All race reports for Simon Blackburn
Event: May Bumps 1847 - Friday
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Event: Clare Novice Regatta 1997 - 1st division
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The semi final against LMBC was evenly matched but they gradually moved away from us, taking a length lead. We tried to push back around Morley's Holt, initially with some success, but the cracks began to show and the inevitable crab occurred. It hit Luke, at 7, disrupting our rhythm and pretty much ending our chances. Luke was inconsolable; we pulled in at the P&E for a debrief where he got out and sat on a bench in tears because he thought he'd let us down so much.
What would have happened without the crab? I doubt the result would have been different unless LMBC had also crabbed. It was a fair result.
Event: May Bumps 1998 - Friday
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3rd VIII headship: sweet!
Event: Lent Bumps 1998 - Thursday
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a) You're Maggie.
b) We had increased the number of outings as a crew by 100%.
As bow, I had the pleasure of shouting at their cox to acknowledge. Which they then did...
Event: Fairbairn Cup 1998 - Lower VIIIs
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Event: May Bumps 1999 - Saturday
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So a nervous row down followed, although the Plough reach practice start was not bad at all and as we approached the lock we began to click. After Friday's experiences, we knew that we had to hammer Catz off the start and keep the pressure on, especially as they would be after a struggling 'Binson boat. In the end we needn't have worried about Binson - Catz never really came close and we had the course to get them. Things started well, and we moved up to a length by the Plough, but once again they matched us stroke for stroke and moved away in the reach. A final push moved us back to within 2 lengths, but we were never going to reach that elusive 16th position. Clare, meanwhile, were left for dust and never even had to think about challenging us.
If I had to find a fault with first division rowing, it would be that you just don't have time to get ready for dinner. After a quick change, we met in John Parker's room for a quick pre-dinner drink and a fine-tuning of those lyrics. I think the dinner was enjoyable (I just was not hungry thanks to the several medicines Boots had fixed me up with) and the company certainly was. In the time-honoured tradition, the second eight were asked to perform a song. Taking The Waterboys (get it?) classic "The Whole of the Moon" as inspiration, the epic Cover our spoons was created.
Event: May Bumps 1999 - Saturday
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Half way up the reach - a long way for a Gent's VIII - and they're struggling, fading fast in fact; LMBC are scenting victory. It's down to less than 2 feet when Chris takes a look over his shoulder and the LMBC bows, and turns back to his crew.
"Ask yourself this question," he says, calmly and clearly, "do you want to get bumped by the scum? Do you. Want to get bumped. By the scum? Next stroke, go."
In the space of three strokes one foot became a quarter of a length and LMBC were broken.
It really doesn't get any better than that.
Event: Lent Bumps 1999 - Saturday
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Event: Cardinal's Regatta 1999 - Fancy Dress
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Event: Cardinal's Regatta 1999 - Fancy Dress
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We then went to the P&E, and kept worrying that the boat was drifting off when in fact we just couldn't see the riggers properly through the greenery.
Event: Henley Royal Regatta 2000 - Temple Cup
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Event: May Bumps 2000 - Friday
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We knew we had no chance of getting Homerton back, and expected them to gobble up Pembroke - which they did. Except our plan to go all out for the overbump was failing as we hadn't really made much impact on Clare. Although they then did us the favour of mucking up Grassy (and I think damaging their boat), suddenly putting us back in the game and giving us a target to aim for. We got them coming out of Ditton - and just in time, as a fast Emma boat had just appeared behind us, looking for the overbump.
So suddenly up one for the week - but with Homerton behind us again. Hmmm - wonder what will happen there...
Event: May Bumps 2000 - Wednesday
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Event: May Bumps 2000 - Thursday
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Event: May Bumps 2000 - Saturday
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And we made their blades look very silly...
Event: Head of the River IVs 1999 -
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a) Being overtaken by a women's quad, who heard me complain to Ros about it, and did an up 5 to rub it in;
b) It was not warm: my toes were blue afterwards. Blue!!! Brrrrr!
Two photos were taken of this crew within two weeks, one in the Uni 4s, one on the Tideway... On the Tideway we're several inches lower in the water because of all the water we're carrying!
Event: Fairbairn Cup 1999 - Senior VIIIs
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Event: Cambridge Winter Head 1999 - Senior VIIIs
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The race had been solid - well, except for Martin's double crab at the outfall which gave Soph and I the giggles for a couple of seconds.
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2001 - Saturday
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And that's how it transpires. The rowing is once again better than the previous race, but not good enough to make any impression on Oxford/Vesta. They fail to get close to the crew in front of them - are we doomed to another row over in the last race?
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2001 - Saturday
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I can't remember our tactics for the race, but frankly it doesn't matter... less than a minute in, the Oxford/Vesta has a rigger failure and it's all we can do not to hit them. We both pull over, and the realisation suddenly dawns on us that we've gone up 4 - for me, it's the first time ever, and although it's a very dubious set of blades because of the row over and the fact that BPBC I had done one of the bumps for us, it's still an up four. (We later phoned Dan Darley (BPBC Captain) in the bar to ask him if he'd award us discretionary blades... once he'd got his head around it, he did!)
As the rest of the division races past, they fail to realise that they're bumping Oxford/Vesta as well - their broken rigger sends them to the foot of the division.
Meanwhile, Hannah Oag is becoming possibly the first person ever to be both Head of the Cam (May bumps, Emmanuel) and Head of the Isis (CORC bumps, Imperial) at the same time.
In conclusion - a nice day out on the Isis. Result.
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2001 - Saturday
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As usual for BPBC, it's scratch crews, and we decide a quick warm up and gander at the course might be wise, we sett off upstream, with Anne regularly consulting the map of the river. Moments after passing through a gentle meander wide enough for at least three eights abrest, she correctly identifies it as the Isis' "gut"... we carry on up, pass the College boathouses which line the Oxford bumps course but which are empty and quiet in the bright September sunshine. The atmosphere for College eights must indeed be fantastic...
Torpids rules are simple: only stop when you hit the person in front - if you're hit, you have to carry on. Otherwise it's bumps as normal, except starting orders are determined by your ARA points. BPBC are, as always, underpointed, although both crews have come out suspiciously high in a random draw for starting orders. We chase City of Oxford I, with City of Oxford II behind... the only consolation for starting eighth is that we have the 2nd eight headship at the very least...
In the end City of Oxford I are less of a challenge than we feared, and we hit them after a couple of minutes. We had failed to shake City of Oxford II - indeed, we'd only been spared by their terrible cox who was zig zaging up the river - and so we're alarmed to find out that they managed to go on to get City of Oxford I and that they'll start race 2 behind us again.
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2001 - Saturday
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As ever with scratch crews, the rowing is improving rapidly. However, we knew the same would apply to BPBC I who would be gaining fast on Merton in front of them. That, and the anticipated threat from Oxford II, means that our start is crucial.
In the end, City's zig zag approach means we can get a clean getaway and home in on BPBC I. Who we hit.... but then turn to cheer on as they have to row away after Merton.
They then manage to convert the bump on Merton - giving us two bumps for the price of one.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2001 - 1st division
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On the meadow side, there is a bush that sticks out into the river a few metres upstream of the Pembroke start. Caius had pushed us wide on the start and as we tried to avoid a blade clash, Tom's blade clipped it. It really disrupted the boat at a crucial part of the race and Caius pulled ahead. We rallied and up the reach began to move back ever so slightly. It seemed like everything was going in slow motion though - I distinctly remember two swans in the calm water between the two eights, angrily avoiding the race churning up the water around them.
Under the railway bridge we were back to two seats down; two strokes later we were level, and as we had planned before the race Steph began calling their seats as she overtook them. As she reached their bows she asked us to kill them for clear water; we did.
Approaching the finish the last bend allowed Caius to pull back but by then it was academic. We had rowed through Caius, just weeks before they would start behind us in the Lents. At the line, Tom collapsed onto my ankles, I was left shouting gratitude at Steph. It was a massive high.
Event: Lent Bumps 2001 - Wednesday
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Event: Nottingham City Regatta 2001 - Senior3 VIII
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Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2003 - Saturday
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We realised before the start that the threat from behind was minimal - we had proved ourselves to be faster than Falcon, and everyone behind them would stop after getting them.
Trinity I were obviously very fast, and bumped Jesus I just after Donnington Bridge. We started moving up on Jesus. They held us at a length for a while but an excellent lift at the OUBC rafts saw us take them opposite the boat houses.
Event: Bedford Quarts Regatta 2003 - Senior4 IV+
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Magdalene went on to win; however, we were closer to them than the competitors they faced in later rounds, so perhaps the draw could have been kinder to us.
Event: Bedford Quarts Regatta 2003 - S3 2-
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Start was ok, although we probably could have settled two pips lower. Our course wasn't dead straight, but luckily neither was the opposition's and thus we managed to meander down the course without crossing the buoys or touching the wall quicker than the Milton Keynes pair.
Out of the eight oarsmen in the semi-finals, only one was not a current Cambridge student...
Event: Kingston Amateur Regatta 2003 - Senior2 IV+
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Event: Head of the River Race 2003 - Senior2 VIIIs
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We've all got to start somewhere...
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2003 - Saturday
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Given how tired we were, City III must have been shattered - they'd been sandwich boat for a couple of rounds so had spent most of the day on the water. We got them - quite suddenly, and with quite a satisfying "bump" sound - by the Cherwell Cut. It seemed like ages before Jesus rowed past.
We also had the huge advantage of having bumped very close to Christ Church BH, where we had to return the boat to...
A huge thank you to Chris Ingram for being an excellent poleman and trestle carrier. And also to Christ Church BC, who were very kind and very very helpful.
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2003 - Saturday
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At the top of the division, City III had bumped Jesus I and stopped (as they should). Our marshals didn't realise that was why they had stopped and awarded Falcon and us bumps as we rowed past them... Apparently they had been shouting "You can stop Christ Church" for quite a while before someone pointed out who we actually were and we eventually stopped in the gut, not quite knowing what was going on.
Event: City of Oxford Rowing Club Bumps Races 2003 - Saturday
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Falcon had a front loader, so the stroke had to acknowledge, which he did by simply saying "OK, you can have it" to Soph.
It's a very odd feeling - being bumped and bumping in the same race...
Event: Kingston Amateur Regatta 2003 - Senior3 IV+
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Granta won their final easily: we came closer to them than anyone else in S3. So it was especially disappoinintng (although no fault of Sarah, who we always knew was going to be late) that we didn't have the chance to go for a bit more of a practice paddle.
Event: Bedford Quarts Regatta 2003 - S3 2-
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By now, Wolfson/Darwin had taken the lead, but had crossed into our lane to do so. As we took it off again, I distinctly heard someone shout "disqualification", and given this and the presence of Darwin/Wolfson two lengths in front in front of us, we paddled to the line to appeal. Annoyingly, the umpires said we weren't impeeded and so the result stood.
On returning to the trailer we noted that the rudder had become set off-straight, explaining the constant drift to bowside.
Despite this result, a very enjoyable couple of races which went surprisingly well. Two lessons:
(a) Always check your rudder strings before each race, not just at the start of the day;
(b) Don't stop rowing flat out until you either cross the finish line or bump the crew that have moved into your lane.
Event: FaT vs BPBC Cricket Challenge 2004 -
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BPBC won the toss and elected to bat. Jon Glass arrived at the ground after the toss and was somewhat surprised to be told he was opening the batting in 4 minutes time. After three throw-downs as a warm up, he joined me in striding out to face the best that First and Third could offer. I faced the first ball from Jon D'Arcy and allegedly was incredibly lucky as I totally failed to connect with the ball (not unusual) and it missed the stumps by an inch. After that auspicious start, the openers survived the first 11 overs and produced BPBC's first ever fifty partnership, albeit assisted by the difficulties that the First and Third wicket keepers were having in preventing byes. The batsmen moved into an offensive mode, but Graham Sills' bowling had hit top form and wickets tumbled with both Jon and I departing in the space of 12 runs with Graham Reid only staying briefly at the crease. Mike Goodson came in at four for BPBC and continued the attacking theme with Dan Darley at five regaining the initiative for the batting team with his usual flurry of boundaries. Dan and Mike shared a useful 31 run partnership but unfortunately Dan's innings was once again just too short.
Neil Talbott's arrival in the middle was accompanied by the inevitable loud calls for singles, often seemingly made long before the ball had even pitched. Meanwhile First and Third's standard of bowling and in particular the ability of the wicket keepers to actually stop the ball had risen throughout the match and - perhaps with the exception of the captain - all of the student team's bowlers returned more than reasonable figures, with those missing out on the wickets manage to stifle the scoring rate instead in an excellent team performance.
After Mike Goodson's dismissal, Mark Crawford came in to bat looking to avoid his third first-ball duck in three innings for Black Prince. Both of his previous dismissals had been catches so the fielding side took the opportunity to crowd around the bat. Unfortunately Richard Bullock couldn't produce the ball to get the wicket and Mark missed out on an even bigger chapter in the history book. However, his arrival did mark the beginning of the end of Black Prince's innings. Mark scored two, and then Nigel Kaye unfortunately failed to trouble the scorers, giving Bryn Garrod two quick wickets. Neil Talbott did an excellent job of protecting the tail, managing to score all of the runs in the eight wicket partnership, but was eventually out to Jon D'Arcy, finally giving Jon a well deserved wicket. Clive Ponsonby and Graham Fisher saw out the innings - the first time that Black Prince BCCC has survived its allocated overs.
An excellent tea was provided over which both teams anxiously looked forward to the second innings, with the consensus being that the game was finely poised. Neil Talbott was more anxious than most as he had to leave early to make it back to his base in time for a mysterious military manoeuvre. With this in mind, Neil opened the bowling for Black Prince, with Chris Ingram facing the first ball and Dan Walker batting second. Dan Darley kept wicket for Black Prince with absolutely none of the problems that First and Third's wicket-keepers had faced - indeed, he did so well that the long stop/3rd man was virtually redundant.
Neil, bowlng in partnership with Mark Crawford, gave Black Prince the start they needed, with First and Third restricted to below the required rate. Chris fell first, lbw to Neil, and Mark picked up Jon D'Arcy's wicket in the next over, leaving the home team on 22-2. Mike Goodson then came on for Mark and took Graham Sills' wicket - Neil taking the catch but in the process landing head first on the floor. This prompted a rest for Neil for a couple of overs with Graham Reid brought into the attack.
While things were looking rosy for Black Prince, Dan Walker and Andrew Lea-Cox decided to dig in for First and Third. Their 57 run partnership was measured, controlled, and very well paced. They scored at the required run-rate and took the sting out of the Black Prince bowling attack. Dan eventually fell to Graham Reid with the score on 93. First and Third hadn't won the match at this point, but his innings had built a platform to make victory likely if not certain.
The Black Prince bowling attack was remarkably consistent - Talbott, Goodson, Reid and Glass all went for around 6 an over - with the exception being Mark Crawford who was extremely economical on a fairly benign pitch. The major fault - and probably the difference between the teams - was the number of wides (about one every nine balls) conceded by the Black Prince bowlers.
Bryn Garrod, who had replaced Dan, only scored in boundaries - including a fairly hefty six - but was undone by Graham Reid. 29 runs were still required, and, with the exception of Andrew Lea-Cox (and with respect to the remaining Trinity batsmen and women), the most dangerous College players were now relegated to a role as spectators. First and Third were still scoring on the required run-rate and it was either team's game.
Jenny Lee, however, was above Black Prince's best attempts to intimidate her into surrendering her wicket early. Goodson, Reid and Glass (who managed to cope with the pressure of bowling the vital penultimate over as his only over without any sign of stress) couldn't dislodge her and in the end it was an unfortunate run out in the frantic final stages of the match which took her wicket.
Like Dan earlier in the innings, Jenny had provided excellent support to Andrew who was still comfortably scoring and pushing First and Third to their target. His well deserved fifty had come up in the final over and while it now seemed preordained that he would lead his team to victory, Black Prince were not going to go down without a fight. Fielding at point, I got fingertips to a ball somewhere over my head but frankly holding onto a catch was never going to be a realistic aim and I settled for stopping the boundary. So it went to the last ball and, fittingly, Andrew was able to hit the winning runs, completing a fine innings which deservedly won him the man-of-the-match award.
While losing still hurts, it was far more enjoyable and rewarding to be able to play in such a finely balanced match compared to the one-sided games in previous years, and hopefully Black Prince will be further strengthened next year as a few more members of College graduate (again). It was a great team effort from both sides - runs and wickets were shared and the quality of the fielding was higher than in previous years.
Once again, credit must go to Tom Rose for being a fair and consistent umpire throughout, to Honey and Rachel for an exceeding good tea, and to Mark Crawford for organising the pitch. I guess we'll be back at Madingley next year, but Girton acted as a fantastic substitute.
Hopefully, it's now only a matter of time until BPBC win...
Event: Head of the River Race 2004 - Senior3 VIIIs
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Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2003 -
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Event: Head of the Charles 2004 - Championship Fours
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On the shortened course we started fairly close to Bates in front, meanwhile Penn AC overtook the crew behind us very quickly and started to make a move for us before Weeks. We took a very sharp Weeks Bridge corner right on Bates' tail and managed to buy a few seconds off Penn as they didn't corner as well, possibly because their cox was now concentrating on gesturing at us to move. Penn came through us and Bates fairly soon after but unfortunately we were left on the outside of Bates for the masive bowside corner which probably cost us a few seconds and a place.
We just made it through Charles Eliot Bridge and as the corner straightened up absolutely dropped Bates - which was nice, but served to heighten our frustration at being forced wide on the corner. The run-in then seemed a lot shorter than last year, but this probably reflects the shorter course.
Event: Head of the River IVs 2004 - Senior3 IV+
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As for the race, we concentrated on rhythm for the opening couple of minutes and were rewarded by settling into a great groove just before the Ye White Hart pub. This continued through to the end of the island from where we had to work on it a bit more, possibly because of starting to hit the wind, possibly because we were getting tired. We kep it chunky all the way though, including a Crabtree Reach which felt like it would never end, then took it up slightly past the boathouses to the end.
Can't believe I'm saying this, but the Boar's Head crew looked so young! Must be getting old...
Event: Fairbairn Cup 2004 - Invitation VIIIs
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The rest of the race was a very painful blur.
Event: Head of the River Race 2005 - Senior2 VIIIs
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After rigging in double quick time, a good pre-race technical paddle was followed by the opportunity to avoid spending ages waiting in the boat as we instead rested at Quintin BC and slotted in at the appropriate place.
We set off with an agressive start and overtook by the Ye White Hart and again at the Bandstand. There'd been a slight dip after Barnes Bridge as the adrenaline wore off but we had recovered and lifted well into Chiswick Eyot. I think in hindsight that after the Eyot is where we started to struggle a bit, although we pushed well into Hammersmith Bridge and equally well out of it bouyed by the support.
After Harrods we had some naff water and this combined with our tiredness meant we began to lose our rhythm. Around this point I personally started really struggling to hear Raf although I think it was more an issue of hearing but not being able to comprehend as everything hurt too much. We overtook another crew. Thankfully the Mile Post came very quickly and we did a great lift at the football ground and then again at Beverley Brook. This brought us almost alongside Bristol Ariel who had started 3 places in front and it was a simple sprint to the line in which we just pipped them. Ariel, unbeknownst to most in the BP crew, had Simon Knight (matric 1998) onboard.
After that our position is slightly disappointing.
Thanks to Furnival for helping us boat from their raft, Quintin for letting us re-boat from their beach, Cantabs for hiring us trailer space and First & Third for hiring us Black Prince I. And credit to Simon K for wearing BP socks in the Bristol crew!
Event: FaT vs. BPBC Golf Challenge 2005 -
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Second tee, similar circumstances, far more relaxed, but no more talented... a complete air shot instead! I looked up from it to see everyone still looking serious and almost collapsed laughing. I think that released the tension as I then belted it to the back of the green - enough to win the hole. Despite finding the sand on 3, I recovered to win the hole, but the Eton Tee shot was superior to mine on the 4th and we were back to all square.
Suddenly I was getting visions of still being all square going down the ninth but my game was holding together while Alex, under pressure to get back into town and meet his sister, wasn't having much luck. I can't remember the 5th other than holing a pressure putt that won it for me. Alex's long game deserted him on the 6th and getting myself onto the green in 2 on the 7th was enough to ensure victory while he skirted the lake.
If that makes it sound like high quality golf, bear in mind that I was 14 over par when I won.
Event: Barnes and Mortlake Regatta 2005 - Novice 1x
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I was struggling to grip with my right hand which is suffering from swapping between sweep and sculling at the moment, and then some wash around half way didn't help things. But then I got to the 300m to go marker on the bank, relaxed, started enjoying it, and started coming back at Mike. To be fair, he had taken the rate down a bit and was padling over, but he had to put in a lift on the last ten strokes to keep the gap at one length.
Good way to start the sculling career.
Event: Women's Head of the River Race 2007 - Senior3 VIIIs
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Event: Women's Head of the River Race 2007 - Elite VIIIs
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Event: Lent Bumps Getting-on Race 2008 -
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Next term the club has more permanent places in bumps. Take this week off, watch the bumps, but then start looking for that 2% and more besides. All nine of you have a lot of potential and I hope to see you in the Mays.
