Chris Rice Boat Naming Commemoration
Last month not only saw the start to our Regatta Campaign but also something very personal to Queen’s Rowing. With the loss of Chris last year to a tragic car accident many club members, supporters and coaches wished to do do something to honour his memory.
The decision was finally made that the Men’s Club Filippi 4+ would have the privilege of carrying his name. This particular boat is one of most prized in the entire fleet at Queens. A 2011 hull that has seen many National Medal wins as well as success at both the British University College Sport Championships and Irish National Championships.
Chris himself trained and competed in this boat as well as winning the Novice 4X+ event at the 2014 University Boat Race in his first year at the club alongside Oliver Graham, John Vincent, Phillip Doyle and (Cox) Peter Ramsey.
After a small presentation and a toast the crowd watched as the Intermediate Lightweight 4+ took to the water for a ceremonial row past by David Roy, Luke McCann, Jason Armstrong, Miles Taylor and Carol Moorehead. It was a very fitting sight to see Chris’s name on a boat as respected as this and we could think of no better tribute to someone who devoted so much of his time to Queen’s Rowing as an Athlete, Coach, Novice Manager, Mentor, Committee Member and Friend.
International Ghent May Regatta, Belgium
As the rest of Queens compete at the Queen’s Regatta this weekend in Castlwellan Forest Park, two of our Elite Athletes traveled to Belgium to compete in the International Ghent Regatta on the G. Nachez Course. Both Tiernan Oliver and Christopher Beck made the journey earlier in the week to compete against some of the toughest European competitors in the sport with many athletes having represented their Universities at U23 level as well as their respectable nations of origin.
Heats
With the competition in full swing both athletes took to the water to test their mettle in the LM 1X and the M 2X.
First up was Chris Beck who rowed a time of 7.52.97 in the Lightweight 1X placing 1st in his heat.
Chris and Tiernan then took to the M 2X in which they rowed a time of 7.16.78 placing them 3rd in their heat.
Finals
With the recent success at BUCS for the Queens Senior 2X there were high hopes for more success in Belgium. Unfortunately Phillip Doyle was unable to race due to sickness which meant that Christopher Beck joined Tiernan Oliver racing hard and placing respectively against the rest of the field.
Christopher placed 3rd in Lightweight 1X with a time of 7.41.70 just behind Mattias Johannson who is a former Swedish Junior World Champion and first place to German John Urspung.
A big congratulations to both athletes journeying to represent their University and to Christopher on bring home a Bronze medal for QUBBC. Bravo!
(Credit to Tiernan Oliver & John Armstrong for photographs)
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Congratulations on getting this report out so quickly!
Many Thanks Eric!
congratulations on the informative and timely reports. For those of us living abroad it is a very good connection. As an old timer I am still trying ti bet to grips with the various event categories at modern day regattas. The ongoing news reports a great help.in this regard.
Is there any plan for QUBBC to compete at Henley this year? I assume it would in the smaller boats?
Many thanks Arthur. The discussion has come up as of recent and we shall be updating everyone when it is made. Keep your eyes on the page for more updates!
I would like to concur with the comments made by Arthur Lees (a QUBBC contemporary) . Although London isn’t quite “abroad” the regular news reports enhance my connection with the Club And congratulations on the excellent result at Ghent.
I would like to concur with Arthur Lees (a QUBBC contemporary) comments. Although London doesn’t quite qualify as ‘abroad’, the comprehensive newsletters do enhance my connection to the Club. And Congratulations on the excellent result at Ghent.