The Regatta Report: Mettams Head Race 2022
Tyler Clement
Mettams 2022
Darryl ‘D-Pres’ Salisbury (with notes by Nemo)
It was fantastic to see 7 Westies crews represent the club and the great history of the Mettams Head Race this year. This race is of great historical value as it honours Gunner George Mettam of the West Australian Rowing Club, the 7th man of the victorious AIF No 1 crew that won the King’s Cup at the Henley Peace Regatta In 1919. Read a more detailed history here if you’re interested.
Great conditions on the morning set up wins in the sculls to one of our newest members Freya Walsh by 0.96 sec over Uni, and our evergreen legend big Al backing up his Master’s State Championship and Pennant #2 wins, to make it a three-peat. In other results – Wests were 2nd in both open 8s with a strong showing by men’s B8 also, an experimental mix of youth and experience. A solid 3rd by WO4X and a row-over win to the Men’s Open Coxed Quad (you have to be in it to win it!).
Coxswain George Warner steered a competitive line in the B8 to produce some great side-by-side racing, with Swans and 2 Wests men’s crews battling it out under Mt Henry bridge. Words were flung between crews which revved up the rivalry, but luckily all crews emerged unscathed. A little later in the race, a couple of the crews chose the same line and mistakenly thought they were in a British “Bumps race”.
The pictures from Tyler “Paparazzi” Clement tell the rest of the story of a somewhat chilly, but awesome head race.
Footnote - “Nemo” was ghostwriter for the West Australian in the late 1800s, and was brutal in critique of oarsmen and their style. One of his articles is included below for your reading pleasure.
