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All race reports for Thomas O'Neill

Event: Novice Fairbairn Cup 2006 - 2nd division
Posted as: T.A. O'Neill
Event Link

Just to clear it up, although rowing as the second boat in the womens first division, we are a mens crew.
We were certainly faster than the boats ahead of and behind us and the rest of the second novice division.

joint 6th & top 2nd boat!!!
Yeah!!!!

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2007 - 3rd division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The awful draw stroke was mine... unfortunately... fortunately it didn't cost us this time, something for me to work on though.

Event: Lent Bumps Getting-on Race 2007 -
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The race went OK, the initial drive away from the motorway bridge felt good. A push through the gut and onto the plough reach kept the boat moving well. Turning into the headwind on the reach the speed did drop and rhythm started to go unfortunately, but we held it together OK ish.

We got on... :)

Hopefully rapid starts and early pushes will get us the blades we want...

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Tuesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The first couple of wind strokes felt ok from the front of the boat if not completely together. The draw started to fall apart.
We never really strode and the boat speed fell, and despite getting the timing back together a new push never happened and we slowly caved to a boat we shouldn't have caved to.

Lets go out tomorrow, heads up, push off the start and aim for a bump back

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Churchill ahead bumped out early on pembroke - now down 2. We pushed off an unlucky homerton and held it together, just, until the end.

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The first Bump for 8 people in the crew... including one person on his 7th attempt. We are maintaining our 5th headship in style. The bump was a sweet reward for the row over in front of a closing homerton yesterday.

The race was far more comfortable than yesterday. the rating after the stride - for about 15 strokes - was lower than normal and felt better for it. As we gain in confidence we are improving.

Its payback time for CCAT for escaping on the first day after we were bumped. Churchill are faster than CCAT and homerton will get pembroke behind us leaving them no escape...

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

A good start. Inside station to the motorway bridge where we got a length call. We were thinking it was going to be a long row.
A bit of spacking but CCAT had crabbed. 2 whistles and then 3 quickly followed. A last push led to a concession just before first post corner.

Event: May Bumps 2007 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A long race, never got within range for a big push and magdalene were poor enough to get caught by morleys holt on the overbump. At least we have a nice target for tomorrow.

Event: May Bumps 2007 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A good way to finish the week. The rowing wasn't pretty and due to the blast of the gun most of us couldn't hear the lengthen and stride calls. We were just faster than them.

Thanks to tom andrews who subbed in for Adam Csenki.

Good luck to those moving on to other things.

Event: Emma Sprints 2007 - Division 1
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A heavy wind meant that starting was messy. Timing was poor at the start but came together about 15 strokes into the race. The Girton Women started about 1 length ahead and took another half a length off us before bow crabbed irreversibly.

We then steadily gained on them passing them about halfway along the course and pushed off them to the finish line.

Overall a winning row, but with definite room for improvement if we are going to take on the opposition at clare novice regatta.

Event: Emma Sprints 2007 - Division 1
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Race cancelled due to wind meaning that it was too dangerous to row.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2007 - Plate
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A neat start got us going at a similar speed, but by the stride we were gaining a foot with every stroke.
Got to about a length and a half and maintained for most of the reach, mostly due to a drop from our own boat commitment and therefore speed. A tit hall crab let us gain another length and a bit before the fact we were meadow side allowed us to take the third full length before the finish in the final turn.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2007 - Plate
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

I wouldn't have wanted to be the umpire calling this!

Magdalene were faster off the start gaining about half a length on the towpath side of the reach. The guys focussed in well though and we held it there until magdalene crabbed allowing us to pull a couple of length lead which led to them dying as they gave up.

The lead was lost when a series of incidents around the railway bridge led to a serious loss of timing and boatspeed as bow pair dropped out.

Magdalene passed us to go 4 seats ahead 20 strokes from the finish. The guys in the boat commited there all. Overrating the magdalene crew by 4 or 5 pips we pushed for the end, getting our bows ahead a mere stroke from the finish.

Know one knew which way it was called until we checked with the marshalls. A massive cheer from the bank was met by similar from the boat.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2007 - Cup
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Jesus went on to win the competition. NM1 clearly need to work hard in the run to fairbairns if they are to win.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2007 - Plate
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

They took us off the start as we sort of expected. We started to draw back but despite cutting the deficit to a length and a half, problems and heads dropping due to being behind meant we dropped back again.
A good final push off the railway bridge took us to a mere length and a bit off. A few hundred more metres and I think we would have had them.
A good race and a good performance from a 3rd/4th novice VIII. Hope you guys do well in fairbairns.

Event: Novice Fairbairn Cup 2007 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Unlucky not to do significantly better. There was a commited row from the boat, unfortunately Seat failure at 4 meant that the race was rowed in 6s and considering this the time was pretty good. Girton slowly gained over the length of the course, and I think on a good day you could have beaten them giving you a place in the top 25 boats on the river.

So not the best end to novice term, you are just going to have to come back for lent term then...

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2008 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
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Need to do a lot better as we are 45 seconds off Jesus II who are below us in bumps.
Things will improve as we train this term.

Event: Head of the Nene 2008 - Senior3 VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The first 2k or so was good.
The rest wasn't so great. We should have nailed clare rather than pissing around beside them.
Technique, especially when tired is something we are going to have to work on

I reckon we could have been competitive with fitz I.

Room for improvement, but a solid result.

Event: Lent Bumps Getting-on Race 2008 -
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A good row, solid for the first 2/3rds. Definite power surges out of the corners. We did die a little on the reach, but a row to be pretty pleased with. Unfortunately it looks like we were about 15-20 seconds off the pace required.

Hopefully those not rowing next week will be on the bank to support or marshalling!

Event: Lent Bumps 2008 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

It shows something about a club when the worst performing crew is slightly disappointed with up 2...

This race was possibly a bit too comfortable off the start, with everyone knowing that you were probably settling in for a longer race. Clare meanwhile went hell for leather getting inside station on maggie. Maggie eventually clawed in fitz leaving clare up on you by about 3 lengths. From this position they were rowing neatly and comfortably to hold you.

Event: Lent Bumps 2008 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

We wanted this one. It would mean we got our second eight headship and got our place in the first division. More Importantly it also meant we wouldn't have to row over head of the division below, which would not have been fun with robinson chasing.

From in the boat Maggie appeared to slow and settle before we did, while the whistle they were getting on selwyn drove us faster. Suddenly we were up to 3 whistles. From there the bump took what seemed like forever, while the boat was all over the place in the wake.

The bump drew a roar of triumph from us, while maggie were clearly gutted that they hadn't held out for the bump.

Event: Lent Bumps 2008 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Selwyn knew we were fast of the start and on for blades so went off hard. They pushed us further than anyone else but our plan was do-or-die for as long as we could sustain.

At this point I have to say thanks for the offer of beer from selwyn. I was also very up for sparring on the way home, though I suspect we would have lost the rematch.

By the way the mounted frame combination in eaden lilley is awesome! The roar of triumph from the boat as we bump selwyn and us on the bank celebrating blades. Thanks to whoever took the photos.

Event: Head of the Cam 2008 - College VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

'Bit of a shambles' is the way I will hopefully forget this race. We wound down as we passed the P&E realising about a minute later the finish was at top finish. Oops!

A good start, possibly needing a bit more time on the slide, but certainly getting the boat moving.

Speed dropped on the reach and we fell apart after the railway bridge as we tried to wind to the finish.

Only overtaken by Girton I and Jesus II.

We topped the fly and die index - under 4 minutes to the plough followed by a further 7 minutes to the finish.

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2008 - Men's 3rd Div. Mays
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

This race demonstrated that trying to spank a boat along with no particular regard for technique results in a hard row with no particular speed.

The start was good, controlled, powerful, the boat was moving. Around the corner the boat was not as nice and I felt things never recovered. Power went from the drive, which would not have been disastrous but for the lack of time on the slide. The rate got as low as 32, which considering we were rushing probably means that the drive portion of the stroke was round about 30, hence explaining the slow time.

Key points
1. Blade goes in at the front
2. Power goes on together
3. Slow on the recovery, and if it feels slow, it is probably too fast. Go slower.

Event: FaT vs. BPBC Golf Challenge 2008 -
Posted as: Thomas
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We started badly losing the first three holes with scores of two over par. However we fought our way back into the match with steady improvement ensuring that we weren't beaten until we halved the final hole.

Event: May Bumps 2008 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Not good enough. At least this year they didn't overbump in front of us.

Event: Cambridge Autumn Head 2008 - Senior4 IV+
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Very spacky, overtaken around grassy by the crew behind us. We were never going to be fast rating low, but it could have been a nicer low rate piece. Just about held off the crew starting 2 places behind us. We did maintain length though and this is something I felt the second piece lacked.

Event: Cambridge Autumn Head 2008 - Senior4 IV+
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

This didn't feel too bad. Conditions may have been worse and Jeff and I had already rowed the course so weren't quite as fresh. But we were slower than our other crew despite being two pips higher and in races where all that matters is the time you achieve that is a poor result. I guess we will need to focus on more power and really lifting the boat in future.

Event: University IVs 2008 - Light IVs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Solid rate meant we beat them in the second half.
The start was a bit messy but we eventually settled on a rhythm (no ratemeter though)
Good lines through the corners and out onto the reach, where we were 3 seconds down.
However the rhythm continued and pressure didn't drop and we reeled them in down the reach, with good ground being made by holding in the finishes.
After we crossed the line, wound down and turned and watched in disbelief as Clare took their final few strokes to the finish.

Event: University IVs 2008 - Light IVs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Not as pretty as the one against clare. We beat them in the second half once again, but I felt less due to a really solid rhythm making our boat go fast and instead simply because they rowed slower than we did. Was a little worried as I thought they had closed on us and I thought their finish was right by the P&E as we dashed for the line.

Event: University IVs 2008 - Light IVs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Overtaken

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2008 - Student Senior VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
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We won?!?!

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2008 - Student Senior IVs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Spent the entire race leaning to bow side. Doesn't do too much for getting my catch in. Or bowsides sanity. Lots more work is needed, especially as the 1000m times put us on target to win if we hadn't had such a slow second half.

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

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QfG8ibNnTq0

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

Crabs swung us into the bank, while about half a length down. Less panic and fewer mistakes would have won us the race, but some good rowing suggesting a possibility of an excellent fairbairns performance.

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2008 - Senior VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

After rumours flying around all day it is nice that someone beat the oxford scum.

Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2008 - College IVs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A long painful row involving lots of grunt and little technique. A bit more technique and I reckon this category was winnable as we were only 16 seconds down on stern four.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2009 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Potential Success. 33 days to go to Lents. 56 days to HORR.

Event: Head of the Trent 2009 - S3 8+
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

We set a time close to CUBC's from last year. I like to think this was because the rowing was awesome. The massive stream may also have played a role though. We overtook a robs crew and a trafford crew about halfway through the race. Took a little longer than we liked to come past. The wind to the finish was also lacking, mostly due to confusion about the position of the finish, which we had never seen before. A fun race though and good practice for HORR, with the concrete banks generating some rather large waves at times.

Event: Lent Bumps 2009 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

You were giving me a good scare listening on the radio. The commentary is variable but the guy on first post knew who the crews were and seemed to suggest you were being caught.

As more information came through it seemed like you had rowed over half a length of... Therefore it was a pleasant surprise when the radio guy asked a marshall who said simply 'FaT bumped Wolfson.'

Event: Lent Bumps 2009 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

First day nerves out the way now...

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPI-ezto4do

Poor Quality, but shows you weren't far off.

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

Last day nerves out the way...

A really spectacular race for those on the bank around grassy and the plough with downing closing to about half a length (depending upon who you talk to this may vary). They were working very hard for this though and this showed as we came onto the long reach and moved away with a less front loaded race plan.

Event: Cardinal's Regatta 2009 - Fancy Dress
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A very close race. The oldies (celebrating their 80th birthday) gained a little off the start, but some expert positioning on the row down by Mark meant we had the inside of the corner of the reach giving us the narrow edge we maintained to the finish.

Event: Cardinal's Regatta 2009 - Fancy Dress
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

We won this with some crafty tactics. We suggested doing the race as a standard side by side as we thought we could keep it quite close.

Jesus suggested the weird format. We then agreed on the basis that we got to go upstream from the start.
When we stopped and span the stream meant we were already heading back to the finish before completing the spin. This probably gave us a bit of an advantage giving us the win.

A victory for cunning (and suggestions of mini egg bribes)

Event: Kingston Head 2009 - S3
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

An aggressive start. A good first couple of kilometres. A poor middle of the race. We feel we rowed badly, possibly because we remember the second half more.
Positives to take from the race: It is good to attack the first part of the race.
Negatives: Catches and finishes were shoddy and we shortened up while we were rowing badly.

Pleasantly surprised to have won S3.

Let's do it next week.

Event: Head of the River Race 2009 - Senior3 VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Came off the water feeling a little ill, alcohol after the race didn't help, but some food did.
I enjoyed the row, felt like I was rowing well within myself, until I blew massively about 10 strokes from the line.

A mix up with Bristol University Boat Club entries has got us the Halladay trophy.
It is awesome to get the club some nationally recognised silverware, however this is tempered by knowing that Bristol Uni were faster than us, and had they not made a paperwork mistake they could have had the trophy.

Event: Peter Brandt Sculls 2009 - Novice 1x
Posted as: Thomas
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Rowing on the towpath station.
Scrappy rowing in the first half of the race, but held level, perhaps gaining a very slight lead on the opposition. We then both failed to take the gentle bend in the reach. For me this meant finishing on meadow station, for my opposition this meant meeting the bank, effectively ending the race.

Event: Peter Brandt Sculls 2009 - Novice 1x
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

We were level off the start and then I slowly pulled away finishing a little way in front.

Event: Peter Brandt Sculls 2009 - Novice 1x
Posted as: Thomas
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Derek has been sculling a while and I knew he would take me off the start. I was about a length down, moving onto rhythm and starting to look to take some ground back when a steering misjudgement meant my blade clipped the towpath side effectively ending my chances.
There was little in the margin in the final and I am fairly gutted that I went out without participating in any close races.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2009 - College 1st
Posted as: Thomas
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6:14 and 6:47.

Event: FaT vs. BPBC Golf Challenge 2009 -
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

I played very averagely. The occasional four was only enough halve holes when mike was playing badly. By the 7th Tee it was all over.

Event: Metropolitan Regatta 2009 - IM2 4+
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

My first 2k race :).
Got a bit caught out by the start, leading to generally poor rowing, which led to us being almost a length down on Nottingham and Downing.
Proceeded to row through Downing with a strong call at 700m, gradually moving further away to about 3/4 length at the finish.

Event: May Bumps 2009 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
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lol :)

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

First day nerves out the way now...

Event: Henley Royal Regatta 2009 - Prince Albert Cup
Posted as: Thomas
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An ok row. We could have gone a couple of seconds faster if we had rowed as well as we could have done.
More training was needed to maximise the potential of the four and ensure we had the speed required to qualify.

Event: Cambridge Autumn Regatta 2009 - IM3 Coxed Pairs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

With pride and points at stake the other crew drew out to an early lead, but a sustained push through the middle of the race closed the gap to inches, despite the effective distraction strategies employed by the rival cox.
However confusion over the location of the finish led to a lacklustre last 150, when calls to increase the rate and to row through them led to a fall in rate and speed allowing the opposition the victory.

Event: Cambridge Autumn Head 2009 - College IV+
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Solid rowing. I am pleased with the performance and the result.

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

Sub 16:00. Really pleased with the row, nothing more available.

Post Script
A statement of desire for the year from a crew which didn't believe they could do it two weeks previously at winter head.

I am really pleased with the way that the crew has embraced the idea that second place was not good enough, and that the difference was training and a desire to push yourself to the limit. This will hopefully stay with FaT women for many years to come.

Everyone in the crew has contributed to a spectacular achievement. The determination, energy and happiness of the crew has ensured that I feel proud to be captain.

Special thanks to:
Neil - For giving the crew the belief they needed.
Peter, Dan Darley, Dan Holland, John Earl & most of the members of M1 - For Coaching the girls and helping them improve all term.
Liz - For convincing eight people that they wanted to stick with First and Third throughout the test of trying to rebuild W1 last year. This ensured that this term all I had to do was suggest that we should go for it.
Swords - For bailing us out when we had no-one interested in coxing W1.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2010 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Fairly pleased with the result, but not quite in the same league as the destruction of the opposition by Queen's men.

We were still 29 seconds off the fastest Women's crew.

More to do to be where we want to be.

Event: Robinson Head 2010 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A good result, and a good omen for the next few weeks.
More to do to win pembroke regatta and blades though against some tougher crews.

Event: Head of the Nene 2010 - IM3 VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Solid row, overtaking Nottingham Trent Uni on the way to victory in IM3.

Marshalling was very cold, but the crew had plenty of support from the bank, with Iain, JPD, Peter Summers and Myself cheering them on.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2010 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The gap was quickly opened over a Corpus crew, sadly well out of their depth racing a crew 30 places higher in bumps. It is a little silly that there is no system for ensuring smaller clubs get some decent races, making drawing one of the top few clubs a virtual guarantee of first round exit for a smaller one, unless you have a spectacular year.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2010 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A fairly neat New Hall (Murray Edwards) crew, having surprised us by beating a Queen's crew that looked good in paddling, held us close until about 400m gone, when they faded. They will do well come bumps.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2010 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A neater start ensured we were competitive throughout the race, and we pulled away coming into the railway bridge, lengthening out to a length clear water by the finish.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2010 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
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Another fairly good start meant we were fairly competitive through the first part of the race, drawing away towards the finish.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2010 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
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A mixed day for W2, some of the rowing in earlier divisions showed we could produce something fairly powerful and relaxed if we were not under pressure.
However when feeling like it wasn't going well we lost a lot of technique. We lost the definite hands away and body rock that are crucial for the rhythm and balance of the crew and we stopped putting blades in the water, causing a loss of speed and further timing and balance problems.
We will learn from this and be better.

Event: Lent Bumps 2010 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Rowed well until the bump behind was inevitable, about the exit of grassy, then rowed fairly poorly over the rest of the course, saving a little for tomorrow.

Hopefully a little pressure tomorrow will bring out the best of FaT W1.

Event: Lent Bumps 2010 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

No blades for the week, unfortunately, but rowing over under immense pressure is something that requires far far more cool than simply crashing into slower boats. Row well tomorrow, there is a caius crew out there that deserves spoons.

P.S. From the Clare race report 'It must also be said the FaT II were absolutely nails.'

Event: Lent Bumps 2010 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
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Held Downing on station to Ditton, with a push out of Ditton beginning the move away, and increasing the distance until the finish line was crossed. 19 seconds was the final margin.

Event: Lent Bumps 2010 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

After stressful marshalling, with Ye only arriving as the division rowed to the start, the crew rowed to the start knowing it was theirs to win or lose.

After the brilliant effort holding Clare II off yesterday, they quickly closed on Caius, who were bumped just after the motorway bridge.

Event: Kingston Head 2010 - Intermediate 3 VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

A disappointing row, being thrashed by Pembroke M2 among others. We were overtaken 3 times.
We showed rare glimpses of what we might be able to do, but within a few minutes resorted to a 15 degree lean to bowside, and rather than fixing this by sitting up and rocking to riggers, we called for POWER, which did very little.

I still believe this crew could do well, but not when the default setting is 'row like we normally do', despite our coaches efforts, and then make excuses about crew changes causing all the problems.

Event: Magdalene Silver Pairs 2010 - Women's 2-
Posted as: Thomas
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No one wanted to play either in the Magdalene Silver Pairs or in Foster-Fairbairn pairs. :(

Event: May Bumps 2010 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
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First day nerves out the way...

Event: May Bumps 2010 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
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A determination to put distance on Caius on the reach meant that there was never any doubt.

Event: May Bumps 2010 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
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Our poorest start of the week, leading to a failure for the expected gap between ourselves and Caius to materialise. We didn't really settle, and failed to start moving away.
Coming around Ditton corner we didn't have the pick-up of the previous two days, with a bit of a view that Caius were going to be caught by Pembroke.

By the railway bridge it was clear that Caius were surging back on us, and a desperate wind for the finish barely kept them off overlap.

Event: May Bumps 2010 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
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The day began badly with one of the Maggie guys trying, rather unsportingly, to cripple me. Fortunately the damage was superficial.

'No Regrets' was our motto for the day, with the idea of complacency firmly removed from our mind we decided to move earlier in the race to kill Caius off before they had a chance to launch their strong wind to the line, that caught us out on day 1 and day 3.

A good start and a good plough reach build, followed by a committed push out of Ditton gave us plenty of room, and the 'boring' row over well clear that our supporters and coaches were hoping for.

Event: Christmas Head 2010 - Student M4+
Posted as: Thomas
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This was the big race of term for FaT, unfortunately the captain forgot to tell anyone about the race so most of the first VIII went home, except Paul, who claims he didn't know term had finished. I don't believe him, I think he has realised it is less effort to not go home.
Fordy was fresh from CUBC training, unfortunately bridge has little bearing on rowing, so this wasn't of much help. He also needed a gentle warm up for his single scull in the next division, and he comfortably beat us on %GMT, despite my best efforts to crash him into every bank when banksteering his single.
Bryn has been enthusiastically trying to encourage the IV to train as much as possible throughout term, bombarding us with endless e-mails suggesting times he would be keen to row, despite this we managed to avoid any overtraining, and believe we were in the best possible shape for this race.
Personally I had trained little, other than my liver, this term, but the others claimed resistance training would be a useful start to next terms work, so I reluctantly agreed to race.
I was glad for the early gentleman's agreement for the corners, with the plan to go hard to Chesterton, then to slacken off down the boat as we reached corners to minimise any steering for Emma.

With the previous IVs rowing by the crew being at best decidedly shaky, we were expecting the race to be an absolute shambles. However we set off at the most unpleasant rate of 30, which soon wound to 31. The finishes were, according to our stroke man, entirely independent of each other, with each of us contributing in our own way to boat speed. The boat was however surprisingly stable, sometimes the riggers didn't hit the water. We were only narrowly beaten by the Women's crew, which we had decided to set off in front of us, not wanting to be overtaken.

Event: Christmas Head 2010 - IM3 1x
Posted as: Thomas
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They definitely got two a canvas, definitely three whistles, maybe even continuous coming past Tit Hall boathouse.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2011 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
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And not catching ejector crabs

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2011 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
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They were better than us

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2011 - 2nd division
Posted as: Thomas
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Some say we are the gods of rowing, and that we exist on a diet of raw babies, and this put them off. All we know is that Robinson didn't show up.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Tuesday
Posted as: Thomas
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Not a whole lot more the crew could do. A bump ahead before the motorway bridge left us chasing an unlikely overbump. Plenty more to hit tomorrow. (Not Thomas)

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Tuesday
Posted as: Thomas
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Some say our 5 man is the reincarnation of Mars, the god of war, and that our strokeman designed the outboard motor that provided our speed. All we know is that we rowed over.

Good moves away and a calm demonstration that we weren't going to let them get to us. Good row.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
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Some say that if you crab in the M3 division as you pass under the railway bridge that you open a vortex in time and space, and that our Bow 3 were the first choice front row for the Varsity Match, all we know is that we got (over)bumped.

A bit complacent through the middle, allowing the speed and set of the boat to come off, when disaster struck, they were too close and it was quickly game over, just after the pink house.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
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Not the ideal result, but in bumps anything can happen, and keep waiting to pounce if Downing make the slightest slip over the next 3 days.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
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The result everyone knew was a distinct possibilities. Every person in the crew is a hero for not rolling over and dying on the first day, in a glorious defiance of general opinion.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
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Some say that you can tell how hard our 4 man is working by the colour of his hair, and that our 6 man insists on applying purple make up before each race to make it look like he is working hard, all we know is that we got bumped.

A bit rabbit in the headlights, they were quick, and obviously out for the early bump, and by failing to respond we gave them the bump at first post corner.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
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Some say that M3 are the hardest substance known to mankind, and that our cox was stopped from rowing because she kept on showing up M1 on the ergs, all we know is that we rowed over.

A well executed race plan. Big 10s every 20 or so strokes until Clare were bumped by Trinity Hall. After giving some early ground, especially coming into first post corner we held them through the corner and into the gut, and by the time they were breathing down our necks again at Grassy, Trinity Hall were all over them.

It would have been nicer not to have been overbumped, but some row-overs under pressure ensured that we can walk away from bumps feeling proud that we committed when needed.

Event: Putney Bridge to Kings Cross Tube Challenge 2011 - Tube Challenge
Posted as: Thomas
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After debate about the route from Putney Bridge to Kings Cross the race was quickly on. With a 30 second wait at Earls Court, while Alex was changing trains and avoiding the wait, I felt I fell behind early. However a quick walking transit at Victoria combined with a 2 minute wait for the connection put me back on track. I arrived in time for the 22:06, which Alex would have failed to make, but had to wait for the 22:15.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2011 - 1st Mays
Posted as: Thomas
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7:18 and 7:10. Lack of a decent connect and send means we go slower than we want to. The reversal of the times shows how terrible our first leg was.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2011 - 1st Mays
Posted as: Thomas
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07:40 and 07:57. Much improved from the eight, a decent first run, possibly a touch low on the rate. The wind had picked up a little from earlier in the day and was a headwind down the first post and plough reaches. We were less efficient in the headwind, and I was definitely feeling the tiredness. Nice to beat the Kings W1 crew giving us some banter at the start too. The 30' UT2 instead of lunch was also a bad idea.

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2011 - Men's 1st Div. Mays
Posted as: Thomas
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I never know how to judge a row in the horrific conditions we saw today. A strong tailwind on the row down suggested a massive headwind on the reach. Relative calm by the plough allowed us a sensible start, and we came onto the reach a little surprised by the good send we were getting. Round the kink the wind picked up suddenly and coming past the railway bridge we essentially stopped for a couple of strokes due to massive gusts. More needed.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2011 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
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We scared them off. Or they got bored of waiting for the truly dreadful organisation of 99s to kick in. Either way we got a bye.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2011 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
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Apparently they were a bit better than us.

Event: Metropolitan Regatta 2011 - IM3 VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
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Dropped a little off the start however stuck with it through the first 500m, leaving us about a length down with 1250 to go. Clawed our way back up University of Exeter, but left it too late, ending about 1/2 a length off.

Event: May Bumps 2011 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
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Bumped at First post. :(

Event: May Bumps 2011 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
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3 minutes under pressure, followed by a 1 minute collapse. Our best row of the week.

Event: May Bumps 2011 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

They were quicker than us. Caught at Grassy from head station.

This set of bumps has been entirely representative of the second VIII rowing this term, not good enough.

We have been improving all term, but not nearly fast enough, a poor initial result at Head 2 Head should have shown that we were behind where a second eight needed to start the term. Without rowing a lot better our result at Champs head was a definite improvement, gaining ground on many of the crews around us in bumps. We then got hammered in 99's regatta by a good Catz crew.

Our best race of the term was definitely our Met regatta race. While the start wasn't excellent, we stuck with it and rowed reasonably ending a mere half length down in 4th place.

Bumps was representative of our rowing all term. We rowed the same we had been all term and weren't fast enough. The possible exception was the decent 3 minutes on the Friday to hold off Robinson to the plough. Racing isn't an opportunity to find speed, it is the opportunity to demonstrate the speed you have already found and mastered in training

Learning involves 4 steps.
1) perform the task
2) analyse the task
3) suggest changes
4) implement the changes

Our biggest failure this term has been a failure of learning. Criticism or analysis tells you that you are doing something wrong or doing something well, it tells you that you could be better. It creates pressure to improve, but it can also damage confidence and morale. Criticising people who are down because they know they are doing badly is difficult, if you are in a bad mood and under pressure you are less likely to respond objectively. Working out what is wrong then relies upon a plan to change it. Finally we need to implement the plan.

I feel it is better to analyse and look to improve, which will generate better morale, than to take the easy option of being relaxed with the criticism and hoping morale improvements will benefit the rowing. I think we erred on the side of muted criticism and paid for it in reduced levels of improvement.

Problems which I don't feel we addressed:
1) Multiple rowing styles. I don't think we were moving together either during the drive or on the recovery. I never felt we knew what we were looking for in terms of a unified way of rowing, despite many terms of rowing for the same club, and in many cases for the same crew. I think we had identified the problem, but didn't come up with any workable solutions.

2) Acceleration through the drive. This was identified and we did work to suggest changes and it did improve, but was never cemented in and I think at race pressure we went back to tanking the boat around the catch. I think here we failed to implement the change properly as a crew despite really attempting to address the problem.

3) Stability on the recovery. Probably linked to the lack of uniform rowing styles, but I felt all term that I had no clue how the boat was going to change after 1/2 slide. Not everyone in the boat even agreed we were suffering this problem, which I frankly just don't understand. I accept that finishing badly causes the boat to recover poorly, but that doesn't mean that all poor recoveries are caused by bad finishes, which seemed to be the belief in the boat. I think here our analysis was flawed meaning we never looked to suggest a solution.

4) Length means getting yourself to the front. No, it means you trying to be controlled coming forward so everyone else can get as far forward as possible, making it difficult for 7 other people will have more effect than the extra speed you as an individual can generate. I have always thought of length as the attempt to be the last person to the front and the first to put the blade in the water. A demonstration that implementation relies upon a consensus between rowers, coaches and cox on what they are looking for, which I don't think was achieved.

5) Pressure solves everything. No. It doesn't. It is helpful and makes you faster, but doesn't mean you aren't slowing the boat on the recovery.

6) Race preparation. We race regularly, unfortunately we seemed to treat this as a requirement to learn to rate high before each race, to improve our performance for that event. A longer term view of our training to achieve a race pace for bumps may have suggested that a more solid lower rate is easier to convert to race pace than a rate close to what we are looking for, but one where we are rowing poorly.

Strong opinions means strong feelings. I am frequently critical, and I suspect not always to everyone's liking. This is because I want to do as well as possible, and that means improving as best we can. It does not however mean that I am angry with other people, even if I disagree with their critique. Ditching objective crew discussions because there are strong differences in opinions seems to me to be counter-productive because it is likely those differences in opinion that are hindering the better rowing as a crew.

Learning for the future.
1) Decide how the crew is going to row. It doesn't matter so much on the style, as long as everyone agrees on it and changes it together. If individuals don't like it then they need to be brought into line.
2) Discuss what is going well and going badly and why. We had good outings this term, but failed to identify what we did well, so struggled to return to it. Equally deciding that an outing is badgering awful is insufficient as you have not suggested how to make the outing better. I want to go away from an outing knowing that by doing X,Y and Z that I will be making the boat go better next outing. I rarely had that feeling this term.
3) Other rowers will be rowing as well as they can. If they are doing something you don't understand, ask them or tell them. The most neutral feedback is simply to tell someone what they are doing. More often than not they are not aware that they are doing something you think is odd, and hopefully they can learn from it.

I do not believe that this was the year the second eight had to fall from the first division, however, I feel it is important to say that however disappointed with my performance I am, I appreciate all the time and effort the crew and coaches have put in this term. If we can learn and improve from it, then a bad term will be more useful for those developing to first boat standard as a 'good' term where those involved win trivially and there is no incentive to step it on. I am as ever, proud to have been part of a First and Third crew, and wish everyone all the best in the future.

Thomas O'Neill

Event: May Bumps 2011 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Shortened as we were surprised by the motorway bridge chop. Never recovered.

Event: FaT v BPBC Football Challenge 2011 - Football XI
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

FaT resorted to its age old tradition of using ringers to gain an advantage over Black Prince. With the conversion of Neil Talbott and John D'Arcy to First and Third the sides were fairly even.
Going into half time BPBC led by a goal at 2-1. However FaT pushed hard in the second half, first levelling the score and then drawing ahead, only for Black Prince to push back each time, levelling the score twice.

Subs used, (Pope for Croft, Talbott for Attwood, D'Arcy for Pope)

Scorers: Talbott (1-1), Ford (2-2), Mitchard (3-2), Leach (4-3)

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2011 - Invitational VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
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Despite major misgivings over the accusations of cheating likely to be levelled at black prince for having more than two practice strokes before fairbairns, two bpbc VIIIs raced winter head.

I was a little bit rusty to say the least. However the boat was moving reasonably and we improved over the course, from 31 down first post reach to a more lively 32.5 down the reach.
Giving away far more time to the crew of '07 and the boars head crew chasing over the first half than the second half, was less than ideal, but probably a fair reflection of the rowing.

McT felt pain apparently. He also thought that plough reach was his corner, despite it being straight.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2011 - Cup
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Lance (Maggie boatman) claimed it was a good race, one of the best he had seen, (I think his actual words contained more expletives.) he is usually fair in his assessments.

Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2011 - Invitation IV's
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Training plan called for LRF.

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2011 - Invitation VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
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With 3 warm up strokes we were ready to race, the first third was pretty reasonable, but along the reach we remembered that fairbairns is a long way and committed hard to quiching to ensure our sprint past the finish line had the appearance of a crew looking to have done well.
BPBC crews require fitness or cohesive rowing. Both were in short supply at times. We did beat M2 by 0.2 seconds though, so everything is fine.

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

Good luck tomorrow. Find that extra bit of speed!

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Denied! Go get Pembroke tomorrow girls!

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

First time I have ever seen W1 as the first listed FaT crew. If Julia had said you could reasonably finish second on the river at the start of term, would you have believed her?

Finish the week on a high. Go get Emma. They haven't got anyone to catch to get away from you. Hope to see it all.

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2012 - Men's 3rd Div. Mays
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Mediocre at best. Really struggled with the pickup in the headwind.
Edit: it seems we were second fastest crew with m2 and m4 very closely matched @ 0.13 and 0.20. I would hope by bumps, that increased training and better coaching will really show for the second eight.
We're all a bit decrepit to be going fast, with me in the boat simply to deal with inevitable heart attacks, arthritis and questions about medication changes.

Event: May Bumps 2012 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

I was initially worried by the lack of early whistles and quiet from the bank. Were we being dropped? Were they going to bump out ahead? Fortunately we got the first whistles coming into the gut and this caused us to stop being lazy and our push, in a theme that would become common this week, quickly led to contact with them.

Event: May Bumps 2012 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

The battle for the third eight headship. We knew that today was the day where not performing could lead us to have nothing to chase and a long row over. We started well, but were not moving spectacularly, and settled onto a reasonably high rate, but perhaps lacking length. We felt we were a little lazy down the gut, but put in a decent move down the plough reach to get our first whistle. Out of Ditton we were told to go now, and produced our characteristic 'stop being lazy' bumps lift to quickly eat the remaining gap.

Event: May Bumps 2012 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Peterhouse seemed to think we were a little inexperienced while marshalling, perhaps not realising that we, as preeyan pointed out, had more than 50years rowing experience through the crew.

We had an excellent push off (all credit to Iain.) and with the clear calls from the bank were quickly gaining on them. Whistles started coming in the gut and the bump just before the plough with a satisfying thud.

Event: May Bumps 2012 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Selwyn ahead of us decided to get their act together (or emmanuel had a bad day), or we were a bit hungover from the formal dinner the night before. (I really recommend a three course meal on the Friday of bumps, as a good way to set you up for the weekend.)

Either way, they appeared to drop us early on and bumped out on the corner. At this point I knew an overbump was doable, especially as we felt we'd be a stronger crew into the headwind. So we pushed on, and with calls from the bank that the distance for the overbump was coming down nicely moved onto catz II.

The horrific headwind on the reach helped bunch us up, and we caught them just out of ditton corner.

I really enjoyed rowing with this crew. We were occasionally (often?) lazy in what we did, but if we decided to row well we did just get on with it, be it in paddling, sparring or racing. The attitude remained positive throughout term, and even when things got tough during the last race.

I learnt some new things that I felt improved my rowing this term, old person, new tricks... But definitely makes it all feel more rewarding.

Gonzalo did a good job of stroking most of term, and was very gracious in accepting the last minute crew change. Hopefully he thinks the aggravation was worth it.

The one regret... Not throwing Emma in the river.

Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2013 - 1st Mays
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

I object, I was on a 25mm tyre road bike, not some hybrid.

Event: Lent Bumps 2013 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Good luck for the 2 remaining days.
Edit 19 March 2014: Possibly the day that won the 2014 headship. With hindsight, having Emmanuel chasing W1, due to a successful day in 2013, may have changed the eventual winner. A testament to the effort of going head being more than having a single good year.

Event: Cambridge Autumn Head 2013 - College VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Truly terrible results from Rob Roy, with several contradictory sets of results.
EDIT: We are now 13 second slower than Murray Edwards (Fastest Women's College crew). 5 seconds slower than M1/2 VIII and 2 seconds slower than M1 IV respectively. Hopefully more speed to be found.

Event: University IVs 2013 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Solid first two-thirds gave enough leeway for a scrappy reach not to be too costly.

Event: University IVs 2013 - 1st division
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

It became clear that Maggie were up coming down Plough Reach by at least a length. The response was determination down the reach, but it wasn't sufficient to win. True disappointment on every face in the crew, which suggests that the motivation and will to win is in the boat, which is key to unlocking the speed needed.

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2013 - Student Senior VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Possibly enough for a bump.
An acceptable result, but one which the other colleges can still hope to overturn before fairbairns. Commitment required to push for everything for the next two weeks.
Longer term, more speed is needed between the crews to ensure that W1 go head once again in Lent term.
Sadly the result was also a distant second in terms of performance to the LMBC W1 IV that did a rather spectacular 10:56.

Event: Lent Bumps 2014 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Gained a little off the start, closed to within a length down plough reach. Half a length on the reach. Downing pulled back out to on station down the reach. Yo-yo'd down the reach between within a length and on station, finally finishing 1 length down.

Event: Lent Bumps 2014 - Thursday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Head... For now
Gained into ditton, moved strongly out of ditton, head at the railings

Event: Lent Bumps 2014 - Friday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Downing gained a little off the start, but once settled onto rhythm the gap opened. This went out until Downing effectively responded to Emma on the reach, when the Gap started closing.
Outside station when the challengers bumped out.
A good chance tomorrow to see who the fastest women's crew on the river are.

Event: Lent Bumps 2014 - Saturday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

W1 took hold of the race in the first two minutes, opening up the gap to over 2 lengths. They settled into a long 34, and looked untroubled and unflustered until Emma called their 'last ditch headship push' coming into the railway bridge, this started cutting the gap, to my consternation on the bank. The crew were unphased and responded with a little more pressure to keep Emmanuel around 1/2 a length behind, with a little more distance gained back before the line.

Event: Etape Caledonia 2014 - Road Bike
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

After a pleasant 12 mile blast downhill to the start, I completely failed to notice Chris Boardman on the start line. The start line organisation was, similar to last year, very chaotic. (Worse possibly than Winter Head!)
We went off hard, reaching the 15mile point in the 155th fastest time of day. After a quick bite at the first feed point we rolled on, quickly finding a big group, doing a few turns of the front, then settling into the middle of the peleton and blasting along at 36kph. We arrived at the foot of the big climb in the top 400 and I pootled to the top, 679th fastest on the day (08.38) - note to self - lose more weight and my redline will be faster than pootling.
We regrouped at the top and pushed onto the third feed station. Setting off down the descent I was a way ahead of the others, and they caught me at the foot of the descent. I was on the front, but struggling to maintain pace, until we were caught by a few others and we once again pushed along at 36-40kph on the relative flat.
Arriving at the base of the last kick to the finish line my legs were already cramping, but other slower riders made it more of an obstacle course than a power climb. Again we regrouped at the top and rolled onwards, feeling hopeful of a time under 4 hours, having made good use of drafting.
We finished as a group, with the variations in times due only to rolling across the start and finish line separated by a bike length.

Event: May Bumps 2014 - Wednesday
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

Yes!

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2014 - Invitational VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

We pushed off at the marshalling time, but thanks to some excellent pleading, including the lines: 'we're really fast', 'Someone was held up in traffic' and 'please' were allowed down for the division anyway. With a raceplan of 'set off at 34 and then sag to 32' we were pleasantly surprised to find the rate was holding nicely down the course. Along plough reach we had the enjoyment of watching KCL fail to get round Grassy. The overall sentiment at the end was that the boat was pleasantly rowable, and that all available power had been applied. Further training in the pub will however be required to meet the 10 outing requirement.

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2014 - Invitation VIIIs
Posted as: Thomas
Event Link

It is more pleasant to row Fairbairns having done some training than no training, not because you push less hard, but because you know better how to pace yourself.
The cheating was a good opportunity to remind myself what reasonable rowing was and on the start line there was reasonable confidence that we could produce a solid result. In order to prevent any real benefit from the cheating we did decide to randomise the crew order from previous outings, with the only rule being that you weren't allowed to have rowed before this year in that seat.
More sessions were, however, required to fulfil the 10 outing requirement for the term though, so perhaps CUCBCBC should disqualify us.
The actual race was very much limited by our fitness, rather than our technique, while the boat was not perfectly sat I was happy that the balance was not preventing the application of POWER. We set off happily, with BP2 nipping at our heels. Coming down the reach we caught the Xpress crew ahead of us, and despite taking an age to come past remained firm and took the racing line through Ditton, with BP2 then surprisingly dropping off into the distance.
We came through the line with enough time to spin and park so Emma could head off and relieve her babysitter. We then pushed off an rowed home, attempting to irritate a Jesus women's crew, who insisted they needed to go infront of us, despite being far slower. Certainly an education for our Sub-Cox, whose name I can't remember (sorry), in how to be 'assertive'.