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All race reports for Emma Salgård Cunha

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2006 - Lower VIIIs
Posted as: Emma
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Wow Lorry thats a pretty downhearted take on things! This was our best rowing all term, everyone gave it their all (Will whimpering for the last twenty strokes) and i was really pleased with our time. The first fifty or so strokes especially were brilliant - relaxed, loose but rating high and plenty of power in the water. We really picked it up along first post reach but held it together for a great end to the race.

Event: Head of the Nene 2007 - Novice VIIIs
Posted as: Emma
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That was fun! I don't think i've ever seen you guys work so hard!

After a warm-up which could only be called mediocre, i was at least slightly worried. As it happened, we got the boat moving pretty well and despite an entire lack of balance we rated a consistent 32. The battle with queens firsts seemed to go on forever but we were always going to get past them and eventually they realised the inevitable.

Can't wait for the Robinson Head.

Event: Robinson Head 2007 - Lower VIIIs
Posted as: Emma
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Well, we won.
It was a pretty good effort from everyone, but not quite as powerful as it has been in training. Glad that we stayed on top of the high-rate stuff, it bodes well for bumps.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2007 - 2nd division
Posted as: Emma
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Great result today guys, that final was the best we've rowed all term. The commitment never dropped for a second. One week til bumps so lets just keep our focus and translate everything from today forward into our first race.

(I have race recordings for Churchill and Emmanuel if anyone wants to relive the experience.)

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Tuesday
Posted as: Emma
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Good work today guys. I was really impressed by the way you pulled out all the stops coming into the gut, the shift in boat speed was awesome!

Roll on Thursday, and *touch wood*a quick bump on Sidney...

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Saturday
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Great term's work guys, we got what we deserved. Thanks to all of you for your dedication to this crew. I love the lot of you! XXX

PS Just like to wish Neil good luck for life after the PhD.

Event: Henley Royal Regatta 2007 - Temple Cup
Posted as: Emma
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I clocked us at 6.55, although (as Ming was keen to point out) prior to this race i had never at any point made any meaningful or accurate use of the cox box's stopwatch function.

Event: University IVs 2006 - 2nd division
Posted as: Emma Leadbetter
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Our 'improvised' start meant that none of the first three draws even touched the water, but surprisingly the wind strokes went well and we steadied out at a surprisingly happy 31 for the first reach. Lolling heads apart it was a lovely steady row and probably the best we've felt all term. Good work guys - next time lets try for two full crew outings before the race!

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2008 - Men's 1st Div. Mays
Posted as: Emma
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Not a bad race all in all. Two subs into the five and six seats is never ideal, but in the end we dealt with it very well. (Cheers for helping out lads!)

Some nice confident paddling on the way down and the starts were looking less disastrous than Friday's attempts. In the race the start was ok, rating a little higher than planned (what do we expect with Mr Canada in the stroke seat). About as tidy as could have been expected. We dealt with the corner well, emerging at rate 37 with catches intact.

The reach was hit and miss. Kept the rating on target til around 2 minutes where we sagged briefly - some committed pushes resurrected the rate and a 'bow-four catches' call worked wonders to pick us up under the railway bridge.

The last minute was a hard slog, bringing the rating up to 38 by virtue of a lot of grunting and wheezing. The stroke side lean grew progressively as technique began to fall apart...

Although it wasn't exactly a comfortable race, I'm pleased with this result. Its good to find out our limits. We're in a good position to move things on again technically in outings this week. Good job lads.

Event: May Bumps 2008 - Saturday
Posted as: Emma
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With a crazily quick Fitz ahead of us we knew that the last race was going to go all the way to the line. The plan: hard off the start, then think about nothing but getting the catches in for the next six minutes or so. Pushes into the corners ("Not you, Hannes") and our big lift on hand for whenever we needed it.

From the first stroke it was clear that Christ's meant business. Our start was strong and clean, rating up to 47 and sitting at a chunky 39 for the first minute and a half. Christ's were on station for most of first post reach but just started to close as we came into the first corner. There was no trace of panic in the crew however, and we held the rate high through the gut, passing a bumped out Emmanuel (with a moment's sympathy for Fitz). A wobbly grassy corner saw Christ's move up on us but our handy Sit Up push saw an amazing lift and they remained at just above a length to Ditton. This was where we knew we would have to make things happen, and we really did. A gutsy push off the corner stalled their advance, we kept our heads, and started to move away again.

Halfway down the reach it was crunch time again: Tom panted "one length" and Phil's calls from the bank were getting more frequent and less optimistic! With forty strokes to the line we took the rate up to row over about 1 1/2 lengths clear, securing the Michell Cup in the process.

This was Tom, Dan, Seb and Albert's last race and i don't think we could have asked for a better one. We held off everything that Christ's could throw at us and put in some of the best individual performances of the term. We proved that we deserve our place in the first division, and that a mish-mash crew of shorties, fatties, oldies and novices can get together to move a boat fast.

I've had a great term with you guys. Thanks to Gonzalo, David, Tom and JPD for coaching ("Nudge and open it out..."), and Phil for his support this week. Thanks to Gregor for stepping into the Hannes-shaped breach when we thought we'd lost him to injury. And thanks to Laff and Hannes for always putting the crew first.

And at least we don't row in a yellow submarine.

Event: May Bumps 2008 - Friday
Posted as: Emma
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Training plan called for technical pairs work.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2008 - 1st division
Posted as: Emma
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First leg was a bit tense but the second felt more relaxed and as a consequence we achieved a higher rate in conjunction with a longer stroke.

Pleased with this result, good to see us more than competitive in the first division. As Dan says the rowing still isn't pretty but its starting to come together and there were patches (especially in the second leg) where we were moving very nicely. This crew has already made big improvements and i think we're all confident there's more to come. Cheers lads.

Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2007 - Senior IVs
Posted as: Emma
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Scratch crew or not, this four was always going to be quick. Still, i was pretty surprised at how well we started off, nice sharp catches and the rate came very easily. Initially we had a few balance issues but got over them without too much incident ("Rich! Tap down. Tap down, Rich! Tap DOWN! Tap down... Tap down!.. Tap down pleeeease!")and settled onto a very happy 34. We flew through the first half of the race to Chesterton, and luckily the strong tail wind that we'd suffered with a little in the eight had pretty much vanished as we came onto the reach. Really gutsy rowing from stern pair kept the rate dead on, and the wind from the railings was awesome. Fantastic race boys, thanks!

Event: Head of the River IVs 2007 - S3+ (A)
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Not all doom and gloom, just partial doom and gloom.

Although we rated on target and kept the pushes coming we never really got it together. Horrendous balance in the first few minutes of the race made it difficult to find the rhythm we were looking for. Still, we overtook four or five crews (one of which had crashed into a buoy, despite being a bowloaded four...) and were never overtaken ourselves. There were some nice patches when the backs came through together but overall it was a hard slog. As Bryn says above, i think we learned from the race and hopefully we can take what we gained back with us as we return to the comfort zone of on-Cam racing.

Event: University IVs 2007 - 1st division
Posted as: Emma
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The start was pretty well together but we failed to settle onto anything like a race rhythm before hitting first post corner. Luckily this wasnt critical as we were already pulling away. A fifteen stroke push in the gut got things moving and again the pushes down the Plough were agressive if not terribly tidy. Things really picked up on the reach - suddenly we found the power in the middle of the drive that we have been looking for all term and pushed out our lead to around 20 seconds. A satisfying start to the week.

Event: Lent Bumps 2009 - Friday
Posted as: Emma
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YEAH BUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Saturday
Posted as: Emma
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There are a select few members of First and Third who have been Foot of the River, myself and our esteemed secretary being two of them. Welcome to the club, M6!

This term has seen some fantastic results for the crew, including brilliant performances at Nines Regatta and in the Getting on Race. In bumps we never really settled down and produced the results we knew we could. Nevertheless, Saturday's row was by far the best of the week. A smooth start with less nerves meant that we were on station as the crews ahead bumped out, and the rowover was committed and fast with some great lines and strong pushes especially along the reach.

M6 are an extremely hard working crew (how many college M6s train three or four sessions a week with erg tests..) and valuable members of the lower boats squad. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in Michaelmas.

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Saturday
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZaOFeW5jF0

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Friday
Posted as: Emma
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This was a lot more like it! Less nervy on the start and we found a good cruising speed and rate. Unfortunately ARU III were out for blood after their unfortunate double overbumping the day before, and they went off like a rocket. Still the crew gave them a good fight, and only conceded just before grassy corner. Let's be even sharper tomorrow and we'll see what we can do.

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Friday
Posted as: Emma
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A really nice start (although we were pointing slightly towards the bank) and a strong stride followed by about twenty strokes of good long rowing at 35. Then they hit us. I'm not sure there was much else we could have done against this crew. Tomorrow we'll need to combine the best bits of all our rows so far - i have a feeling its going to get epic!

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Thursday
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Technical pairs work?

Nerves got the better of us today. Christ's ahead were fast and deserved their excellent bump. A bit of a frantic start and before we ever really got it together the six man was off his seat and it was game over. So tomorrow, we row like we row in the warm-up, do a practise start like the one we practised, and make our training count.

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Wednesday
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

A good, clean, fast start quickly deteriorated as the velcro footstrap at two gave way. Harry was lucky to stay in the boat at all given the circumstances: but rowing in sixes was never part of the race plan and Christs absolutely nailed us before first post...

On a positive note, the best bits of the row down were good and the start itself was impressive. Tomorrow we're looking for the bump back!

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Wednesday
Posted as: Emma
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Loaaaaaaaads of lengths.

Mwahhaha

Event: May Bumps Getting-on Race 2009 -
Posted as: Emma
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This was another race to be proud of from M6. Exams finishing at 5pm meant we had a hasty warm up down to the lock, but we were rowing well together and feeling confident.

In the race itself the rate came easily and we held a steady 32-33 throughout. First post reach was fast and committed and Ilya and bow pair made light work of the corners. A really good legs push in the gut kept the rate up and the boat speed was good.

In plough reach we began to suffer and heads went down while forearms were clearly starting to burn! But as we turned into the headwind for the home straight we had a fantastic restart. Sitting up tall into the wind we held the rate high until the last fifty strokes - and finished with a big push followed by William's lungs giving up on the finish line!!

Individual performances were also excellent. You've all come a long way, especially Mikkel and Chen in the stern. Whatever the result of this race you should all be proud of what you've achieved together since you started out as novices in Mich.

Conclusion: Great race boys, now we play the waiting game...

...the waiting game was worth the wait. Huge congratulations to you all on getting on to your first ever bumps race. Six crews in the Mays - back where we belong?

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2009 - 4th and lower division
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

We had more confidence after our good row in the first round and were ready to take on Emmanuel. Still missing a footplate at seven, we nevertheless lined up on the start ready for a big race.

The start was our best yet, giving us four seats in the first fifteen strokes. But we failed to get the rate down to anything more sustainable and never found the smoothness of our earlier work at rate 32. Whether from tiredness (in the forearms as much as the legs!) or just from teh shock of finding ourselves in the winning position, we never quite got it together and Emma gradually moved away. A good last thirty strokes wasn't enough, and they crossed the line about a length and a half ahead.

Overall we had a really great day's racing and i'm very proud of the achievements of the crew. These were tough, committed races against serious opposition. Training starts tomorrow for the Getting on Race...

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2009 - 4th and lower division
Posted as: Emma
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A good first race for the crew. We arrived at the start to find a crew of frankly huge ARU boys in a racing shell - not ideal. But we knew from sparring that we had a good start and the paddle down had been solid, so what the hell, we thought we might as well try and give them a scare.

The crew was very focussed on the line, and the start was excellent. We did well to hold them at half a length for the first twenty strokes, after which they gradually increased their margin. The boys didn't give up, and the race was going smoothly at a solid rate 31 when the velcro of Edmund's footplate gave up the ghost. We paddled on valiantly in sixes but by this stage they were stringing out their winning margin and even back in eights we had little chance of any proper recovery.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2008 - Plate
Posted as: Emma
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Turned up manifestly on time only to be told that due to the incompetence of Clare BC, the marshalling instructions contained three different marshalling times for our division, and we'd gone with the online draw rather than the pdf. AAAAARGH!!!

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2008 - Plate
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Can i just add what a quality bit of coaching that is too!

Thats the first time i'd seen your race, guys, very impressive performance considering the new crew order. It looked like you maintained a nice rhythm under pressure in the first part of the race, and got your reward by really cruising the second half... We'll be flying by fairbairns!!

Event: Robinson Head 2009 - 1st division
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

This was a confident debut from M5. Although the crew have only been together for a week, today proved that we've established something really good to work on over the next few weeks til bumps.

A slightly ambitious start saw us rating 33 under the motorway bridge, but it wasnt long til we'd settled onto a springy 28. Balance was a lot better than it has been in some of the paddling, and we were gaining on the crew in front. Ilya took some great lines through the gut and grassy, but by then the tiredness was beginning to set in and the boat speed started to drop. The sight of Emma W1 behind us soon got the legs working again, and there were committed pushes on plough reach. Coming onto the reach, Emma came up for the overtake - the crew kept their heads, kept the pushes coming, and it took a good forty strokes for them to push through. Heads never went down, and the boys held their form right through the railway bridge and to the finish.

I'm really proud of this result, and proud of you all for some great individual performances. We need to keep training hard this week and make big steps on before the Getting on Race, but i'm confidnet that this crew has what it takes.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2009 - 3rd division
Posted as: Emma
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This was a disappointing day for a crew who were up at 6.45am for their first race, only to find they had byes until nearly 3pm. After all that, the organisers had made a total mess of the draw and the immediately came up against our own M3, despite expecting to race them in the finals.

Nevertheless, i was pleasantly surprised by our first attempt at starts on the water and at the standard of paddling. The race itself had lots of guts, lots of guns, but unfortunately the rate was inconsistent. The start was clean enough, but the Gents just moved out in front. High spirits may have contributed to our blade clash on around the 10th stroke, but both crews recoevered quickly. M4 proved hard to shake off, and it wasnt until our push off the railway bridge that the technique finally gave way and M3 were able to extend their lead.

We need to get good quality water time to make sure we have a blazing start for bumps. With Jake and Richard back in the boat too I think that this m4 will be a force to be reckoneed with! Things cna only get better.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2009 - 3rd division
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

This was a really good first race against daunting opposition. M5 may not be the biggest guys, but they certainly outrowed Fitz III, extending their lead steadily throughou the course. Fitz's unnerving shouting and attempts to push back were dealt with calmly and thye never really made headway.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2009 - 3rd division
Posted as: Emma
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We couldn't have asked for more from the crew in this race. LMBC 3 can give our M4 and even M3 a bit of a run for their money, but the boys were unphased and had their best row of the day. The start was much better and stern pair did a great job keeping the rate high. Fitness was beginning to tell as we came round the bend at the railway bridge, however, and we lost it over the last thirty strokes or so. LMBC had by this time strung out their lead to a few lengths.

The Getting on Race is the big test now. Watching you from the bank i'm sure you can make it, but we'll need to move on from today amd hit this week's outings hard to make sure of the result we want.

Event: Lent Bumps 2009 - Saturday
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Well done boys, you deserved this. Good to see you starting the pre-pre-pre-dinner drinks early as well!

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2009 - 4th and lower division
Posted as: Emma
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They knew we were coming.

Event: University IVs 2009 - 2nd Coxed Four
Posted as: Emma
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M3a set off in good spirits for round one against Queens M2. After a few shuffles this week and some difficulty getting full crew outings we were a little underprepared for the race, but had been making good progress and felt confident that the race would be a close one.

We had a really solid paddle down, better than paddling in previous outings in fact, and a good warm up with strong bursts and practice starts. The race start was strong and powerful, rating up to 40 and settling onto a steady 33 with good cover. By the gut the two crews were on station and things were looking good. However, grassy really knocked the rhythm and despite a scrappy restart and Queens' very dodgy steering we gave up a few lengths on Plough reach.

Rounding onto the reach we were met by a stiff head/crosswind. Again Queens took an abysmal line around Ditton but whilst we began to really tire and let the rate drop, they produced an extremely effective wind and closed rapidly overthe last 600 metres, finishing with overlap.

A disappointing result but nevertheless a useful first race - we had our best paddling, start, and 1000m of rowing so far... just a pity we weren't able to keep things together for the second half of the race! Hopefully we'll be back together for Fairbairns!

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2009 - 3rd Mens Novice VIII
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Yeah buddy.

Event: Novice Fairbairn Cup 2009 - 2nd division
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

This was an excellent performance from NM3 rowing in an exciting (!) new crew combination after losing a couple of guys up to NM2, and gaining some fresh blood from NM4!

Our race plan focussed on what we do well - rowing consistently, without panic, and staying concentrated on the job in hand. I was a little worried that we wouldn't be able to hold onto that concentration in a race situation, but I shouldn't have doubted the boys! A really storming start and first two minutes set us up very nicely and the rate was consistent at 28. Heads never went down and we maintained our timing with no hiccoughs all the way through the the railway bridge. We knew we had to dig deep for the last 500m of the course and with shouts of encouragement from the boat we would up to 30 just in time to die on the finish line.

This was a solid end to a good couple of week's rowing together. Looking forward to seeing you all in the Senior squad come Lents!

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2009 - Senior VIIIs
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

This was a solid race and a good end to a somewhat experimental term. It's gutting not to win Fairbairrns, but Queens' time was really outstanding! I was very pleased with our position in the rankings and with our committed performance in the race itself. To quote Dan Jane, i am very proud to be part of such a classy crew!

This term morale has been high and we've been lucky to gain some "fresh blood" ex-schoolboy rowers. But with a very mixed squad from all sorts of different rowing backgrounds it took us a while to find our feet. The strategy of remaining in scratch fours for the main part of term was never going to give us quick pay-offs - instead we have made the kind of excellent individual and whole-squad changes which are necessary as a platform for defending our headships and HoRR position.

Having jumped into an approximate Fairbairns eight a couple of weeks ago we knew that we had an enormous task to make up the time between us and the crews who topped Winter Head. The amount of improvement each outing was dramatic, and i think we all felt the infectious excitement when a crew really starts to live up to its potential. We went off hard in the race and maintained rate 34/5 throughout. Our strategy was to bring out the big guns at Chesterton and nail that central stretch all the way to Ditton. Despite the odd wobble the cover was consistently good throughout with no signs of the ridiculous slide rush which had plagued us the week before.

With the loss of all our permanent coaches from the last few years there are lots of people to thank for helping us get this far. Our gratitude to Phil H and Phil P for coaching and supporting on the bank, Coker and Pedro for subbing, and to Peter Summers, Dan Darley and Neil Talbott for giving up weeks of their valuable time. Last of all, congratulations to M2 - and of course W1 who did what we couldn't quite!

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2011 - 2nd division
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

A nervy but committed start saw us down by a few seats at the stride. The boys fought hard but ultimately the two crews were well matched once they'd hit cruising speed and we never made an impression on their lead. We had a great thirty strokes through and past the railway bridge where we really found our rhythm, but finished a canvas short, rating 37 and pushing Maggie all the way. Congratulations due to them!

The crew have come very far since their disappointments at the start of term. A few weeks to polish the start and we'll be ready for a rematch.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Tuesday
Posted as: Emma
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Good lads.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2011 - Plate
Posted as: Emma
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Tricky conditions meant that NM3 veered off towards the meadows on the first ten strokes, but some snazzy coxing and a very sharp looking wind meant that they recovered well. The two crews were well matched and more-or-less level as they reached cruising speed, but the boys fought hard and remained calm, pushing LMBC back to about half a length and gradually pulling away.

Under the railway bridge an excellent line gave them clear water and they pushed again to finish a few lengths clear.

Well done lads (and lass)!!

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Tuesday
Posted as: Emma
Event Link

Just saw this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Si_gxJI9I

...that was a row to be proud of boys.