Selection Dilemma – Youth or Experience?

Sudbury Rowing Club had a successful day rowing at Norwich Head last Saturday winning two events and coming runner up in another two. This was the men’s squads’ final event before racing in the prestigious head of the river in March.

They raced S2 in the morning with teenager Ralph stroking the boat and new recruits Borthwick and Page entering their first race for Sudbury. They were the fastest eight in the morning clocking 14:35 over the 4500m course and beating their closest rival by over 20 seconds. In the short course veteran Arnott was runner up in his single, a good effort considering he was conceding a few years to his opponents.

In the afternoon Ralph was replaced in the stroke seat by Hogsbjerg and Paxman came into the crew for a S3 race against three other crews. Sudbury started off third and caught the Essex University crew after ten minutes. The University crew, coxed by Sudbury coach Tony Moule, responded and the crews raced side by side upto the finish with both crews taking time out of the Norwich crew ahead of them. The final result was a win for Sudbury in a time of 15:02 and Essex University coming second in a time of 15:28. Ralph finished second in his S3 scull and was the second quickest single sculler in the afternoon.

This leaves Sudbury with a selection dilemma for the Head of the river. Who should stroke the boat – the teenager Ralph or the more experienced Hogsbjerg?

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