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All race reports for Albert Cheung

Event: May Bumps 2005 - Wednesday
Posted as: Albert
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An encouraging start to the bumps. The first division beckons... just a little more calm at the start, a bit more aggression in the last 400, and maybe a bit less rock and roll at Grassy, and we'll be flying.

Event: Lent Bumps 2005 - Wednesday
Posted as: Albert
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...And as for the Jesus 3 man who thinks he's in the fastest M3 VIII on the river... Well they ain't as fast as the fastest M3 VI/VII on the river, and one of these days we're gonna row all VIII. Then they'll be sorry.

Event: Battle for the Fleeces 2006 - 1st division
Posted as: Albert
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After a 45 minute faff over whether or not to race in blustery conditions, we finally got on the water for our much anticipated battle. To the casual spectator it might have seemed like a fight for the position on the river, and the right to be named the 3rd Lent VIII, but deep down inside, all 18 competitors knew that they were racing for free fleeces.

The Beer Boat got off to a dismal start, with the draw strokes failing to materialize, and the Keen Boat appeared to capitalize on it. But with steely resolve and Tom Coker at 3, the Beer Boat found their trademark devastating rhythm and began to haul their filled bathtub of a vessel back towards the Keen Boat. By the time we got to the railway bridge, we had stretched our lead to over a length, but the Keenos hadn't given up. With what seemed like a push of epic proportions, they used their corner to pull the deficit back to a third of a length.

Unfortunately for them the Beer Boat whipped out their secret weapon - the Man In The Water Push. Despite a valiant effort from Rich Fenn to initiate blade clash and force an error from the Beer Boat, we held on to the end, and used the last corner to stretch the lead back out to a length.

TR4 here we come, but alas no fleeces.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Friday
Posted as: Albert
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Today was always going to be the important day - bump LMBC and go head 3rd VIII, or get bumped by Caius and end up with a mediocre set of Lents results.

On the row down, something felt different from the previous days. The catches were quick, the finishes were together, and (gasp) was that actual work going down in the water? Surely not...

We were smooth and relaxed out of the blocks, absolutely in control and perhaps letting Caius inside distance momentarily. But then one stroke after the wind, we hit a powerful rhythm that we haven't had since Newnham Short Course, and proceeded to reel the Red Scum in. The hooters came in short order, and we forced a slightly scrappy Man In The Water Push while cornering at First Post. It was all over in The Gut, about twice as quickly as we had expected. A triple whammy of sorts - 3rd VIII headship, denied Caius blades, and helped Maggie on their way to spooons.

Event: Lent Bumps Getting-on Race 2006 -
Posted as: Albert
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A good row from everyone, especially the first half, which looked very tidy and pretty fast. I was pleased to see everyone working on the things we mentioned pre-race. Once we got to the Reach, things got a bit scrappier with fatigue and cold fingers, but they held it together well. Excellent lines through Grassy and Ditton too. Well done to everyone.

... just seen the results. Only 9s slower than the fastest N-Q crew. Beat 12 higher crews, including LMBC 5 by 22s. Shame not to get on, but a performance to be proud of.

Event: Lent Bumps Getting-on Race 2006 -
Posted as: Albert
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Well rowed guys! :-D :-D :-D

Martin tells me you are the first FaT 5th VIII in the Lents for five years. Nice one.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Tuesday
Posted as: Albert
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The start was ok, but the rhythm was never 100% there, probably because of the dirty water. Catz II were never a threat, and we nailed Clare II hard in the Gut, causing them to spin sideways and block the river. The next six crews to come round first post corner had to hold it up.

This was the first time I've been responsible for carnage, and I loved it :-D

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Wednesday
Posted as: Albert
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We'll need to get a move on and put some hard work down on Friday to make sure we get clear of Caius. Let's hope all goes well - it's not often we get the luxury of chasing a Maggie crew in a downward spiral...

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Thursday
Posted as: Albert
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Good row today guys - congratulations on retaining the 5th VIII headship for another day. Those thirty-five strokes you took before hitting carnage were well worth the row down to the lock and back :-D

In all seriousness, you looked smooth and in control today. Here's hoping for a good race on saturday and that long overdue bump on Jesus (even if they don't park it like they did today).

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Saturday
Posted as: Albert
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Will Thorne is a very silly boy.

Event: Lent Bumps 2006 - Saturday
Posted as: Albert
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I love you guys.

Event: 2nd Trinity Challenge Sculls 2006 - Shell
Posted as: Albert
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A fairly sub-standard row, but nevertheless an amusing afternoon. I only crashed twice :-D

Felt spacky and slow most of the way, and never hit any sort of rhythm until the railway bridge. Slightly embarrassed that my last 500m were probably the fastest part of the piece...

Event: 2nd Trinity Challenge Sculls 2006 - Shell
Posted as: Albert
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Best bank steering call of the day:

"Outflow in two, outflow in one, outflow NOW!
- holds breath -
Great, you're still in the boat, let's get straight and go!"

Actually this was a really good row - very impressed indeed.

Event: Foster Fairbairn Pairs 2006 - Men's 2-
Posted as: Albert
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Having almost ejected out of the Grad VIII yesterday, I was a bit apprehensive about racing a pair today, but the sun was shining so it seemed like a good idea.

Whilst waiting at the lock, I came to the realisation that I had omitted one of my more important pre-race rituals - the Preparatory Evacuation. I like to think this gave us a sense of urgency.

The row itself was not too bad, although apparently we did a good job of squandering a healthy lead during the second kilometre (we had no idea as we were chasing). Tom's steering was pretty solid, despite my best attempts to make us hit the outsides of both First Post and Ditton.

We probably should have won more easily, but at least we made it to the Penny Ferry in time...

Event: Foster Fairbairn Pairs 2006 - Men's 2-
Posted as: Albert
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Whilst I was "doing core" in the Penny Ferry, Tom was secretly hoping that I would return too late and get us DQ'ed. Sadly for him this wasn't to be, so we had to race again.

We rowed a bit better this time, pushing our finishes out more convincingly. But the first race had taken its toll and the power was lacking. The corners were more colourful, with a mini-crab sending us to the inside of First Post Corner, and this time I made sure we messed up Ditton by calling a restart before the corner was over.

Seb reckons we lost by about 20s but when the margin is that big it's hard to tell. Thanks to Dami and Seb for coming out.

Event: City Sprints 2006 - CRA Nv 4+
Posted as: Albert
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Rubbish.

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2006 - Men's 1st Div. Mays
Posted as: Albert
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This was a fairly good row, with plenty of commitment, but we still have a lot of technical gremlins to work out before we are ready for Mays.

Caius M2 were 14s faster than us today. We need to - and will - raise our game and start to row with confidence and precision, to retain our position on the river.

Event: Champion of the Thames Eights Head 2006 - Men's Lower Div. Mays
Posted as: Albert
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Only 8 seconds slower than the Grad VIII! The 5th VIII turned in a very respectable time, successfully mixing it with crews higher in the Mays charts than themselves.

Focussing on long finishes paid dividends in the first half, but these shortened up as the pain set in. Some good calls from Rich seemed to bring it back together for the last pushes. Looking encouraging for Bumps.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2006 - Men's lower division
Posted as: Albert
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With four guys from the 3rd VIII, three guys from the 5th VIII, super sub Sam Zhang at bow, and yours truly steering an 8+ for the very first time, it really is an imaginative leap to describe this crew as The 3rd VIII.

Nevertheless, we somehow made it to the start without breaking Richard Church (which by the way steers absolutely fine). Our start was inspired, and we pulled in to a healthy 2/3 length lead down the outside of the Reach. But as the guys tired, the stroke length came down and the rhythm became pretty rushed. Wolfson started coming back around the outside of the railway bridge corner, but our guys hung in there and managed to limit their losses, crossing the line a few seats ahead.

A pretty impressive first performance from a crew that defines the word 'scratch'.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2006 - Men's lower division
Posted as: Albert
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Unfortunately Lorry was feeling very poorly and began to eject the contents of his stomach while rowing to the start for the second round. We decided to take the prudent option and head for home, making sure to mess up the steering around Chesterton on the way back.

Event: Cambridge 99's Regatta 2006 - 1st division
Posted as: Albert
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Today's races were far better rows than we've had in recent outings, and definitely something positive to take home. We'll see how things pan out once we get our hands on TR2 again.

At the time I wasn't sure if it was Will or myself being heckled, but to be honest, there's no better motivator to row well than some foolish opposition cox telling you that you might be about to blow up. Underhand tactics will get you nowhere.

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Wednesday
Posted as: Albert
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Over the last few weeks, we had been steeling ourselves for a VERY tough series of rowovers, having been outpaced by Caius II by some 15 seconds at Champs Head. But in the last week or two something in the boat has clicked together.

This was probably one of the best pieces we've done. Watching Caius fade away was satisfaction enough, but hearing one, two and three whistles in the space of a minute was simply beyond the realms of what we had planned for. And to bump Selwyn just out of Grassy - sweet.

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Thursday
Posted as: Albert
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Excellent row; never in doubt :-)

OK I've finally posted the photos from day 2. Sorry for the delay.

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Friday
Posted as: Albert
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A fairly average row compared to the last couple of days, but nevertheless a powerful one. We closed on Clare a little, but were not able to put them under much pressure.

It was nice to see Selwyn and Caius disappear off our stern, and by the time we crossed the line they looked about half a Reach away from us.

Event: May Bumps 2006 - Saturday
Posted as: Albert
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Absolutely gutted.

Well rowed, Caius.

Event: Pembroke Regatta 2006 - Lower division
Posted as: Albert
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This time we lost a seat or two off the start, with high levels of spackage and no rhythm to be found for the first minute. Luckily this served as a cue for us to raise our game, and as we found our rhythm so Jesus gradually faded. After this round, we knew we couldn't afford another rubbish first minute.

Event: Queens' Novice Ergo Competition 2005 - 1st division
Posted as: Albert
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A gutsy performance all round. The guys gave it everything to come 5th in the heats, ten seconds behind LMBC, and then they came back and did it all again, really throwing in the kitchen sink to climb to 4th position in the final. Good work.

By all accounts we were running in 3rd until the last man, at which point Homerton wheeled out their comedy giant.

Round one to the red scum, but we were back in training by 7.10 the next morning, and it'll be much closer the next time we meet...

Event: Queens' Novice Ergo Competition 2005 - 2nd division
Posted as: Albert
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I watched this division from the balcony, and it was nail-biting stuff. We'd taken the lead in the first half, setting a blistering pace to put more than ten seconds into the closest contenders - Maggie's. Unfortunately it became clear during the second half that LMBC had placed their strongest guys late in the order, and our task became one of damage limitation. Gutsy efforts from our guys meant that we held them off until the 8th man, but there was nothing we could do to prevent them overtaking in the last leg. Agonising to watch, but nevertheless a very encouraging result.

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2005 - Student Beginner VIIIs
Posted as: Albert
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A very encouraging result indeed. The row was committed and solid from start to finish (who's counting those last 5 anti-phase strokes anyway :-D).

Spurred on by the knowledge that the 1sts had rowed the course at a very relaxed rate, these guys put a mighty effort into their race and managed to make it pay off, holding off a Queen's senior crew and expertly negotiating a swerving pleasure boat at Ditton.

The boys responded well to Amelia's well-judged calls, and each push brought noticeable improvement. Congrats on a good result and let's build on it for Clare Novices and Fairbairns.

Event: Cambridge Winter Head 2005 - Student Beginner VIIIs
Posted as: Albert
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In the freezing cold of an early morning in the Cambridge winter, nine brave souls (and Dan Jane) set out in the good ship Richard Church to do battle on the Cam. After losing various body parts to frostbite, they set off down the course with a solid rhythm and good amounts of power going into the water.

The 11 minutes and 50 seconds of rowing that ensued were characterized by generally good technique and power. Unfortunately, the 1st novice men turned in a time not worthy of themselves, by choosing to row the course at a rating which most would call good for training, but simply too low for racing...

Next time we'll go out there and throw the kitchen sink at them. In the meantime we need to get back in the boat and focus on turning our power and technique into speed.

It should also be noted that a large number of seconds were lost due to having to hold it up at Grassy. Several coxes have reported that the 'good' ship is only good at turning right. Today's events seem to have confirmed that rumour, and to be honest it never seemd like the boat was going to turn at all, let alone complete the corner. Nadi made the smart decision to abort the corner before it was too late, and the 2nds subsequently opted for Peter Brandt.