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All race reports for Peter Rowley

Event: May Bumps 2011 - Thursday
Posted as: Pete
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This was over quickly. We did not especially enjoy it.

Some say Hughes Hall actually is a genuine place, and that at least one of their crew really isn't a middle-aged land economist. All we know is they were badgering fast.

That said, a much better row than yesterday. Rowing down to the start with all 8 blades intact might have been a contributing factor to this. To change the result however, would have required a lolcatz fail of an even greater proportion than lents. Surely not even they could crash before first post? Perhaps Newnham could give them some tips on that.

Onwards (yet not so upwards), to Peterhouse tomorrow. I don't know who they are. I don't know what they want. If they are looking for a bump, I can tell them we won't give it to them.

Massive effort tomorrow, so we get the headship chance that we deserve.

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Tuesday
Posted as: Pete
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If we were in any doubt as to the importance of today, the exuberance of our bow-man's 'drop and roll' getting the boat out washed away that uncertainty. The row down was probably our best rowing all term, and our practice starts were undeniably rapid (they have to be when Caius are nearby). However, I remain unconvinced that rowing the whole reach at race pace was necessarily the best of plans...

Our real race was a bit too 'Taken' - aggressive, panicky and too short. Perhaps we should have a team viewing of 'The Watchmen' before our next race, so we can be long, boring and painful. Indeed I do think shortness is a problem of the crew as a whole (I'm talking about length, not bow pair), which ought to be improved upon. So yeah, they hit us in the gut. Sub-optimal.

"Hit by Downing II. Pulled in on the inside of grassy. #bumped #FaTproblems"

Anyway, to quote arguably the best rowing coach of all time: "Yeah, but they have to go back to Downing"

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Thursday
Posted as: Pete
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Josh's miserably failed attempt to limbo under the boat (it's not like he doesn't start close enough to the ground) epitomised a low-key day of racing. In a very deliberate, pre-meditated reversal of day 1, we decided to paddle down to the start like absolute spanners and save our decent rowing for the actual race. Smart decision lads.

Fear was struck into us however, when while marshalling we observed about half of the women's crews returning with fewer than 9 people in the boat. Not knowing what women-eating dangers lay in the waters ahead, we proceeded cautiously, being careful not to row too fast, for fear of losing our cox.

Our start was a bit scrappy, but adequate. Jesus II behind us closed slightly, getting a probably optimistic whistle from their bank party. Credit must go to Ellie for not letting her curiosity get the better of her, as the Jesus cox decided to explore the previously unchartered waters of grassy and ditton corners. So we rowed over without too much drama, staying on station pretty much the entire way. Credit should also go to the whole crew for accurately judging the level of exertion of their opposite man in the Jesus boat, and matching (without exceeding) it.

Having now mapped out the entire Cam (in a collaborative venture with Lolcatz and the Newnham garden party) we can expect Jesus to take more of a 'racing' line tomorrow: "Make straight the way of the Lord" (John 1:23). We must be prepared for this, and not panic if the gap is slightly less comfortable.

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Friday
Posted as: Pete
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To continue the theme of the week, our race was reflected by Josh's boathouse showpiece, this being a very long and tedious way of achieving what should have been a fairly easy task. I hate to say I told you so, but for some reason we once again decided to row down to the start quite well, storing up all our bad rowing for the race. When will we learn?

In comparison to our very tidy practice start, our actual one was about as wild as Silvio Berlusconi's leaving party. Thankfully no-one caught crabs though (you can, and indeed we did, make a full recovery from mini-crabs.) With Jesus keeping a close eye on us, it would probably have been wise to stop this nonsense and behave ourselves, but we carried on regardless.

Behind us, we were expecting Jesus to be caught fairly quickly by LMBC, which would have given us a bit of breathing space. However, the sneaky Jesuans realised this too, and decided to implement a very short race plan. Coupled with our very short strokes, this led to Jesus getting within a canvas of our stern around first post. We pulled away with a push at grassy, as Jesus went wide again then seemed to blow up, allowing John's to bump them around the Plough. We laboured to the line with no pressure from Sidney behind, and no realistic expectation of catching Caius ahead.

Job done today, but a big improvement needed for tomorrow.

Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Saturday
Posted as: Pete
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It's often noted that final day race reports rarely get written. It's because we're too busy celebrating/commiserating. A good week's racing lads; shame about today's result though.

Sent from my iPub.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2012 - 2nd division
Posted as: Pete
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In the battle for Trinity Street, the irresistible force of Caius met the immovable object of First and Third in a race that will go down in history as one of the many rowing races that happened that weekend. There were old scores to be settled: scores such as '2 lengths' and 'easily' that have happened in previous years. It was decided that Caius won for this year at least, and indeed at most.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2012 - 2nd division
Posted as: Pete
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In Round 2, the giants of Magdalene met the titans of First and Third, making them both seem normal-sized. Magdalene won this time.

Looking ahead to June, each crew will be rowing several times and in various combinations, each bump of it massively mattering to someone, presumably. There's so much rowing going on, it is impossible to keep up with all the rowing, but your best chance is here.

Event: May Bumps 2012 - Thursday
Posted as: Pete
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Perhaps in denial that we had been bumped the day before, or maybe distracted by something/someone in the boat in front, Ellie started the day trying to marshall in the wrong position. Or maybe it was just really bad parking; we'll never know.

The race started actually rather well. Homerton got a frankly absurd early whistle despite having hardly closed on us at all at that point. Maybe due to that, or perhaps because some of the crew have direct experience of what it's like to be smashed by homerton, a panic set in as they got closer. Race over.