About Thames

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The 1990's

Great Britain Women's Lightweight Coxless Four, 1993 World Championships, Racice

left to right: Alison Brownless (Thames), Jane Hall (Kingston), Annamarie Stapleton (Thames), Tonia Williams (Notts County)

The Gold medal taken by this crew was the first ever for a British women's crew at the World Championships. It was also the greatest success of 'Wilma' Brownless, Britain's most medalled woman rower, with five Silvers in addition to this Gold. Although a stalwart of Bill Mason's group at Queen's Tower, she always raced in Thames colours (having been a TRC member since 1988). More recently she has contributed to coaching at Thames, most notably to the 1999 Women's Eight (see below). Annamarie Stapleton also had a distinguished career, which was crowned in 2001 when she was elected as only the second female Steward of Henley Royal Regatta.

Winners, Men's Senior 1 Coxed Fours, Nottingham Head of the Trent, 1996

Photograph by JET Photographic, Cambridge

Paul Taylor (bow), Andy Elms, Simon 'Reg' Hattan, Stuart Foster (stroke), Liz Mason (cox)

Lightweight women's quadruple scull, 1997

left to right: Jo Lightowler, Nikki Best, Rachel Frost, Polly Gough

The 97 quad was a highly successful crew. They began the season with Silver medals at the Belgian International Championships and Ghent International Regatta, both highly competitive events. Back in Britain they doubled up in Elite and Senior 2 Quads at Docklands Regatta, winning both.

At Henley Women's Regatta they won the lightweight event in a record time. At National Championships they entered both the openweight and lightweight events. They took Gold in both, setting a championship record (6.47.68) in lightweight, and coming within 4 seconds of the openweight record. As a result of these successes, they were selected to represent England at the Home Countries International, where they again took Gold.

Thames Cup, second crew, Henley Royal Regatta 1998

Photograph courtesy of Paul Taylor

Paul Allen (bow), Simon Leigh, Greg Reed, Matteo Cassina, Paul Taylor, Stuart Earl, Mark Pullin, Tim Ballentine (stroke), Ruth Kelly (cox)

The 98 second crew was a group of older rowers, who only began training full time from May. On Wednesday they drew the Army Rowing Club, and beat them by 2 1/4 lengths, with our Patron, Prince Michael of Kent watching from the Umpire's launch. However on Thursday they met Queen's Tower and went out.

Club eight, Henley Women's Regatta 1999

Photograph by John Shore

Harriet Lowden (bow), Elly Palmer, Alex Murray, Mel Barrett, AJ Drake, Emma James, Lucy Bowen, Charlotte Dalton (stroke), James Elder (cox)

This crew was a classic example of a Thames Club Eights winner, starting the year inexperienced but becoming formidable through commitment and solid coaching. They faced their sternest test in the first round against Neptune, having to make up a half length deficit after they fluffed the start. Once this little hiccup was over, it was plain sailing. In the final they beat Wesleyan University, USA by 3 1/2 lengths. The crew went on to take the Club Champions shield at the National Championships.