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All race reports for Aaron Outhwaite

Event: Robinson Head 2009 - 1st division
Posted as: Aaron
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Yeah Buddy!

Not much more to say, only that we thought we'd only rowed O.K. and still won lower boats, we can do so much better. This is a solid platform to build off, we just need to up the rate and put some serious power down. Ain't nothin' to it but to do it!

Event: Lent Bumps 2009 - Friday
Posted as: Aaron
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Whew, that came quite close, or it felt like it. The commitment really felt like it was there today, on the row up and off the start. We knew we would have to go a lot faster off the start than yesterday to avoid a repeat, and we did. We were making a small amount of ground on Queens' all the way up first post reach and we pulled away from Selwyn nicely. Then we came round the corner and were confronted by carnage; I took a look behind while holding it up, Queens' and Emma seemed to be trying to get perpendicular to the river and there was no way to get past. Just as RTT informed us there was probably room to get past and get going again Selwyn appeared round the corner and came storming up on us; we restarted with them less than half a length away and managed to get the boat speed up again fast enough that they didn't get us. We then proceeded to row pretty badly all the way down the reach but some real solid commitment in the pushes lead to us slowly pulling away from them again. I couldn't tell exactly but it looked like Selwyn were outside station again when we crossed the line. Even though it would have been a technical row over it was still reassuring to hold them off.
It was clear from the first half of the race that if we know we have to row really well, we can do, we just have to have something to motivate us right from the start, like chasing the crew in front. Even in the second half when our technique was poor we showed that we can still move the boat well if we just commit ourselves properly. I'm happy with the result and I think we have a good platform to go from tomorrow, we just need to not get complacent again, everyone else has caught Emma but that doesn't mean we will if we don't put in everything we've got. It's the last day, we need to go all in because that's what they'll be doing too.

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2009 - Senior VIIIs
Posted as: Aaron
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Ok, time for someone to actually write the race report.

As is very often the case with the 2nd Fairbairn VIII we had quite a struggle just getting a crew together that could make it to the race. However we managed and we even got two outings together as a full VIII. We all knew we could row well together but it usually took half the outing to get there, could we do the same in under five strokes?

Yes

It felt good from the off and we quickly caught up with Wolfson ahead of us. Being told to easy off so you don't make the bump feels quite strange. After Chesterton Wolfson gracefully made way for us and provided a good marker to push off; we passed them in good style and gave a massive push to get our speed up again.

From time to time everyone feels the need to exclaim in some way during a race, whether it's a cry of pain or a "Yeah Buddy", this is quite normal; what isn't normal is the need to inform the rest of the crew of where you are by shouting out "THE REACH" just after your cox has told you "Reach push now boys".

We had been going fast and by Ditton we knew it was just a case of hanging on to our rhythm and eeking out the last k or so. We kept it together well but by half way down first post reach the rate had dropped several pips, a last 'balls to the wall' push took us over the line.

I was very glad it was over, my calves had been cramping up on the last three or so recoveries; I don't think any of us could have put any more effort in, well done guys.

Then we had to wait. Then we found out we'd done it, the shouts of elation could be heard far and wide.

YEEEAAAAAAAH BUUUUUUUUUDYYYYYYYY

Event: Lent Bumps 2010 - Wednesday
Posted as: Aaron
Event Link

Well done girls, most of you've seen my footage already but here it is edited and with an apropriate soundtrack, part of a work in progress montage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF10l686sJM

just watched that back, its a bit cack, the version I have on my computer is much better, will find a way of getting the good one on youtube

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Tuesday
Posted as: Aaron
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There have probably been closer races in the history of bumps, but a reckless attitude to alcohol at the dinners often results in the finer details not being remembered or recorded. Thus for the benefit of generations to come I will say this:

"They got pretty damn close, but didn't manage to bump"

I think this sums up not only physical facts, the speeds and distances between the boats, but also the mental attitudes of both crews.

It could be said that first day nerves and a lack of practice start led to us spannering it along with no real sense of what we were doing for the first two minutes and that we shouldn't have even let them get that close. However I think we adhered well to our race plan:

"set off, don't worry too much about rowing well and take it easy to begin with so that you have enough energy for the second half."

The start was certainly not as together as it could have been, not everyone's thoughts being focussed on the task in hand. However once we had finished solving the maths problems posed by our captain at the start of the week we noticed that Sidney had gained significantly and we decided to have a go at rowing in time. A concerted push as we came onto "THE REACH" saw us bring our boatspeed up to something approaching respectable and we began to move away. We crossed the line just outside station.

Overall I was pleased with the effort put in by everyone, although maybe Josh should skip lunch before our next race so that he doesn't have to deposit it into the river, or possibly take some sea-sickness tablets, it does get quite choppy out there.

Event: Lent Bumps 2011 - Thursday
Posted as: Aaron
Event Link

Ok, someone should probably write a slightly more gracious report.

I was pleased with the start, faster and less spactastic than tuesday, Sidney didn't gain, some say we pulled away a bit. Catz were faster through the gut, I think our pressure dropped a bit when we saw Sidney go out and we weren't really expecting there to be anything to chase up ahead. The rythm felt good down past the plough, then coming around ditton I heard our bank party screaming "Catz have crashed". This seemed a good time to call for a wind and unsustainable push, we had no idea how badly they had crashed but its bumps and you have to take every chance you're given. Then we rowed past them, stuck in a bit of hedge/reeds. There was some confusion in the crew as to whether we'd actually bumped or not but their bank party throwing his bike down in anger said it all.

Not the most satisfying way to do it... [that's what she said]

Event: Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon 2011 - 'A' class
Posted as: Aaron
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Bloody hell. Well done lads, well done.

Event: Etape Caledonia 2014 - Road Bike
Posted as: Aaron
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Shut up Legs!