All race reports for Timothy Hele
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Tim
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This race was a reminder that regattas can have bizarre draws. Both of our previous races were much closer than this. It was reminiscent of racing against Jesus NM2 in our first race of Clare Novices. Nevertheless, it is imperative to keep going, even when ahead. The hare and the tortoise...
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Tim
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I have never rowed in such terrible conditions. The wind churned the water to give the sensation of perpetual washing down, and it was so choppy that on occasions one would take an air stroke, despite the oar being at a height where one would expect to find water. Similarly, on the recovery one could push the oar through the crest of a wave, soaking those in front of one in the boat. Rowing is generally more efficient if one leaves the water in the Cam.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Tim
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After losing to Maggie NM1 in Clare Novices, I greatly desired racing them again. They were in the other semifinal, racing Girton M3. So, in order to have the chance to race Maggie, we had to beat Caius. As other reports have eloquently elucidated, the race was extremely tight. Initially it appeared as if Caius were pulling away, but I decided that, if we were going to lose, I wished to ensure that I went down fighting. At one point I looked to my right and it was if us and Caius were stationary and level, and the bank was moving beside us. (Technically, this is a legitimate statement by special relativity, though we were not exactly an inertial reference frame.)
Although they crabbed and ran into a barge, we had a very challenging race. Some of us caught miniature crabs, but managed to rescue the situation. They did not. If anything this race serves as a reminder to persevere until the bitter end.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Tim
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Again this race was tight, but both crews were tired occasioning a concomitant deterioration in technique. Nevertheless, I felt that we rowed well and hard. The boats appeared to coalesce after the railway bridge, such that at one point I seemed to be in a fencing match with the 7 in the Maggie boat, via our clashing oars. Although we lost, I believe we can be proud of our achievement that day, but there is still much work to do before Lent Bumps.
Note that we lost to LMBC by a smaller margin than in Clare Novices, and over a longer course.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2012 - 3rd division
Posted as: Tim
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Highly imaginative steering. The Cam could not fit a boat marshalled against the bank, a slow Maggie Women's crew, us and Pembroke racing flat out, and a barge on the other side of the river. Rowing certainly has a stochastic side.
Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Tuesday
Posted as: Tim
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The start was literally shaky as we were stationed underneath the railway bridge, next to the cannon. Tit Hall II gradually narrowed down upon us on the plough reach to a few feet, and which point a lift called by Yining lengthened the separation considerably. Turning the corner into the long reach I was surprised that we had rowed so far in such a short space of time. Unfortunately the gap narrowed, and after a hard effort we were bumped. Good work nevertheless, but very painful.
Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Wednesday
Posted as: Tim
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I think 'crashed' would be a better descriptor than 'bumped'. At grassy corner, Selwyn had bumped Peterhouse. The Peterhouse cox steered the bow of their boat into a tree, such that Selwyn's bow ran over Peterhouse's stern, whose boat then began sinking. Yining tried to manoeuvre us around this carnage, but we ran out of river and mounted the bank. At this point Caius come fast around the corner, hotly pursued by Maggie. Maggie crashed into the bank a few metres downstream of us, and those on the bank shout 'Get out!' as Caius cut a path into us. Fortunately they didn't hit us, though their oars clashed with ours, despite all of our blades being drawn in. Quite surreal.
Event: Lent Bumps 2012 - Saturday
Posted as: Tim
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Our final bumps race began in the knowledge that Hughes Hall M1 were going to bump Churchill M2 within seconds of the race beginning, such that to avoid spoons we needed to row over. Furthermore, Catz M2 behind us were chasing blades.
As Ahmad mentions, I too am surprised we were bumped so quickly (about the same distance in as the bump from Hughes Hall the previous day). There could be a variety of reasons, including fatigue, Catz's zeal or just the stochastic nature of bumps. I wished to provide some encouragement mid-race and shouted 'heave!'. I rather surprised myself by the length and volume of this exclamation, which sounded like a roar to Ahmad.
Despite spoons, I think the crew has much to be proud of, and we are still the highest M3 in Lent Bumps.
Event: May Bumps 2012 - Wednesday
Posted as: Tim
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After settling into our rhythm off the start, we emerged out of grassy corner and suddenly the wash was atrocious which, as bow, is a good indication of bearing down on the crew ahead. Penelope called a bumps push near the Plough and we continued to chase Catz around Ditton corner. Emerging onto the reach I heard three whistles and, fed up of rowing in such dreadful wash, turned around to see the stern of Catz. Stretching out at the front I hit their stern with my oar and shouted 'bump' but I did not see their cox concede by raising their hand. At the next stroke I came forward and hit their stern so hard I came off my seat. As I had effectively missed two strokes, the boat swerved to stroke side and our bow mounted their stern. Quite an experience.
Event: May Bumps 2012 - Thursday
Posted as: Tim
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The start seemed more fluid than the first day, and we easily kept our distance from Catz. By the time we rounded Ditton corner it seemed very likely that Jesus were going to bump, but composure remained imperative. We took the rate down after four boats behind us bumped out, though wound it back up to top finish. Our next race, chasing Downing and avoiding Jesus, should be very interesting. Bring it on!
Event: May Bumps 2012 - Friday
Posted as: Tim
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After a good start Jesus gradually closed in on us. The wind coming around Ditton corner was ferocious and cost us dearly. Despite Penelope steering us away from Jesus we were bumped close to the railings.
Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2012 - Student Senior VIIIs
Posted as: Tim
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Including only Cambridge College eights, we came seventh (eighth including Peterhouse who had entered IM3). Some have claimed that poor weather conditions in our division (rain, wind) could have adversely affected out results.
Overall the race felt pretty solid and provided a platform to improve upon for Fairbairns.
Event: Lent Bumps 2013 - Thursday
Posted as: Tim
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From the bank, the race was well executed and the composure held throughout. Despite Churchill M1 appearing a heavier crew, their appalling technique (particularly after the railway bridge) meant they had to fight all the way to top finish to avoid being bumped. And their 5 man vomited afterwards. I felt the rowing was of higher quality than yesterday and look forward to seeing what you chaps can produce tomorrow and Saturday!
