Monday 13 February 2012

Rowing with the Stars (2)

The great cricketer Freddie Flintoff has volunteered to help row John Bishop across the Channel in his Week of Hell cycling/running/rowing marathon in aid of Sport Relief. So Freddie came out with Langstone Adventure Rowing on the River Thames to learn how.
After a briefing from Mike Gilbert, we started from Bridge Marine in Walton on Thames (what a friendly and helpful place!) close to the place where the HBBR row from Pangbourne finished, rowing upstream, round the island and back via the Desborough Cut.
Freddie caught enough crabs to supply a large crab restaurant, but then got the idea and even started leaning back into the stroke. Then he demonstrated exactly how a real athlete can pick up any action required very quickly, despite his recent knee surgery.
And he is a jolly nice chap.
Just as we were setting out for the afternoon session, a lovely old skiff passed by, presumably on the way to the Thames Valley Skiff Club boathouse.



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