In the most historic Women’s Head in living memory, a powerful crew of more than 600 tore up the Tideway this morning, setting a new course record of 17:40 and showing Covid that it takes more than a poxy pandemic (or a closed bridge, for that matter) to keep women rowers off the river. Behold #NotWehorr2021.

The last few years have been tough for WEHoRR. Thwarted by the elements, it’s been cancelled three years in a row – a dispiriting state of affairs for everyone. But when the going gets tough, the tough go rowing, and #NotWehorr2021 demonstrated the very best traits of the rowing community, as Olympians joined with club rowers, runners, spin bikers and living room circuiteers to make it a day to remember.

The day dawned cold but bright. Resident weather reporter Jen Bartram described the conditions as “Pretty decent, generally calm and cold but a bit of a pesky northeasterly breeze giving a bit of a headwind.” Good job we had layers and bin bags at the ready. During the race briefing, Dame Katherine Grainger was well-prepared for the conditions, suitably wrapped up in cold weather gear.

Spectator turnout was predictably low, but the wildlife came out to watch – an eagle-eyed crew member spotted a seal just beyond Hammersmith Bridge.

Hopes were high for crew 51. It helped that we had the likes of Dame Katherine Grainger, Miriam Luke, Jess Eddie, Gillian Lindsay and Frances Houghton on board, but the rest of us still felt like valued members of the crew. As we warmed up with instruction from Gillian Lindsey and Miriam Luke, it was clear this crew meant business.

Officials were out in force and WEHoRR chair, Guin Batten, gave a thorough briefing, warning of challenging conditions but providing plenty of encouragement.

Making our way to the start, there was fighting talk from Jess Eddie. “Let’s break them!” she cried.

Trash talk from Eddie

Hearts raced. The marshals shouted. Suddenly we were turning and the race was under way.

It wasn’t long before we started overtaking other crews. Molesey, Tideway Scullers, St Andrews, Christchurch – the list went on and on as our opponents fell like ninepins. Passing the bandstand (“that useless landmark nobody can see”), we were on for the course record. The wind whipped up and Zoe sustained a wave right in the face, but she pressed us on.  “Big finishes, pushing out from the bridge.”

The minutes passed in a blur of rate changes, technical calls and landmarks. Past the black buoy, the end in sight, and before we knew it we were passing Thames Rowing Club and the record was within our grasp.

A final, free-rate push and the finish marshal, who bore more than a passing resemblance to Sir Matthew Pinsent, called the end of the race (but commanded us in no uncertain terms to keep paddling).

Jess Eddie had predicted a course record that would last hundreds of years. From now on 17:40 is the number to beat.

The verdict was positive all round. “So powerful,” said a delighted Jess Eddie. “The crew were unreal, smashed it.”

“It was a truly brilliant race”, agreed Gillian Lindsey. “Proud to be part of crew 51. All eyes on this bow number next year.”

Crew 51’s coxswain, Zoe, declared the race a success: “Very proud of such a strong crew, able to set a new course record even with some blustery head wind conditions in the middle.”

WEHoRR chair, Guin Batten, spoke enthusiastically about an “epic turn out” and praised the rowing community for its “passion and need for being part of something.”

Even the marshalls were (mostly) happy. “Crews very well behaved on Middlesex where I was marshalling. Not sure about Surrey where crew 51 was,” reported David Biddulph.

“Just glad everyone home safe”, said a clearly-relieved Matthew Pinsent, who nevertheless had thoughts about how the event could be improved. “We need to look at crew spacing and seeding – 51 overtook 3 before Barnes, and 20ish crews overall. Should go off closer to Head next year.” Lesson learned.

Since the race the rowing community has been walking on air. We came together, stuck to our race plan, set a new course record and overtook a bunch of other crews. Best of all, in an astonishing show of anti-viral defiance, we undeniably defeated Covid (verdict: easily).

Oh, and you know what else this means? Unless there’s a country-wide black-out and internet fail, WEHoRR will never be cancelled, ever again. That, my river-loving friends, could be the best thing to come out of the pandemic.

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who made it a race to remember, and especially to Zoom Ergos, without which it could not have happened.