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All race reports for Mika Tomczak

Event: Lent Bumps Getting-on Race 2005 -
Posted as: Mika
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This felt like a very solid row, with the added incentive of lousy weather looming, a 3pm time constraint and Amelia, who appeared out of nowhere! Many thanks to a great bow sub Aileen, and surprise sub-sub Amelia. Provided I'm not speaking to soon, next week should be fun...!

Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Wednesday
Posted as: Mika
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Despite heavy tailwinds, we set off with a strong start. Things felt generally neater than yesterday, and we were within a length of Jesus as we passed under the motorway bridge. Within 10 strokes of emerging on the other side, however, we were forced to hold it up because Clare (2 ahead) had caught a bad crab and ground to a halt. They handed Jesus the bump on a silver plate, and we were given a technical row-over to show for it.

Very frustrating, but so go bumps. At least the 10 seconds we did row felt solid.

Friday we chase Clare, who will surely be motivated to get Jesus after today's debacle.

Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Saturday
Posted as: Mika
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Today was definitely our best row. Not only was there strong desire to do well before we began, but we kept the strength on pretty well the whole way through.

As we rounded the first corner, we saw Clare, Tit Hall AND Jesus pulled over together, crushing our hopes of an overbump (haha). But the strength never dropped (certainly not like yesterday!) and we pushed it all the way home. Newnham might've wanted us, but never got close. A satisfying row to end a rather uninteresting and somewhat frustrating week.

Thanks to our various bank party contingent, to Iain for his calls and advice throughout the week, to Ruth for her coaching and especially Amy for her support and last-minute subbing!

...and hey, at least we got to have a snowball fight, right?

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2005 - Women's 2nd Div. Mays
Posted as: Mika
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And better still, Jenny won a best-line-around-Ditton goblet and bottle of champagne!

Event: Peterborough June Regatta 2005 - Senior4 VIIIs
Posted as: Mika
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The strong tail wind that dominated the lake all day might have been the only reason we got to the other end of the course, because it certainly wasn't good technique, timing or general rowing that did. (Lack of a cox box didn't help either.) Luckily, none of our other races were quite as horrendous as this first one, and we were considerably calmer and more controlled for the rest of the day. Surprisingly, our spack managed to set a new course record, and our time was the fastest of all 3 heats.

Event: Peterborough June Regatta 2005 - Senior4 VIIIs
Posted as: Mika
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Much more solid and committed than the heats. Still spacky and finishes weren't great, but there was definitely a solid rhythm at times. The other crews were close for most of the race, but when they died around 750m, we didn't (quite so much) and managed to gain some distance into the finish.

Another course record, and the only crew without matching kit. Mwa ha ha...

Event: Peterborough June Regatta 2005 - Senior3 VIIIs
Posted as: Mika
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A marked improvement over our first race (in S4)! The start was actually decent, there was rhythm, we weren't rating 157 throughout... We remained ahead throughout (I think) but Lea was right on our tail the whole time. Good solid row, and what I thought was the best of the day.

Event: Peterborough June Regatta 2005 - Senior3 VIIIs
Posted as: Mika
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Well, some of us were a bit knackered by the time we got to the start of race... We remained more or less with the other crews until the last 250, when they took a push, and we mentally took one. Unfortunately, pushing with the mind alone is not a very effective way of increasing boat speed. Perhaps in full-form we could have given them a better run for their money.

Thanks to Iain for his surprise visit (especially after spending an unanticipated morning at the boat house with the police) and to Lilie's dad for towing us, our many disasters and half of Sainsbury's out to Peterborough and back!

Event: May Bumps Getting-on Race 2005 -
Posted as: Mika
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Yes! This was a great, committed row by everyone in the boat. The power was there throughout, and it held together the whole time. Great work, and an excellent result to show for it. Congratulations!

Event: May Bumps 2005 - Friday
Posted as: Mika
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Not smart enough to write Haiku
So a limerick will have to do.
Revenge for Thursday,
(Selwyn were in our way)
Fifty strokes and we downed that Catz crew.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Friday
Posted as: Mika
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Woohoo! Congratulations on two great bumps! You can get Downing tomorrow-- wish I were there to see it happen. Good luck!