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All race reports for Yimin Ge

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2011 - Student Beginner VIIIs
Posted as: Yimin
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In view of the unfortunate circumstances that the last two outings were badgered by weather and water, we went into this race having done no high-rate training whatsoever.

After a good paddle down with a few bursts and the usual pre-race faff, we started off in a strong and solid rate 26 all the way down First Post reach, clearly pushing away from the crew behind and gaining on the boat ahead. Spotless racing lines around First Post and Grassy corners, and a good push out of these gave us a very good and stable first half of the race. After Ditton corner however, the combination of a footstraps failure followed by a seat failure meant that we had to row a good part of the reach in sixes - and due to the confusion this caused in the boat hardly in time. We got it back together under the railway bridge, had a big push off it and held it well to the finish line.

Overall, a very promising introduction into high-rate rowing.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2011 - Cup
Posted as: Yimin
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After some general confusion about the opponents bow-rigged novice boat, we paddled onto the startline and were sent off, with half the crew not being ready and staring into random directions when the unexpected 'go' came. As such, the start was scrappy and messy, but nevertheless we were a length clear around the kink. Despite our rushy and pully rowing, we extending this lead to over 2 lengths before we finally relaxed and strode it down four times into a nice and chuncky mid-rate paddle, finishing 'easily'.

Neil called for composure and togetherness from the bank, but actually was so full of joy afterwards that he accidentally stepped into the river, clearly expressing his commiseration for the splash everyone had to suffer from during the race.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2011 - Cup
Posted as: Yimin
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A quick reminder on the startline that people have to actually bury their blades meant that we had a much better and cleaner start than last round. Selwyn were still faster off the first few strokes, and some wind-caused steering confusion meant that we were 1-2 seats down for the first bit of the race. A good lengthening and a confident surge got us level around the kink and soon after that into a comfortable lead. On Neil's suggestion, Yining called for another power-saving surge under the railway bridge, and we kept good technique and rythm all the way to the finish line.
Overall a much more composed race than the first round. And not only was the rowing much more together, even the three cheers after the race sounded vaguely in time. Good work!

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2011 - Cup
Posted as: Yimin
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The general fear of 'meaty grad students' soon turned into a fear of terrible wind and weather conditions. We dealt with it well and had long strokes, at least whenever the blades actually caught water rather than wave holes. Clare Hall held us well for much of the reach, but our good and consistent rythm off the surge got us into a clear lead by the railway bridge. We kept power and rythm all the way to the finish line and finished 2 lengths ahead. A good introduction into rowing in tricky conditions.

Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2011 - Cup
Posted as: Yimin
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Knowing that this was likely to be hardest race of the day even if we made the final, we had a much better focus on the startline resulting in what was probably the best racing start of the day. We went into a canvas lead off the first few strokes, but Maggie held us well and soon came back, despite some borderline steering from their cox which our marshal clearly wasn't too pleased about. It wasn't until after the kink that Maggie went into a few seats' lead. There was a short moment of panic allowing them to extend this lead, we got it back well together and kept up a good commitment all the way to the finish but unfortunately this wasn't enough.
This was a very good race in tough conditions after a hard quater final and it is comforting to know that we lost against the eventual winners. There is much to take away from today and come Fairbairns next week, today's experience will certainly prove to be very valuable.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Yimin
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An incredibly close race until Caius decided to organise a garden party 100m from the finish line. Lolcaius.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Yimin
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Sometimes you wonder what marshals have megaphones for. Neither Yining nor any of the rowers heard the "go", Queen's were halfway through their second drive before people realised that the race has started. Nevertheless we went into a comfortable lead after 10 strokes and clear water after another 10.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Yimin
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A race in terrible conditions. In fact so terrible that some crews - like Maggie W3 - pretty much went backwards. The marhsals left almost 5 minutes between their race and ours, nevertheless it was clear halfway through the race that we were going to catch them before the finish line. Lacking any attempt from the marshals to clear this wind-blown red octopus whose opposition have badgered off into the far distance long ago out of the way, Yining was forced to initiate a spectacular overtaking manoeuvre shortly after Morley's holt. Pembroke were less than a length down at this point so had the pleasure of a free bumps practice into Adam's blade while we were sandwiched between them and said red octopus. Only then did Maggie start to move to the towpath, generously leaving us a clear last 10 strokes for the finish line.
A hard but very well-fought race by both crews. Pembroke were almost a length down very early into the race but pushed back to half a length several times. Many crews would have given up long before that, kudos!

Event: Head of the River Race 2012 - In3
Posted as: Yimin
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A few things to take away from this race:
1) Commemoration feast was probably the most delicious but not exactly the most productive crew pasta we've ever had.
2) It helps being awake for a 7k race. For some people, this might even involve getting more than 3 hours sleep.
3) Blade clashes are not fun. But as long as they're even less fun for the other boat you're still in business.
4) Rate 30 was way too low for this race. Not quite sure why we did that.
5) We still need to learn how to row in a headwind. Doh.

Event: Nottingham City Regatta 2012 - Senior3 IV+
Posted as: Yimin
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Having looked at the opposition which included CUBC (Dev squad) amongst others, we rowed to the start knowing that if we were to race the race of our lives, there might be a slight chance of making the finals.
It wasn't quite the race of our lives, but certainly the first km of our lives.

After a very calm start, we settled into a very smooth 34, with lots of flow, length and composure. We quickly gained on Nottingham and soon after 500m just watchted them disappearing into the distance.

The middle km of the race was a tight neck-on-neck with Monmouth School. We took them seat by seat and were half a length ahead at the 1k mark. Shortly after we slightly lost our finesse and with the rate dropping down to 32 at times, Penelope had to make us aware of apparently having caught up with Goldie to help us picking it up again. Unfortunately at that point, Goldie B and Warwick, well ahead of the rest anyway, both decided that they would prefer to duel each other in the semifinal rather than the final and aggressively sprinted ahead. This meant that our motivational boost was only of short duration.

At 500 to go Monmouth were slightly in front and started winding it. We responded with a slight blade mishap, a very gentlemanly apology (someone in our boat was clearly quiching) and a few steering mishaps, crossing the line 5s after Monmouth.

Considering that we were a scratch four, this was a surprisingly good race - up to the 1k mark it was probably the nicest race I've done in a good while. It would have been even nicer to not have blown up at that point though...

Event: Lent Bumps 2014 - Thursday
Posted as: Yimin
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Absolutely delicious, WELL DONE!!!!!!!