The Salopian Summer 2023

SALOPIAN CLUB NEWS 103
SKIPPY’S TERRIERS REASSEMBLE
In Ed Shropshire’s typewritten report of the 1990 Runcorn
Regatta (held on a particularly ‘industrial’ stretch of the
River Weaver) he started with an excellent joke - that a
Geiger Counter might be as useful as anything to monitor
stroke rates. His report was also the first to mention
‘Skippy’s Terriers’, the adopted name of that season’s 2nd
VIII. That day, we had scooped our first pots.
‘Skippy’ was the easy-going Australian coach Richard
Ponsford, over from Melbourne to teach for five terms. We
were his crew, fearlessly competitive despite the size of
the opposition, hence ‘Terriers’. That magical season, we
Terriers were very successful, including an unforgettable
victory over St Edward’s (Teddy’s) 1st VIII at Evesham.
Skippy was a brilliant coach, enormously proud of us all,
who radiated an infectious belief in our potential. The
crew’s other secret weapon was cox Matt Capps (PH
1986-91), whose start-line motivational speeches and welltimed
pushes undoubtedly added boat speed. Very sadly,
Matt died whilst studying at Durham University.
In 2020, John Cooper (PH 1986-91) our stroke mooted
a 30th anniversary reunion which COVID quickly stymied.
But the enthusiasm with which crew and coach (now
resident in Melbourne) reconnected made it clear that
our team spirit had endured and that the Terriers needed
to row again! Finally, on 7th May 2023, thanks to the
determined efforts of Caroline and Nick Scott (Rt 1986-
91), the patient support of our families, the generosity
of Athol Hundermark and the Pengwerne Boat Club
committee, the Skippy’s Terriers reassembled to row over
the course at Shrewsbury Regatta.
The sun shone, the years melted away and the crew, if
a little balder, were surprised and delighted at the speed
at which our technique returned and the boat moved.
Skippy woke up at 2am for a pre-outing video call from
Melbourne. Cameron Gilby (O L6) kindly stood in for Matt
Capps, whose mother and brother, Martin came to cheer us
on. Martin managed to avoid cycling into the river whilst
filming, and Cameron earned Honorary Terrier status with
his fearless handling of a crew with a combined age of 400.
It was an unforgettable day.
During reunion preparations, Skippy shared the transcript
of a motivational poem, If (not Kipling’s) that he’d first
recited on the banks of the River Dee. It is a brilliant
paean to the power of belief and deserves reproducing
here (below). But, the fact that we could all still remember
so much of what Skippy said (I recently used his ‘your
legs keep on keeping on’ line to help my daughters
up a Scottish mountain); the fact that we so willingly
reassembled to enjoy our friendship and not-too-shabby
rowing; the fact that it was this crew that reunited (despite
quite a few of the Terriers going on to far greater rowing
heights); well, that is a demonstration of the power of
shared belief and purpose fostered by a great coach over
33 years ago.
Thinking by Walter D. Wintle
If you think you’re beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t
It’s almost certain you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will –
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are
You’ve got to think high to rise
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
Scan the QR code to enjoy
a video of the occasion.
Tom Lewis (R 1986-91)
Henley 1990 (bow-cox): Hamish Smith (I), Tom Lewis (R), Ben
Hebbblethwaite (R), Jim Dale (O), Nick Scott (Rt), Hugh Mowat (O), Ed
Gormley (SH), John Cooper (PH) and Matt Capps (PH)
Shrewsbury 2023: crew as in 1990 but coxed by Cameron Gilby (O L6)