Rowing at SMC
David MayWe’ve had quite a busy season thus far having competed at a national level in the two 40’ Abu Dhabi races and two 30’ Dubai races. Our next major race is on 24 April when we row against the other HCT Men’s Colleges in the 10th Annual HCT Traditional Rowing Race. Fierce rivalry between the lads and our Ras Al Khaimah brothers has always been an intriguing feature of the race. We’re the best of friends when we see each other at the national level races, but when it comes to the HCT event, the blood in both boats gets very hot. The 2011 race, as an example, saw the SHC sakounie (the coxswain) board the RKMC boat mid race brandishing the kana (tiller)! The score card for the nine previous HCT races reflects this competitively hot spirit, reading RKMC 5, SMC 4. If we win the upcoming event on 24 April, we level the score.
Our aim is to win the HCT race, but frankly this goal is going to be an enormous challenge. RKMC have a core of very strong rowers. We’re fortunate, though, to have a partnership with Ali Matar Al Shamsi’s association from Mushairef in Ajman Ali , and so with his club’s training and moral support we’re going to be as prepared as ever we can. If you know a rower, though, please offer him all the encouragement you can next semester as the boys are going to have to train real hard once Semester 2 resumes.
Daniel Millie
