The Boys in the Boat fundraiser was a sell out, raising c. £250 for the LARC Boat Fund.

Club Captain Hugo, welcomed special guests Csllr Barry Dunning, Eric Smith; Life time member, Hannah and Karen; the The Leon Crouch Foundation, Colin Kier; long time Friend of LARC, Club President Brian Goodall and all 80 of you wonderful club members with your family and friends.

Hugo then introduced Valeria Sesto, local endurance athlete and coach to tell us a bit about her role as an extra in this film.

Val Sesto spoke of her part as a spectator in the crowd at the ‘Hudson Regatta in Poughkeepsie, New York’ and how most of her filming was on site at Henley. She spent hours in hair and make up and explained how many filming hours equate to just a snippet in the film, once edited. She spoke of her other acting roles in Pinocchio and the Virgin ‘marathon’ adverts.

She explained how as an endurance athlete, these acting roles help her financially support her passion and commitment to perform at the highest level. She recently qualified for the Ironman World Championships to be held in NZ later this year, after a gruelling qualification race in Kona, Hawaii.

I have known Val for many years and totally agree with her belief that sport and the community it creates, produces life long lessons and friendships.

So…as she summarised: ’Keep on Rowing’.

If you aren’t already coached or familiar with Val, then look out for her running the streets of Lymington; the Red Row loops are one of her favourites, so be sure to say Hi! She wont stop, but she’ll appreciate the boost and reply as she’s speeding off into the distance at road runner speed…

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