17th March 2021 was a special anniversary in the annals of Emanuel rowing, marking 40 years since the 1st VIII had a spectacular win at the Schools Head of the River. This was the 11th time Emanuel won the event.
OE Steve Macey (rowing in the 3 seat) sent a few photos from the event. Two of the crew are sadly no longer with us – Jim Fadayomi (7) and Sean Williams (5) – son of Rusty Williams who coached University of London for many years.
There are three things which are very different from the same event today – apart of course from the fact that due to the pandemic the event will not run at all this year, nor indeed did it last year. First, there were no girls racing in the event and second, the race was much shorter. It started from the Corinthian Sailing Club, near Latymer Upper’s boathouse a little up stream of Hammersmith Bridge, to the current finish at Westminster School Boat Club. It was more of a 2000m / Henley sprint course in those days, as the winning time of 7 mins 20.3 secs indicates. Third, there were no crew sculling boats competing.
The Emanuel crew went on to come 22nd in the Tideway Head, gain the Silver medal in Championship VIIIs at National Schools Regatta, and reach the final of the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley, losing to the US schoolboy champions, Holy Spirit HS, in the final by 1 1/3 lengths, conceding 2 stone (a little over 12 kg) a man. In the same year, Emanuel reached the final at Henley.
This was an exceptionally determined crew. The cox’s name will be familiar to current rowers: Kenton Sanmogan, the name on one of our octuples. Meanwhile, the coach of the crew is still a familiar sight around the boathouse!
Mr Marriott (Rowing Coach)
Pictured below, clockwise from top left: the 1st VIII in training; the 1st VIII competing at the 1981 Schools Head of the River; Richard Marriott with the winning pennant from 1981; the 1st VIII competing at the Tideway Head one week later, coming 22nd out of 420 (mostly adult) crews.
