Splash!

Not another rowing photo! I know.... but this one makes it into my journal because, despite the Gold medal victory at Marlow the day before, Tom is very nervous in this picture as he rows up to the start of a 500m sprint. With good reason. First time racing in a single and so far about half his outings in a single have ended up with him taking a dip. Balance is not his forte. So Reading Regatta here he comes, well almost, if only he'd made it all the way through his race without capsizing.

Afterwards a young lad of no more than 5 or 6 ran over to him as he towelled off, and said 'you could've won that if you hadn't fallen in!' then got shy and ran away.