Phyllis Court RC Time Trial goes fully adaptive

Adaptive crews from across southern England headed to Henley last weekend for what’s become the UK’s biggest adaptive competition

While much of the rowing community was indoors watching The Boat Race on Sunday, 13 April, 23 crews were enjoying the largely deserted river as they competed in the Phyllis Court Time Trial.

The competition’s evolution from a member-only event for Phyllis Court members all started with the question, “Mind if I bring a friend?” – very much in the spirit British Rowing’s slogan for adaptive rowing in clubs, “Just Start with One.”

In 2016, Robert Hall was a not only the coach of the Guildford RC adaptive squad , but also happened to be a member of Phyllis Court BC. As he was helping with the organisation of their annual club time trial – a fun affair with breakfast beforehand and a BBQ lunch after for the participants – he asked if he could bring a couple of his adaptive rowers along from Guildford.

The next year, word got out about what a great event it was and Robert asked the club committee to if he might extend the invitation a bit further to a number of adaptive clubs in the Thames Valley area.  Phyllis Court gladly welcomed a even more coming along.  By the following year, clubs all over southern England were asking to join in!  The event soon changed from being a Phyllis Court event with some adaptives to being mostly adaptive rowers with a few Phyllis Court members getting a row. This year, Phyllis Court decided to go all in with its focus and support of adaptive rowing by making it a 100% adaptive event.

Bruce Lynn, Adaptive/Para Rowing Coach/Coordinator at Marlow RC said, “Just when we thought that the Phyllis Court people couldn’t be more generous supportive with their event, they took the ultimate step of making it 100% focused on the adaptive rowing.  The adaptive community has been looking to have some sort of event where they could all come together and Phyllis Court made it happen.”

Single sculler Claire Parker of Falcon RC and Guildford RC’s supported adaptive double of Lily Gray and 2008 Paralympic Champion Rachel Morris.

The Time Trial – over a 620m upstream course from Upper Thames to Phyllis Court – is a pillar of the adaptive rowing calendar for several reasons. First, because it is the first competition of the season, the Phyllis Court event provides an exceptionally flexible and welcoming environment, which takes so much of the pressure off the coaches still testing and tweaking their array of adaptive gear, as well as the athletes. For many athletes, it’s also the first race of their budding rowing career.

Another crucial benefit of the Time Trial is that it provides updated ‘baseline’ times for the adaptive community’s Time Handicap system, which is kept in a national database and regularly updated based on performance.

After sorely the Phyllis Court Time Trial for several years due to Covid-19 lockdowns and bad weather, it has emerged stronger than ever as the UK’s biggest annual adaptive rowing event with 16 double sculls (including supported adaptive doubles) and seven single scullers taking part from Falcon RC, Guildford RC, Marlow RC and Stratford upon Avon BC.

For more information about future adaptive rowing racing opportunities, contact [email protected].

Winner of the Best Newcomer Award, Maximilian Kernchen of Guildford with his support rower Rachel Morris.

The event was supported by Henley Mayor Rory Hunt, Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo, Henley Town Councillor Kellie Hinton, the Chairman Phyllis Court RC Janine Fitzgerald, and Paralympic Champion Rachel Morris.Photos: Sue Nadin