gravesend Rowing Club. Gravesend was where Andy Ray took him under his wing, as he recognised Jack's determination, strength and ability. Jack was soon racing in an adult four which won races on the Medway and Thames. Jack loved rowing, but as I had been warned when he was younger, when he hit 17/18 his interest was diverted to girls and drink. Gradually let his practice slip and eventually stopped rowing, a great shame.
About five weeks before last year's Doggett's race, George Saunders from the Watermans Hall 'persuaded' Jack to take part in the competition. George used his psychological skills as only he can - and Jack really had no choice, feeling that otherwise he would have let George down. He took part having not done any rowing for 2-3 years, with just a small bit of practice at Medway Rowing Club. He dreaded doing it but felt that he had committed himself.
Come the 2004 race Jack was surprised that not only did he complete the course (through sheer pride and determination) but he also was not so far behind the winner. This gave him new determination and he began to train regularly again at Medway RC. The training increased and he toned up his body, and his stamina and to win improved. He would often get up at 5am to row at Medway at 6am and then go to work at 8am. He stopped drinking, kept a watch on what he ate and trained and trained and trained.
Medway RC have never had a rower take part in Doggett's before. A senior member, Dave Allen, won Doggett's many many years ago and then joined Medway RC but they never had someone do the race while being a member. Dave Allan was one ofthe rowers who gave Jack a race back to base with a ten minute headstart and I believe he only once ever beat Jack. Jack really appreciates Dave Allan and all the members of his club who have given him so much time and encouragement. He also appreciates all the members of Gravesend Rowing Club who in his early days gave him time and encouragement. Thereis no better environment than a good rowing club where the older members take the time and effort to help the young rowers. Jack's company Bennets have also given Jack a lot of encouragement and let him have some time off before the race to train. They have never had a Doggett's champion and so by winning Jack has now given both Bennets and Medway Rowing Club a Coat and Badge winner.
It was exhausting as a mother to watch this race as I knew how Jack would be feeling. Jack was very happy to have me there, along with Ron Dean his father, Nigel Dack his stepfather and Pat Parkinson his grandmother. Jack asked Pat to come as when he had raced in his younger days he had always won when his Nan was at the race to watch him. She didn't let him down this time either and it would seem that having a Nan Mascot paid off... It was music to her ears to hear the commentator on the Elizabethan Pleasure Boat where we all were following the race suddenly go from "Mark is leading" etc etc to "Jack Dean is in the lead, it's Dean the Green......."
Jack said that during the race he had at first felt that he would be happy with second place. Then something came over him and he decided no, this is my race, and I want to win it. With sheer determination and will he took the lead and from then on increased the gap over the other two rowers - and he even felt that he could have gone on another 2 miles. All the previous years' Doggett's winners standing near me said it was the most exciting race they had seen for years.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about how the winner got to do it."
Lynn Dack (Jack's mum), July 2005
| Pictures (top to bottom and left to right) - with the family (Dad Ron Dean, winner Jack Dean, proud mum Lynn Dack, nan Pat Parkinson, stepdad Nigel Dack); crossing the line; the walk of victory; with other winners; the face of victory |