All race reports for Christoph Bergemann

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Event: May Bumps 2005 - Wednesday
Posted as: Christoph
Event Link

The lower half of the division was caught up in some monster carnage, apparently caused by Magdalene II bumping Downing III and totally failing to clear. By the time we ploughed into the gridlock, just past the motorway bridge, we held Emma III at what we believe was just outside a length. However, they cheekily asked for a rerow - and in an umpire decision that was as controversial as this week's Michael Jackson jury verdict, their request was granted.

For the rerow we started from the top station, just ahead of W2. Despite a much better start, this time Emma really *did* close to within a length at Grassy, to within half a length past the Plough, and to within a few feet by Ditton corner. Just like Icarus was drawn towards the sun, the bright golden glow of our crew shirts seemed to exert an irresistible pull on their oarsmen. And just like the legendary adventurer of the Greek myth ended up having his wings melted and clipped, Emma equally couldn't cope with the heat: Their bow man's blade got stuck in Fergus' maelstrom-like wash, he caught a massive overhead crab (have a look at Martin's pictures!), and Emma's challenge was effectively over.

Down the reach we pushed them into the distance with surprising ease - perhaps they still had equipment issues, or their burn-and-die race plan had reached the second phase. Today Emma III will start right behind us again, but we hope for a quick bump on Trinity Hall III to put us out of Emma's reach for the foreseeable future.

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Event: May Bumps 2005 - Thursday
Posted as: Christoph
Event Link

The golden lycra-clad grads tore into the Trinity Hall all-blacks like a bright bolt of lightning into the heart of darkness...

Ok, I'll stop the metaphors here and now. Anyway, the bump leaves us right in the middle of a cluster of five crews all vying for the 3rd boat headship. A good result so far, and certainly a very solid row today.