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All race reports for Mihkel Kama

Event: Lent Bumps 2019 - Wednesday
Posted as: Mihkel
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We put up a solid fight in rather windy conditions. History will forever wonder how much of our mettle was down to the sobering effect of Kerem's firm and remorseless countdown as we sat under the bridge waiting for our ears to get destroyed. We held off Trinity Hall very well halfway or more to Ditton Corner, with Clare gaining on them in turn. With a front seat view to all this predator-prey drama on the watery prairie my only thought was for us to push as hard as we can until Trinity Hall get taken down. Sadly Clare let up the pressure or messed up their line coming through Grassy, while Trinity Hall made a push we couldn't quite match coming up to Ditton Corner. Generally great response from the whole crew to push calls from Ilsu. Looking forward to going after Trinity Hall on Friday.

Event: Lent Bumps 2019 - Saturday
Posted as: Mihkel
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The plan was to fly off the start and bump back Clare Hall M1, or die trying. Tremendous work from the whole crew as the whistles were sounding by First Post and we almost got them. We couldn't muster a powerful enough push for the bump and let them draw away, but had put so much clear water between ourselves and the pursuing Fitz M2 that they in turn fell prey to Churchill without ever threatening us. We rowed over towards the siren song of BCD and retained M3 headship.

Event: May Bumps 2019 - Friday
Posted as: Mihkel
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Mixed feelings of confidence from two days of successfully fighting off Clare M2 and concern over tired legs. Not expecting to bump Jesus, who had walked away from us as if on water on Day 2, we aimed to dominate over Clare yet again and give Darwin a taste of his own medicine on Day 4.

Our stroke man still seemed unable to grasp that an M2 could rate below 40 as we set off. The Clare crew worked admirably hard yet again, powering after us and catching up as we approached Plough Reach. An intense chase ensued, reminescent of Day 1 though with a little less overlap, which by this crew's Mays standards was as a comfortable lead.

A tactical collision of Seven's blade with the bank on a corner ensured that, analogously to Two's tactical crab on Day 1, we reset and found our finest rowing going onto the Long Reach. With a composed application of power, the crew held Clare at bay until the shadow of the Railway Bridge passed over us, signalling a no-reserves push to bring us past the cheering Women's crews to Bottom Finish with a comfortable lead.

Event: May Bumps 2019 - Saturday
Posted as: Mihkel Kama
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A fourth and final day of being chased by Clare M2. In spite of them having rowed over an unenviable seven times to our meagre three, there was little doubt they would go all-out for this final shot at Div 2. Darwin ahead of us were looking bulky but we thought we might match their speed.

Off the start we immediately put some distance between ourselves and Clare. This did not deter them from keeping up the pressure, but being chased at 1-3 lengths was certainly preferable to negative 3 feet. While we did close to within a whistle of Darwin, by Plough Reach they had in turn moved away again and remained out of reach.

Clare kept up the pressure all the way, but were noticeably slower this time around. Or perhaps it was that our Cox finally remembered more names than just Sam and Petr, thus managing to tease out 5% extra of individual effort from the other 75% of the boat. In the tradition of this Mays campaign for FaT M2, our push off of the Railway Bridge towards Bottom Finish and a fourth row-over was cheered on by our own W1.

Three hoorays for Clare for their valiant efforts, and many a meaningful nod and I dare say smile were exchanged between the crews as we set off to paddle home.

[Afterthoughts: As best I know, nobody has yet come forward to say they had great confidence in us in the weeks leading up to Mays 2019. Exams and research trips limited all-crew outings. Too few ergs were logged. Starting at the bottom of Division 2, slipping into Div 3 was a real threat. But as exams finished and Bumps came around, the crew came into focus. Pressure from Clare M2 on Day 1 brought out such resolve as to carry us with growing confidence through the week and maintain a hard-earned place for FaT M2 in Div 2. PS -- thanks for everything, Fordy!]