Bugger me, it was a tough week leading up to this one! As I sat marshalling I really had no idea how it would go: How fit are we (ahem, am I) really? Will we be able to concentrate for more than a two minute push? When the pain kicks in from racing the VIII two divisions before, will we have what it takes?

And, when we get right down to it, can I rate over my age?

Apart from a rather professional first minute, it was a messy, gutsy, unsat individual push to individual push affair. Overtaking Emma under the Railway Bridge was fun (wtf were they rating!?), although their (failed) push back highlighted how much work there is left to do.

Even without the times it was a fantastic mental boost for the next stage of training. That said, I would be remiss not to point out that on Downing's second attempt at the head piece - during the same division as us and tired as hell like us - we thrashed them. (Dan)