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All race reports for Neil Copland

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2003 - 4th and lower division
Posted as: ???
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Another good start and we were leading Darwin II, our blades clashed and then our blades clashed with their boat. I didn't have much clue what was happenning, but they stopped and we kept going, to cross the line well in front after they eventually restarted.

The race was not properly rowed out owing to Darwin leaving their station and clashing badly with 1st & 3rd, who eventually crossed the finish line first.

as the 99s website says.

Well, we won some lovely glasses without actually winnig a race!

Event: May Bumps 2003 - Wednesday
Posted as: Neil
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Everyone's first bumps race and and a bit of a poor start, still gained a length on St Catz. And then finished them off pretty quickly for our first bump!!

Event: May Bumps 2003 - Wednesday
Posted as: Neil
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A better start this time, but emma bumped an apparently poor Caius quickly, leaving us chasing the overbump. We passed manybumped out boats, and weren't sure who we were chasing, but new we were gaining quickly. We'd also picked up a huge crowd of onlookers on the towpath, and we witnessed a bit of an accident over there, don't know what happened... I mean I saw nothing but the back of 6s head. We kept on gaining for ages, and were down to a couple of feet apparently, but we weren't aware of where the finish was and ran out of river. Just missed out on what would have been a famous double overbump on Tit hall. Have to do it all again tomorrow, but we know we can beat catz and can row the course now! So close...

Event: May Bumps 2003 - Friday
Posted as: Neil
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Indeed we did bump, Jesus V. Not our best start but we still pulled away from Christ's IV behind us and got the bump fairly quickly. I think the charts are messed up because LMBC VI Scratched. Tomorrow we chase the Tit Hall crew we nearly double overbumped on Wednesday for blades. Should be interesting

Note: On the way back from the boathouse, in out kit with greenery on, we were offered a punt tour of the river. Hilarious.

Event: May Bumps 2003 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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A dodgy push off and the chain went taught and we began drifting back towards the bank. We paniced slightly and had a poor first few strokes, but a good wind and stride saw us back on track and we reeled in Tit Hall to get them just after the motorway bridge, payback for day 1!

Blades for the grads, rock on!

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2003 - 4th and lower division
Posted as: ???
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Never had much of a chance against a very good Peterhouse M2. Held them on the start though!

Event: Lent Bumps 2004 - Friday
Posted as: Neil
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Well more carnage ahead resulted in a re-row again, this time at 520 after M1. We'd started ok but Jesus gained a bit, and really went for us at Grassy, but we began to pull away, before we all had to hold it up.

It was ourselves, Jesus, Homerton and Selwyn in the re-row. And a very good start saw us gain on Homerton. Jesus came at us again, and we made it past a bumped out Homerton and Selwyn, but not past Grassy. Tragic. Twice we've had to re-row and done worse.

We've been improving all week (maybe something to do with actually rowing together) and it was going really well on the way down to the re-row and coming home. If we can hold it together tomorrow and settle, I don't see why we can't have a go at Jesus again.

Event: May Bumps 2004 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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A good solid row-over as there was nothing in front to hit. We expected Corpus to hit Jesus quickly, but not that quickly! A crab in the Jesus boat resulted in them being hit before the stride. We'd closed to a length on corpus, but to no avail.We then set off dreaming of an overbump on Robinson, but they got Girton pretty quickly too.

We rowed over taking it fairly relaxed, christs tried to be cheeky and go for an overbump but we kept them miles away with the odd push.

Same as day 1: we gained on Corpus but they gained alot faster on the other crews around.

Event: May Bumps 2004 - Friday
Posted as: Neil
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Woo Yay, my first bump on Maggie!

We had some 'issues' at the start, but we managed to be pretty calm at the gun, lets just say some people will be getting points!

Our row down had been good, and the race itself too, we seem to be improving. The only slight wobble when we got to about 4 feet from them in rough water, but we got them about the same place we bumped yesterday.

Tomorrow will be tricky: Corpus are in front of us, and we got within half a length of them off the start on day 1, but we expect them to be faster than Jesus.

Event: May Bumps 2004 - Thursday
Posted as: Neil
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A decent start and we gained a lot of ground again. We stopped gaining on the stride but then began to reel them in on first post reach. Aileen steered for them at first post corner and we got them! It took them ages to conceed, we hit them 4 or 5 times and our bowman had a good view of their stern. We came to a rest just at the start of the gut.

And oh look, we're chasing Maggie fellows tomorrow!

Event: May Bumps 2004 - Wednesday
Posted as: Neil
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An impressive start and we gained on Corpus, but we got stuck in the rough water behind them as they got a big overlap on Caius and then bumped out. Meanwhile behind us disney were nowhere and got bumped when they were many lengths behind. We continued on valiantly in search of an overbump but died a bit (actually a lot) in the reach. We had gained on Wolfson, but not enough for the double overbump to be on.

All in all a good start, and we were faster than the crews above and below us. Hopefully we'll get Caius tomorrow.

Event: Lent Bumps 2004 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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Had to hold it up again, no re-rows today so we were on the wrong end of a technical bump, unrightly so we felt, we were pulling away from Downing.

Feels a lot worse than if we'd actually been bumped.

Event: Lent Bumps 2004 - Wednesday
Posted as: Neil
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Due to Carnage ahead we had to hold up and re-row before 1st post corner, apparently we were making ground on Selwyn and we were holding off Homerton. On the re-row we started averagely and Homerton started gaining on us. Whistles, panic and some uncoordinated pushes ensued and we got hit in the gut. After the bump Homerton kept rowing a bit and wedged our bows into the bank. As we attempted to free ourselves Caius came round the corner and saw Homerton backing up and decided to steer for the bump on them. After whacking half of Homerton with their blades they celebrated, but I think M4 were on their tail and got the technical bump.

Unfortunately for them, bow-pair had to go paddling in the invigorating waters of the cam to remove our bows from the bank. Well done guys.

Looks like the intensive training programme isn't paying off. If we can stay calm we should be fine. Jesus III behind us on Friday.

Hey, we have no pictures. No-one likes us! : (

Event: Robinson Head 2004 - Lower VIIIs
Posted as: Neil
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If results are to be believed, we rocked! It felt good, but I'm a bit shocked!

Event: Fairbairn Cup 2003 - Lower VIIIs
Posted as: Neil
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We all thought it went rather well despite most of the crew having indulged in plenty of festive cheer at the BA Christmas Dinner the previous night. It took us a while to get warmed up as we'd been sitting on the water for about an hour and only had a few strokes to practice, except "Judas" at bow who had a whole course to warm up as he'd already raced the course that morning in another crew. By the time we reached the end of the reach I thought we were oing much faster and some good pushes through the corners kept the momentum up and we all thought it felt pretty good. We were of course the top third VIII, and the only 2nd VIIIs that beat us were our own low-commitment VIII (ft a fresh Mark S) and Jesus and Downing, so we were the in the top 4th of 11 lower eights and also beat St Eds 1. and err... Pembroke Women Justyn informs me. We floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee...

Event: May Bumps 2005 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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Quick bump as expected, just after the motorway bridge. Unfortunately wedged Downing into the bank a little. A good week of bumps, earned by our row-over on day one.

Having gained off the start on Maggie before they hit slow crews on days 1 and 3 we'd have liked to have had a go at them over the whole course for the third boat headship, though they did well to bump today.

A few more days and
we might have got the red scum.
Who said bumps was fair?

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2005 - 3rd division
Posted as: Neil
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We did better than that and were half a length up, but we didn't respond to their push off the railway bridge and lost some distance. We have rowed much better.

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2005 - Men's 3rd Div. Mays
Posted as: Neil
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Not bad, a better rhythm than previously and held up quite well, just a few dodgy strokes now and then. Results are distorted as the wind dropped off during the day, but 17s behind the 1st VIII who went off at a similar time isn't bad. (waits to be informed they were rate-capped at 12)

Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Tuesday
Posted as: Neil
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Indeed, our start was good, but we didn't stride to a nice race pace, and our RATIO was rubbish. We've now raced the whole course but tomorrow we want to row a lot better.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 3rd division
Posted as: Neil
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Despite breakfasting finely we had a lacklustre start. As we warmed up things improved, but we still never found a nice rhythm. We're definitely capable of better. It was a tough draw though with LMBC III going on to the final, where there the effort required for their early morning victory over us finally took its toll.

Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2004 - College IVs
Posted as: Neil
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Despite having to abandon BA Christmas dinner the previous night due to some sort of food poisoning bug I decided not to waste a term's training and a few day's abstinence so I decided to row with the benefit of some extra layers. The race wasn't too bad but sitting in plough reach for an hour afterwards half killed me.

As for the race, we kept our rating where we wanted it and kept together. If only we could remember the changes we make at technical calls for more than 10 strokes.

Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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A technical rowover in fact. Girton and St Eds both looked on station behind us when we had to hold it up not long after the Motorway bridge due to Queens and Downing having cleared slowly. We held it up and Girton held it up, only for Girton's bank party to tell there crew to go for the bump, which they duely did on our near stationary crew. Smart move.

Fortunatley it was their bow and not out stern, cox or stroke that bore the damage. Eventually we were told it was a technical rowover, not the technical overbump on Peterhouse we were after!

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2006 - Men's lower division
Posted as: Neil
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De fault, the two sweetest words in the english language.

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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Oh well. If we'd been offered up 4 on Wednesday we'd have grabbed it, but that doesn't stop the result seeming somehow disappointing. The key day was yesterday where a not too a bit more and we could have got queens before Selwyn got us leaving us an easy bump today. Instead we were between two fast blading crews. Practise of pushing away from/in to crews would be good for next years crew.

Today we got hit in the gut, so we didn't get the chance to blame Richard Church and Grassy. We still didn't make it round grassy on the row back though!

Good coxing from mark on the way home, but it's never a good idea to let a cox row, it messed up our style completely.

Should day that we're obviously camera shy and coun't perform in front of the french doculmentary crew that have been on our tail the last two days!

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Friday
Posted as: Neil
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Gutted.

Good start, not our best stride, but it wasn't too long before we had the first whistle on queens. Got to First post corner and Selwyn still seemed on station. They gained a bit on the corner and our usual big lift in the gut failed to materialise. By this time we'd forgotten about Queens and never heard a second whistle but apparently we got within half a length.

They had much better line round grassy and a HUGE push which we weren't able to co-ordinate one to counter.

Very disappointing as we could definitely got queens before they got Maggie, especially if we weren't worrying about Selwyn. Better corners, communication and more co-ordinated pushes and we'd have been fine, and we know we're capable of all these. I'm sure we're all having our post-mortems, but I'm keen to get out there and demonstrate that we should be the head IVth VIII and that we didn't bump up out of our depth. Would be good to have the whole course to have a go back at Selwyn, but I'm sure they'll have their eyes on a quick bump on Maggie.

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Thursday
Posted as: Neil
Event Link

Just wrote a huge report then lost it, oh well, here I go again.

Great result! Worse start than yesterday and Corpus bumped out very quickly, they were soon followed by Selwyn, meaning we were chasing at least a double overbump, but we kept plugging away. Grassy didn't go to well, and I had to draw my blade in to avoid the bank but we had a good drive down plough reach and a good Ditton which meant we were at least within sight of them.

When you're told that you're gaining you wonder if that still means the other crew is just a speck. We had a massive lift in the reach and when we heard a four length call we knew it was a possibility. This was accompanied by someone jumping around maniacally on the bank, a sure sign it was on.

Amelia was telling us that she had faith in us, and after we got a 2 length call before the bridge I had faith too. After passing the railway bridge there was a half lenth call and some improvised signals on a bike bell. When you're that far away and running out of river you just have to go for it don't you? We wound it up on the slide spacktastically but obviously better than Sidney managed. Overlap... Amelia steered for the bump... and Mark got them with his blade just before the line... ecstacy!

That make up for missing out in similar circumstance 3 years ago!

We had to pull in at the P&E to change boats, so it made sense to get a libation to celebrate, thanks Erica! Also big thanks to our bank party, Julia, Mike, Christoph and anyone else who joined in.

We know we can improve some things for tomorrow, but a good row up today set us up well. Hopefully we can get a crack at Maggie IV and the IVth VIII headship before the week is out.

Cashback!

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Wednesday
Posted as: Neil
Event Link

Kings faltered as they saw the bright golden glow of the gradVIII storming towards them. We bumped by the motorway bridge, I think we just about fitted in the stride. Tomorrow things seem to have been messed up by this double overbump! I guess it's up to us to get revenge on Corpus for the Vth's.

And why did Jesus have ETANIMOD written on their backs?

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2006 - Men's lower division
Posted as: Neil
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Did feel like a better row in periods, but still pretty shoddy. The row back wasn't great either.

Had a three subs and someone swapping sides again, hopefully that explains not rowing together! Time to focus for the last few weeks and hopefully get a consistent crew.

Again Peterhouse were a division above us, shame we didn't have a race with a crew around us at bumps. Having said that we should be beating third division crews!!

Neil

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2006 - Men's lower division
Posted as: Neil
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A crew a division and a half above us and we held them more or less on station until someone lost a seat, but I think we gave up once they were out of sight.

We weren't very satisfied with this row and our practice starts were a disaster.

We were not very together and we have enough power to go much faster.

Event: City Sprints 2006 - Mens Lents Division 3
Posted as: Neil
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Pretty poor start, so us give them a length head start. We spent the rest of the race gaining on them but ran out of river. Had a close encouter with the bank near the end.

Hopefully some outings with the same crew order and some start practice and we'll be ready to tear up the fourth division!

Event: City Sprints 2006 - Mens Lents Division 3
Posted as: Neil
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Decent start, plenty of power, but a bit frantic. The stride managed to improve the rythym but also increase the rating somehow. It seemed more or less half a length all the way from the start.

I imagine Tit Hall 2 will be at least a division above us in bumps, so pretty good result.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil
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Got to 3/4 of a length early on the reach, but couldn't take it any further. Didn't row badly: we hadn't rowed better previously. Up 2 is a pretty respectable result. A good crew to row in an we were pretty happy.
Well done guys.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Friday
Posted as: Neil
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Well today's plan was for a patient bump, and that plan was executed. We found a very relaxed and sustainable rhythm, with CCAT behind not dropped early like you'd expect after yesterday. When the distance calls started to come we new we just had to continue with the same and by the plough we had overlap.

Downing had a cunning plan to evade us by going ridiculously wide round Ditton, and Magnus resisted the urge to steer for the bump. We then became aware that the water had become far less dirty, and lo and behold, there were Downing rowing along beside us. Our bow balls must have past half way round Ditton and I thought that constituted a bump (I'm sure someone will clarify this soon!). Anyway there seemed no call from the bank and their cox must have had his arms bound to his sides as he still didn't concede. Perhaps they were counting on a secret pressure push they'd been holding back to take back a couple of lengths and shoot off up the reach, or trying to let CCAT bump them first for the up two, and to screw us up.

By the end of Ditton corner we had about another 3/4 of a length but still no concession! Magnus was obviously frustrated, and began edging over the river leaving them nowhere to go. I think it was eventually our stroke or 6-man's blade that hit their bowman's. He then had the good sense to stop rowing and tell his crew to do the same!

Wolfson got Peterhouse halfway down the reach, so we should get them tomorrow.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Thursday
Posted as: Neil
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Much more relaxed draw strokes today and we had the length call after not to long. We strode down to 35 apparently, but it felt light and lower. As we were coming round first post corner we got a 6ft call and did our bumps push; a few wobbly strokes but it did the job. They took a bit long to concede and their boat took a little damage pulling in, and Jesus also decided to park on top of us.

Anyway, job done. We just need to do exactly the same tomorrow. Chasing Downing.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Tuesday
Posted as: Neil
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We talked before the race about relaxing at the start and not panicing, but our first 3 draw strokes were a disaster. However we managed to get it back together pretty quick, and our mighty start kicked in and we got back the couple of seconds start we'd gifted the crews around and soon got a whistle for a length off Wolfson. We had a nice stride and had apparently gained more before they had some sort of huge push in the gut and got CCAT before grassy. We'd also dropped Queens who got hit in first post reach.

From then on there wasn't much contact with other crews, we were told we gained on Downing but the overbump was never really on. We kept the rate and pressure up but it was sometimes a bit scrappy, and I'd forgoten how dirty the water is in bumps, even when your not right behind someone.

On this display we're definitely faster than CCAT, and if we get our draw strokes right and row to our ability we should get them!

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2006 - 2nd VIIIs
Posted as: Neil
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We didn't have a bad start, but their was excellent and they were 3/4 of a length up pretty quickly. Our rowing was a pretty messy but we gained on out pushes, and ended up maybe a bit less than 1/2 a length off at the finish. We know our starts will improve with practise and that we can row technically better. But sill if you take away the start we were faster.

Event: Cambridge Autumn Head 2006 - Lower College IV+
Posted as: Neil
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Not bad at all, kept the rating and application up to the end, passed two and a half womens crews, and dropped Maggie behind by a long way. Even had some blade clashing thrown in to wake us up at Ditton.

Event: Robinson Head 2007 - Lower VIIIs
Posted as: Neil
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What, no pots?

Not our best rowing, but decent commitment. I sure we're all not happy being 36s behind M1.

More to come from this crew.

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Tuesday
Posted as: Neil
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Fairly messy start, we had a whistle coming round first post, and they got two whistles on Sidney in front. We got a " go for it" call and we seemed to have overlap a couple of strokes later. Got them in the middle of the gut.

We were worried about Peterhouse bumping out before we got them, and given they were inside half a length on Sidney when we hit them it is encouraging for Thursday.

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Thursday
Posted as: Neil
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It sounded like they had cannon to the right of them and cannon to the left of them, but the crazy horses of FaT M2 charged of the start line with real aggression. They galloped after a hobbled looking Sidney crew and took them down before First Post corner, quite frankly, they could have done it at a canter.

If the thoroughbred stallions of FaT live up to their potential they can look forward to illustrious careers before being put our to stud. Some of the crews we were stuck behind on the way home are only good for glue.

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Friday
Posted as: Neil C
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From when the Trigger was pulled, the Black Beauty that is TR1 shot off like a Champion. Perhaps the saddle-sore looking Girton crew ahead of us threw a shoe, because the whistles came quickly, they were like a Boxer on the ropes and we bumped out coming in to first post corner. A mere Fatty Lumpkin to our Shadowfax they compounded their shame by rowing home half naked.

Tomorrow we hope we will row with a cox at the back, like a train in the night, fetlocks blowing in the wind. We will earn the right to be showered with sugar lumps.

Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Saturday
Posted as: Neil C
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Vorsprung durch Pferdemedizin.

Understandably this result was somewhat overshadowed, but bumping 4 college first VIIIs without getting past the exit of First Post is very impressive. We were the highest "up 4" mens boat and it's annoying that we couldn't have a few more days to get the 2nd VIII headship and into the first division as we would definately have held our own in the bottom third.

Personally it's nice to finsh with blades in the fastest crew I've rowed in. I hope you guys go on to ensure FaT domination for many years to come

Event: May Bumps 2007 - Wednesday
Posted as: Neil C
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Indeed, go for it guys, may the horse medicine be with you...