THE traditional Icicle Eights race on the River Dee bathed in a golden glow as Olympic medallist Tom James officially started proceedings.
The event saw 21 crews of eight from Grosvenor, The King’s School, Rex Boat Club and host club Royal Chester race from Eccleston Ferry to the finish at Sandy Lane, time handicapped with the slowest crew starting first.
The aim of the handicap committee is to achieve a mass finish at Sandy Lane, with some competitive rowing in between.
On this occasion, however, the enthusiasm of the crews was underestimated and the coming together of boats occurred before they reached the Red House pub with the faster crews carving their way through the flotilla to the front.
The first men’s and women’s crews to finish were the Royals’ veteran G and their women’s Novice eights. The fastest men’s crew and overall winners were The King’s School with the fastest women’s crew coming from Grosvenor.
Olympic gold medal-winner James, a former King’s School rower, was on hand at the finish to congratulate the winners and hand out the prizes.
MBE for Olympic golden boy: See back page.
