‘Twas the night before…. the big Thames win…
Twas the night before Christmas the Great River Race,
And all through the house campsite,
Not a creature was stirring – except Nick and Ali.
The boats had been trailered to the Isle of Dogs with care,
In hopes that all the rest of the crew soon would get there.
By midnight Coigach were nestled snug in their tents,
While visions of their long journey south danced in their heads…
Earlier the ‘local’ had been enjoyed by the lot…
The hog-roast and ‘Doombar’ had fair hit the spot.
When in the camp marquee, there arose such a clatter
The Dutch Oompah band was drowning out the chatter!
The moon on the bodies of the late-revelling rowers
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below us
But all too soon the crack of dawn arose
And knackered rowers, groaning, climbed into damp clothes.
Now Alison! Now Calum! Now Grethe! Now Dan!
Now Lesley, Nick, Seumas, Gerry, Mark, Ish, Alan and Sam!
More rapid than eagles the buses they came
And the stewards had everyone checked on by name.
And so through the Thames mud, slithered the rowers
Taking time to get the craic with all the other oar-ers
Our old friends from Holland had the Groot & Grut close by…
…And Lesley was interviewed by the telly folk from Dubai!
Then into the Thames the bonny skiffs they rowed
Each boat with six crew and a load of bananas stowed.
As dry leaves before a wild hurricane blow,
When the start horn went, the ‘Coigach Lass’ and ‘Lily~Rose’ were GO!
They pulled on their oars, they didn’t need a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle!
They spoke hardly a word but went straight up the river
Passing boats left and right with hardly a quiver…
Neck and neck for a while strove on the two boats
But the ‘Coigach Lass’ rowers were feeling their oats…
…And pulling ahead of all opposition
2 mins. ahead of the ‘Lily~Rose’ – they secured First Position!
(Mixed 4-oar section!)
Their eyes how they twinkled, their dimples how merry….!
…Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries! (…on the cider)
But we heard them exclaim as they all flew North out of sight…
Happy rowing to all – and to all a goodnight!
With huge apologies to the original, classic poem…… 🙂
