Issue 104 - Decamber 1997

Searle passes the Tideway test

For many, and particularly the watching professional watermen, Greg Searle came of age as a sculler in the Thames World Sculling Challenge. He had won at Henley, he had won a world bronze, but could he cope with a head to head challenge over the famous Putney to Mortlake Championship course? He was a novice to this test but he passed with flying colours.

Before the five abreast race Searle confided his tactics of 'getting ahead and hitting a good rhythm.' The getting ahead was not easy and, at the Mile, Searle was only inches ahead of Dutchman Merlin Vervoorn, the 1996 winner, Danish world lightweight champion Karsten Nielsen, and fellow Briton Martin Kettle. Italian champion Giovanni Calabrese was further adrift after some erratic steering. Searle then produced a classic burst of strength to Hammersmith Bridge where he led Nielsen by eight seconds.

Searle, the heaviest in the race at 96.8 kilos, then settled into his 'good rhythm,' generally at 29, but could not break completely clear, winning by six seconds as Nielsen, Vervoorn and Kettle had a real 'dogfight' behind him, keeping Peter Haining very busy with his flag in his umpiring baptism, while Calabrese dropped out at Chiswick Steps.

'It was a great race,' said Searle at the finish, adding wryly,'I was glad I was not in it.' As to his first experience of a 41/4 mile sculling battle? 'It was not much fun really but I am sure it is better when you win it.' The second place went to the gutsy Nielsen, just 77.2 kilos. The youthful Dane looked out of it just after Hammersmith when he became sandwiched between Vervoorn and Kettle, the latter using his Tideway knowledge to good effect. A clash of sculls with Kettle left Nielsen in fourth place but he came back through in spite of a headwind and waves along Chiswick Eyot. Kettle,the second lightest at 82.6 kilos was a good third, not the 'cannon fodder' he spoke of before the race in a field of international stars.

Peter Haining, founder of the race but a non-qualifier for the first time since 1993, looked almost as exhausted as the competitors at the finish, his efforts as organiser and flag waving umpire having taken their toll.

Result

	1. G.Searle (GB) 23 mins. 17 secs
	2. K.Nielsen (Denmark) 23.23
	3. M.Kettle (GB) 23.27
	4. M.Vervoorn (Netherlands) 23.36

© Copyright Mike Rosewell, 1997.