14th Jul 2008
Bedford i-lab fields a Dragonboat for 30th Anniversary Bedford River Festival!
Capn Purds-i (Keith Purdie - Business Development Officer) reports:
"In what has become something of a tradition, the i-lab once again entered a crew for the Dragon Boat racing at this year’s river festival. It was with a (leaner than expected!) crew that we set out for our first heat against the mighty Biddenham Pirates and the legendary Cricketer’s arms. Ok, it’s fair to say they were neither mighty nor legendary, but the difference between having 10 rowers and us only having 6 rowers soon became apparent and we struggled into last place with a disappointing 1m 21.47s.
By the time heat 2 arrived, an appointment with a boiler repair man had seen off another of our brave crew; however, salvation was at hand in the shape of Dr Mark and Chris Fadden’s brother, bringing our rowing number up to 8. The latter scored immediate credibility points by a) emerging from the rowing club itself and b) not using the paddle as an air guitar. This new blood (along with our decision to keep time with a rather ‘Carry On’ Ooh, Aah rather than the conventional One, Two) had a dramatic effect on our performance during the heat and we knocked nearly 13 seconds off our previous time. This turn of pace shocked the 3M crew, who were so astonished to have been beaten into third place by the revitalised i-lab crew, they promptly sank!
Heat three and our confidence was soaring, although work commitments had forced the early departure of another of the crew. However, our pressganging skills were second to none and Dr Mark’s future son-in-law was tempted enough by the promise of a free i-lab t-shirt to join our merry band. The arrival of this much younger, and considerably fitter, crew member did cause a bit of anxiety among the older, less fit rowers and it was with stomachs held in that we boarded the boat for the final time.
Knowing that this was going to be our final effort, we pulled out all the stops and with Tracy beating out a punishing tempo on the drum we surged through the water. We didn’t surge quite enough to beat the crew from Harpenden Round table (although allegations of Sanatogen abuse were raised) but we shamed the HMP Bedford boat by coming in a staggering 88 seconds ahead of them, posting our fastest time of the day at 67.55s. The fact that they slowed themselves down whilst trying to sabotage our run made this all the more satisfying.
We just failed to qualify for the semi’s, by about 20 places, but we left with our reputations intact having finished 25th out of 33 entrants and a jolly good time was had by all, me hearties!
Still, maybe next time...!"
(Thanks to HRH Prince William for taking the time to help out)
