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Trinity College Annual Record 1995

Account of the year by Alix Turner (club captain) and James Leake (men's captain)

This year has marked the of a reversal of fortune for 1st & 3rd. There have been several good results to remember, as well as a club greater in size and enthusiasm than it has been for several years. This was reflected at the Trumpington-featured Mays dinner with an attendance of almost one hundred. With a greater profile in college, since all our talent is currently home-grown, the boat club has a period of growth ahead of it.

The year started off on a high note with the naming ceremony of the new VIII's, Black Prince and Denys Lawrence, by Olympic champion Matthew Pinsent under the watchful eye of the Master, Sir Mhichael Atiyah, and Denys Lawrence, the club president. The Michaelmas term traditionally starts in IV's, and this year the men and women showed their prowess. The women's coxed IV (Elliott, Scott, Skrine, Shields; Harold) won their University Fours final and both the men's coxed IV (Moorhead, Hsu, Jephcott, Allen; Stokoe) and light IV (Phethean, Maltarp, Rantner, Leake) were finalists.

Later in the term, the men had a good row in the Cam Winter Head finishing third, winning novice pennant, and went on to finish sixth in a closely fought Fairbairns. The women continued their run of success with a third place in the Fairbairn IV's. The 1st novice men showed great future potential by reaching the final of the Clare novices plate, having victory snatched from them by the lottery of novice equipment failure!

Lent term brought a pleasant surprise of a much lower than expected drop-out, the scourge that often is the bane of captains along the Cam. After a term plagued with disaster, enthusiasm was not dented by the prediction of spoons by the pundits.

Pembroke Regatta gave a glimpse of the potential shrouded beneath the bad luck. In an all 1st & 3rd final, men's shell IV 'A' and IV ' B ', the ' B ' crew were victorious (Leake, Rantner, Maltarp, Jensen; Hartley) determined to compete with a random rigger after collision with a barge.

1st & 3rd fielded eight boats for the Lents, all five of the men's and two of the women's competing.

The ladies' 1st VIII, depleted of the members of the victorious IV, fought hard but gained spoons; but the 2nd VIII blasted their to blades.

The men performed far better than anyone had predicted. On the first night they achieved an overlap on Emmanuel, putting distance on the early challenge from Pembroke. Pembroke, predicted blades, finally achieved the bump on the third night, leaving the 1st VIII down one overall. Lower down, the 3rd VIII missed blades by a tantalising overlap as the boat ahead bumped out. The 4th VIII succumbed to the 5th VIII on the last night to give them blades!

The men peaked a little late as a slightly revised crew went to Head of the River Race on the Thames (Miller, Moorhead, Ward, Rantner, Leake, Jensen, Maltarp, Bowman; Stokoe) and stormed through to take novice pennant, beating most other Cambridge college crews.

Deserving special mention were our University Colours.

Julian Elliott rowed at four in the victorious Goldie crew and excelled individually, coming third in the National Egro Championships and fourth in the Scullers Head on the Thames.

Toni Beary rowed in the victorious Blondie crew and Kenneally was awarded a CUWBC lightweight colour.

The Easter term again showed a rush of enthusiasm in the club with eight men's VIII's (including a Fellows' VIII) and four women's VIII's being fielded.

Early in the term, the coxless pair of Moorhead/Leake competed in the gruelling Cambridge Rowing Triathlon where they achieved second place out of a field of 35 teams, breaking the record for coxless pair in the rowing leg.

A crew of some 1st and 2nd VIII oarsmen travelled to the Valenciennes European Regatta in France and were overall the second fastest university crew beating an Oxford lightweight-laden New College, Oxford. It was a most enjoyable weekend.

In the Bumps, the ladies fought hard but slipped two places, although both lower boats climbed.

The men also fell two places but felt satisfied that they had stamped their authority over Pembroke by rowing over ahead of them for two days and made Queens' work very hard for their blades by getting to half-a-length off Emmanuel on the last night.

The second VIII were surrounded by more experienced crews and despite four gutsy rows fell three. However, the future looks promising with the great enthusiasm and success of the lower boats who made numerous bumps.

A coxless four was entered for the Visitors at Henley but in the face of stiff competition failed to qualify.

Sadly, this year has seen the loss of two very important figures in the club.

Earlier in the year, ex-boatman of many years and loyal 1st & 3rd supporter, Frank Welford passed away. A fine tribute to his contribution to the club were the many oarsmen who attended his Funeral. He had touched the lives of many.

The recent loss of Denys Lawrence, the club president, is the end of an era. Since serving as club secretary in 1935 his life has been dedicated to rowing and to 1st & 3rd. He has coached ever since and has been an inspiration to generations of oarsmen and a fountain of advice for countless captains. He will not be forgotten.

A mention should be made of Chris Clark, the new boatman; his support and enthusiasm for the club have been a valuable asset.

We would like to thank Alix Turner (club captain), James Leake (men's captain) and Julian Hance (secretary) for their dedication throughout the year. Alix has already taken up her duties as CUBC honorary secretary, and James is searching for a new role to replace the lycra-sporting, profiterole-dodging, sword-wielding life to which he has become accustomed! Dinners will not be the same.

The club would like to wish Damien Maltarp (club captain), Clare Gardiner (women's captain) and John-Patrick Moorhead (secretary) every success in the coming year.

"Row 1st & 3rd".

Index of all Annual Records

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