All race reports for Pia Schaefer
Event: Lent Bumps 2004 - Saturday
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Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 1st division
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It was sad to be put against the crew of our most reliable cox sub and Fairbairns IV cox, Katie Barber of Peterhouse... but for the sake of Robinson Head redemption (beaten by Pembroke II and LMBC II!!!) sacrifices had to be made.
Having dubbed ourselves 'The Black Pearl in the White Shell' on the startline of the previous race, we had expected a 'release the Black Pearl' call from Jenny, however she had refused on the grounds that it reminded her of Ed Peacock's 'Unleash the Tiger'. Fortunately, we managed to convince her otherwise and with 10 strokes to Peters Post, Jenny called for the pearl to be released causing an unpresedented shifting of boat to the finish.
We also rowed better in this race.
Event: Cambridge Small Boats Head 2004 - Women's 2-
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We had made our mark on rowing history... and cycled off to run the 1500 in cuppers.
Many thanks to Ciaran and Matt for self-sacrificing bankpartying.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 1st division
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Oh, poncy smug Emma... you just had it coming... the general disdain from the marshalling side was caused by my coxing the 3rd Women in the preceeding division. Within 10 secs of 'and wind it down', I had landed outside the pike and eel, passed my coxing attire to Stroke Dami, who was being replaced by Sarah H, who had rowed the 1st VIII to Chesterton (...) and was running towards a moored Denys.
We rowed all the way up to the start, spun on the start line and were started unceremoniously and somewhat off target following a disturbing roar (as a laymen I can only guess that the mating call of the rhinoceros was being imitated) from our over-confident opposition.
We had the best start and technically most competent race of the day, with a first stride to 40 and a second to a sustained 35. The rhythm felt powerful and controlled and we chizzled seat after seat of a lead on Emma. They started waining (sp?) coming into their advantage corner such that we were 1.5 lengths ahead coming under the Railway Bridge. We then lifted it for the finish, extending our lead to 2 lengths.
As amateur a cox as I may be, I am generally keen on keeping one's eyes on one's own kind. However, I couldn't help but notice a general sense of growing FaT W1 awareness amongst our W1 peers marshalled at the Railway Bridge as the day went on...
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 1st division
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Well, it was late and they were very strong. Although it might never have been on the cards to win this one, with a bit more determination and self-belief, this could have been a lot closer. But at this point we were all cold and still basking in our glory... having destroyed Maggie and 'trashed Emma'. Congratulations to Clare for a deserved victory, thanks to all super-subs, particularly Mika (three races!!), the Darley-Pickard bank party and to Jenny for great coxing and amazing cornering!!
Let's act on Clare's stroke's prediction... and blade...
Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Tuesday
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The crew looked dead set for a nice easy bump the like of which F&T II Ladies have recently become famous for delivering.- Down to a length on Jesus III off the (fast) start, closed to 3/4 soon after... and then... disaster struck. To be more precise, crab struck No 2 and quite badly so. With the blade stuck parallel to the boat and the crew not used to such blemishes on their rowing as crabbing, it took a good 30 strokes to row all eight again, during which time Jesus dropped us to 2 lengths and Pembroke III (chasing) didn't really go anywhere.
The crew restarted well and slowly ground down on Jesus. They were back on station just outside First Post and at a length at Grassy. Unfortunately the astounding shortness of the course came to Jesus' aid in the end and a deserved bump to be postponed until tomorrow...
xx
Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Wednesday
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xx
Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Friday
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We had been feverishly trying to work out a way to engineer an overbump, this, bar the world's biggest equipment failure on Pembroke, being our only way to secure some seriously desired blades. One of our post-stomping plans included using Paracetamol against the effects of lactic acid (but Cath says it doesnt work, so dont try... she's gonna be a double Dr...) but in the end we managed it, unbelievably, yet fairly and squarly....
ish... a gust of cross-tailwind stretched Jenny's bung-arm in a Braveheart kind of manner until even she could not hold on to it any longer and let go... before the gun. This put me in a state of shock so that our eventually ensuing start was what one might call well spacky. We strode to 38+ but subsequent strides established our race pace of 35/36. As expected the Pembroke ladies bumped out fairly soon after and with Tit Hall having steered towards the non-towpath side to avoid the bump, übercox Jenny took an insanely successful line through the two stationary crews.
Passing Pembroke was truly one of the most encouraging moments of the race- with a good 5 1/2 length to go (at around First Post) self belief hadn't quite set in, and the wall of cheers from last week's surprise sparring partner really kept us going as we pushed, still spackily, towards Grassy.
Becca North later said that seeing us come into Grassy, it seemed like we had given up the idea of hitting Girton, but following a 'push out of the corner call' from Iain, we suddenly seemed to lift it and this is when we FINALLY found our race form. At this point, it might have been just over 4 lengths, I personally dont have a clue. But as we moved into Ditton, Amelia claims to have heard Iain shout '2 lengths'.
I only got the 'we're on station' from Jenny, who had been continually telling us that we were reeling them in and to make the best of our corners, which she, obviously, took brilliantly. But Ditton was the critical moment when Little Jenners turned into The Overbump Biest... there was a lot of agression coming through the coxbox, making clear that we had little choice in what was going to happen between the, arbitrary, ends of the reach. Coming out of Grassy, Iain shouted 'inside station'.
I think at this point every one of us had realised that we were going to make it and the distance calls to the bump at the railings came in shorter and shorter succession. It is unbelievable how our speed did not drop once throughout the race and how much we were still able to lift it towards the end.
'Hold it up!!!' was the signal for all hell to break lose. I seem to remember sort of crying, everyone was screaming with relief and we got out to obstruct the towpath jumping around and hugging (after the last crews had come by of course) for ages and ages. We went to thank Girton, who must have been gutted but were very gracious, then got back into the boat sans greenery. We managed to find some later and had the most elated row back to the boat house.
Who would have thought we'd be starting 8th on Saturday... I can't wait for that gun tomorrow. As much as I like Newnham... and as much as tradition obliges us to wish they could bump LMBC... we're very much up for a last day of carnage!
Thanks everyone for a fantastic row, to all our bankparties, biased and unbiased umpires and Bumps organisers (...) and all those other lovely people cheering. FCUK ©, I love being captain!!!
xxxxxxxxxxx
Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Saturday
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I'm impressed with how technically well you are all rowing, this being thanks to Iain's and Ruth's excellent coaching and your doing pretty much the same amount of training as some college's 1st VIIIs. If we add some serious improvement in fitness next term you should do very well indeed!!!
Love you girls,
xxxxx
Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Saturday
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Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2005 - Women's Lents 1
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We seemed to finally find our rhythm on the Reach and had a prolonged wind/w*** for the fininsh as we overtook Newnham II (12 lengths in total...) in an effort reminiscent to our more glamourous racing moments last term.
6th isn't great, but certainly not a bad result. Needless to say the crews ahead are nowhere near us in Bumps, so I am beating myself up a bit needlessly here ;) The power is still there, we just need to find our grace... xxx
Event: City Sprints 2005 - Women's Lents Div. 1/2
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Event: City Sprints 2005 - Women's Lents Div. 1/2
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Event: City Sprints 2005 - CRA Nv 4+
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Event: City Sprints 2005 - CRA Nv 4+
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Event: City Sprints 2005 - CRA Nv 4+
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Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2005 - Women's 3rd Div. Mays
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Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2005 - Women's Lower Div. Mays
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To all those who weren't at the prize giving: The crew won 'most interesting start' and Baz, in a stunning creme ensemble, 'comedy coxing'.
They started then easied outside the Plough to produce party poppers... Ditton was taken in flight... Baz had both arms outstreched and was batting them vigorously... allegedly because he wanted to demonstrate strokes were to be taken in the raging headwind.
Impressive is the fact that despite the race emphasis having been decidedly in favour of the comic aspect of Champs Head, the crew was still faster than Tit Hall II and Vet School and only 7 seconds behind Newnham IV.
Congratulations!
Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2005 - Women's 2nd Div. Mays
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Event: May Bumps Getting-on Race 2005 -
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Congratulations ladies, you really really deserved this.
xxx Pia (very proud :))
Event: May Bumps 2005 - Wednesday
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Gloriously we had an excellent view on the great start the guys had in their rerow. Emma III did look strong, but were ultimately found wanting!
The 1st women wish their sparring buddies the best of luck in today's racing!!
Event: May Bumps 2005 - Thursday
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Not a haiku, but true. Let's go for the kill off the gun.
Event: May Bumps 2005 - Thursday
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Easily the fittest and tidiest crew in the division!!
Thanks for lending Homerton M2 commandeer your ship today.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 1st division
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What a race. Haven't had so much masochistic fun since last year's Mays.
We took two seats off the start and slowly increased our lead on bad bad Maggie. They did determinantly push back a couple of times- there was no point, until our advantage corner under the Railway Bridge, where we could be certain they weren't going to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. (All due respect to Jenny, at this point who quietly called to match LMBC pushes, visibly undermining the Enemy!)
I mainly attribute this to their ill-founded belief (so commonly found in LMBC members) of superiority and our doubt that we could actually 'have them'. Once the realisation set in that we were on for beating Maggie Scum, the boat speed lifted noticably and we pushed them away to a one length lead and victory.
Glorious. The icing on the FaT dominance cake was to witness M1 put their red-bladed equivalents in their place in the subsequent division!
Ra ra indeed.
Event: University IVs 2004 - 2nd division
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With a strong bank party of two (a good 100-200% above the competition), one of which was sporting a GB gilet, plenty of time to row up to the railway bridge and an exemplary wind in the practice start, things seemed to bode well for at least a repeat performance of the overwhelming and modestly unanticipated victory (Coach Charlie "How the f*** did that happen?") against Emma II.
A brilliant start saw the girls pull away from poxy Clare who rowed like girls, quiching from stroke three. Having wound to 42, they strode down to a comfortable mid-thirties rating and an equally comfortable clear-water lead on Clare... when...
GOOD HEAVENS!
Sarah's seat quasi-derailed diagonally, leaving her and Erica preoccupied with trying to first get the thing off entirely and then on again, and bow pair rowing on with the sheer determination and selfless sacrifice only ever witnessed in First and Third rowers.
After about 100 meters, Emma were level, a further 100 saw them pull ahead... and ahead...
As soon as Sarah was back on the slide, Chris called for a mighty restart and the girls absolutely went for it, pushing every stroke like it would be their last, even despite Jenny's Railway Bridge lung failure, closing from about 6 lengths to 3 by Top Finish.
All due respect for an amazingly gutsy row that left Clare ashamed of their victory and much to hope for the rest of the year!!!
WELL DONE girls.
Event: University IVs 2004 - 1st division
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We mean to get even in the HorIVs. There, I said it. The pressure is on.
Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2004 - Plate
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WELL DONE GIRLS! Dan, the CU Cyclists and all the sheep of Wales are proud of you... xx
Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2004 - Plate
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The will to shed some red scum blood was there right from the warm up in the boathouse... We knew fully well that the Maggie Menace were going to give us more trouble than the docile grads from Hughes. But first cracks appeared in the LMBC uberego when we had a cheering match with the 1st women outside the P&E,... we saw those lip-stick smeared faces drop as the air resounded with mighty 1st&3rd cheers. The girls rowed better than yesterday, back lean and strong finishes were introduced on the row up to the start while they as ever excelled at responding to ratio calls. Marshalled outside the Plough we continued to undermine the opposition's self confidence with singing and chanting. Bankparty Zoe cunningly worked out the critical point of maximum destruction for our Crew Chant (3x Cox: What are we gonna do??? Crew: WIN!!!)- delivered in a male voice, since the only reminescent of our girlie selves was to be my hockey skirt- and we roared while maggie made their spacking attempt at spinning.
After a strong start we were marginally ahead, a push for ten into the lead followed taking us to 1/4 length. The unimaginative scum cox then called for a push from the lipstick ladies but we quietly matched their push, which led to more maggie disillusionment and 3/4 length for us! The girls kept it together marvellously, and responded to every call, a ratio shift increased our lead to a length and a push for 'the bow girl' gave us clear water. After the railway bridge we fell apart a bit and the scum gained back on us with a last desperate effort. Summoning the last energy reserves the girls pushed for the finish and into the semi-finals.
Dami's loss to LMBC men C had been avenged... An absolutely tremendous effort!!!
Event: Clare Novice Regatta 2004 - Plate
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Bring on Fairbairns... Queens have not seen the last of us.
NM3 can be really proud of what they did today!
Event: Novice Fairbairn Cup 2004 - 1st division
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Well... unfortunately it wasn't quite pay-back time for Jesus, but seeing that we only came 11th in Queens ergs this goes to show that Technique Does Matter!!!
Welcome to the senior squad... see you all for Lents!
xx
Event: Novice Fairbairn Cup 2004 - 2nd division
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Thanks to all eight of you for what has been a truly worthwhile addition to my boatie schedule... I wouldn't have wanted to novice cox with any other crew in the world...
I love you, girls *sob*
xx
Event: Novice Fairbairn Cup 2004 - 2nd division
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Event: Fairbairn Cup 2004 - Lower VIIIs
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Nicely rowed, girls. Hope to see lots of you back next term!!! xx
Event: Fairbairn Cup 2004 - Senior VIIIs
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We had planned to take the course at 28... 32 turned out to be what we strode to and stayed at. Not quite as comfortable as the chilled 28 from our last outing, but I could hear Philosopher Charlie in my head, trying to explain why, 'mathematically' a crew that does an uncomfortable 32 will do better over a 4k course than one which rows a beautiful 28. Our restarts out of the corner worked very well, albeit never practiced in the VIII and the last one out of First Post really lifted the pace again before the motorway bridge, and overtaking Hughes and Clare Hall made for some 'excitement'-especially coming into Ditton corner.
As we crossed the finish line I thought warmly of the Fairbairns pics photographer who, by coming late, didn't only nearly get us disqualified but thankfully also made me miss breakfast...
Quite pleased with the result, sorry we didn't get Newnham, Charlie ... see you all for Lents!!!
xx Pia
Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2004 - College IVs
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Unfortunately, we failed to hit our target of beating Magdalene's 1st IV which had relegated us so insultingly comfortably to 2nd place in both the HoRR and the Winter Head. In the end, we weren't man enough, I reckon. We didn't quite believe we could have them and to be quite honest, that lactate set in painfully soon after the start.
Definitely not one of our nicest rows, but still one to be pleased with, and with the narrowest margins between us and those ex-CUW amazones all term, if that is of any consellation...
What is good to see is how much faster we were than the rest of the College IVs. :)
As I said at the dinner... aubergine-violet is this term's red!
xx
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COXING, KATIE, YOU WERE GREAT!!!!!
Event: Fairbairn Cup - IVs 2004 - College IVs
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xx
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 1st division
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The race plan was:
1) Bow pair to wind to 55 and sit there comfortably until slight affliction of tiredness set in.
2) Middle four to appear out of Stealth Position and slot into the relaxed rythm, catching Robinson completely off guard (as they were under the impression of us only sporting cox and bow pair).
3) At around the railway bridge Stealth Stern Pair appear and complete the shattering of radiation-blue-yellow mental health.
4) We win.
Alas, by being such a beatable target, Robinson destroyed all such plans. We resorted to conventional tactics and beat them nine-on-nine.
Facit: Spacky but fast.
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 3rd division
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Honestly- we had a decent race against finalist-to-be Newnham III, were never going to win but gave them a good race and a determined crew to push off from.
The crew have gelled well and with a replacement found for Sasha, we will triumph in the Getting On race and cause havoc at the bottom of W3!
xx
Event: Pembroke Regatta 2005 - 2nd division
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Event: Robinson Head 2005 - 1st division
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The row up was good, we looked a lot tidier than the crews around which we carried through to the race. Where the Head of the Nene had been chaos there was control but there was none of the mindless brutish resolve that kept us spacking over the 5k course at Peterborough in about the same time as Pembroke and Maggie.
I reckon we were just too drained from our first race. Pembroke Regatta should provide better stimulus for bumps charts speculations...
Event: Robinson Head 2005 - 1st division
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Thanks for Dami et al for seeing this through ;) and beating Fitz!
Nice to see we were the '12th fastest 1st VIII'
Event: Robinson Head 2005 - Lower VIIIs
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I am sure not many 2nd/3rd VIII composites sported a 1st Men's VIII rower in their cox's seat. Thanks for coxing, Tom.
Let's hope that in Pembroke Regatta, we manage to have our proper crews with everyone racing on their specific sides...
xx
Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2005 - Women's Lents 3
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p.s. I rather like senior coxing... especially if it involves penants!
Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2005 - Women's Lents 1
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Having coxed a fairly high-rating FaT B, I was pleased we settled into a nicer, but a little less agressive rythm with FaT A. It seemed that our 6 ex-novices were a bit tentative on the first leg (understandable, it IS a long race)- it felt a bit heavy all the way to the motorway bridge. Racing back down was a lot more enjoyable, with an incredible lift at the railway bridge which was sustained all the way to Top Finish.
All in all, a very pleasing start to the term. Well done especially to all the ex-novices, thanks to Iain for a training plan that incorporates a Head piece in every outing and to Andy for coxing.
xx Pia
Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Saturday
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Take pride in knowing that you were the fastest men's crew on the river. You really don't need a blade to remind you how nails you are.
We're all immensely proud of you!!!
Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Friday
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On the bright side... the one way we could have avoided today's unfortunate starting constellation would have been the Headship for Caius... ahem... you have to admit there are worse trade-offs! ;)
Also very happy to see that all crews but the 1st VIIIs bumped today!!!!
Tomorrow W2 and W1 will strive to become the 3rd and 4th FaT crews to bump Downing this week.
Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Friday
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Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Wednesday
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Very proud! xxx
Event: Cambridge Head-2-Head 2006 - Women's Lents 1
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Let's keep our fingers crossed for the results...!
Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Wednesday
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unfortunately neither Jesus W1 nor Divine Providence yielded and we hit them coming into Grassy.
Favourite call: "Draw One-Finish here-quick catches- Oh, Maggie have taken a d... awefull line off the start!"
Favourite opposition comment: Jesus stroke to crew "We're going to get bumped tomorrow!"
A good start and all the sweeter because W2 had come back at Newnham with a vengeance!!!!
Event: Robinson Head 2006 - 1st division, 1st run
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Event: Newnham Short Course 2006 - Lower VIIIs
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From here it can only be onwards and upwards... towards (*finally*) a well deserved permanent place for FaT W2.
Event: Newnham Short Course 2006 - Lower VIIIs
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Event: University IVs 2005 - 1st division
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Where the huge headwind had been in our *comparative* advantage against Clare on Thursday the unpredictable gusts of wind clearly did us no good. Lilie says that from the Railway Bridge it looked like Newnham, starting on the towpath side, were benefiting from wind shelter but, honestly speaking, this is still no excuse for our start. The Newnham crew went off gracefully in their bow-loader while we took until well into our stride to find something even close to racing form. I must say that at this point - we were as mentioned still 3/4 length down - there were a couple of strokes when I was doubting who would be carrying home the Uni Medals. But no matter how the race was going to end, we would not make it easy for them, especially considering how much we had winged about never having had much of an opposition in our races in May Term. So I stopped thinking about medals and started thinking about what it felt like to push yourself and to row with these girls. We started to cope better with the gusts as Newnham were coming to the end of their sprinting start...
We pushed our rhythm relentlessly underrating Newnham by quite a bit and slowly inched back on them. As we were level with their 2-girl, Magnus did his mother (myself) and former CUBC coach Mark Hall proud when reapplying the famed 'Two Man Push' outside its 1993 boatrace setting. Over pasta and banana split the previous night, I had related this all-time-favourites coxing story and we had joked about using it in the race. It worked incredibly well. Within strokes we had clear water and did not relinquish the lead until we hit top fininsh.
Rowing through a crew that pulls out a comfortable lead on you off the start... good feeling! As was shouting the boys on to more First and Third victory. A spontaneous cake and port celebration post-medal ceremony and the invention of some new German and French verbs (wiederkitten, rekitter/dékitter/ékitter) to do with putting kit on and off while marshalling in Plough Reach as well as Dan H coming back from Middle Earth rounded this off as a very very happy day.
Event: University IVs 2005 - 1st division
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Considering we were consistently ahead off the start, we were much impressed by Clare's tenacity to really go for it but once they got too close we obviously had to put a stop to that.
Our worthy Magnus did some adventurous coxing and shouted himself horse. Hopefully tonight's crew pasta and banana split should soothe his voice back into action for our showdown with Newnham tomorrow.
Event: University IVs 2005 - 1st division
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1. four stroke siders
2. Jane gets ordered off to Amsterdam for two weeks
3. Sarah H has one bow-side outing to her name
4. Bumped up into the 1st division
5. No cox to be found
6. Jo gets evil infection with blood
Who would have thought they would actually be racing?! Well done to the crew for seeing this through and thanks a lot to Russ for coaching and coxing and Sarah T for last minute subbing!
x x x
Event: University IVs 2005 - 1st division
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I felt that our paddling was probably faster than our racing but even the paddling turned sour at times. Whether we manage to reschedule the race against SSBC (they two rowers down) today or go straight through to the semis, we are facing what my DoS calls a 'steep learning curve'...
Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Wednesday
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Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Wednesday
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Event: Lent Bumps 2007 - Saturday
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Just looking at all the reports and pictures at work and I started crying a little, oops. So happy this was achieved, I feel rewarded for all the time invested in the Club.
Absolutely fantastic results throughout the Club. Thanks for capitalising on all your potential.
Event: Lent Bumps 2008 - Wednesday
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Event: Lent Bumps 2008 - Thursday
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Event: Lent Bumps 2008 - Friday
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More of the same tomorrow, please. Will be watching. Cannot wait to see you!
