The Club's Results

Our first attempt was committed but frantic. Contigency plan #31 failed to find us our rhythm, but regardless, we had closed to half a length (?) coming out of grassy. Perhaps rather negligently, considering the carnage caused in recent years, our myriad plans had failed to include Downing-induced river blockage, and we were foiled by a river full of stopped boats.

Iain and JPD made herculean efforts to get back from M1/M2 in time for our second attempt (not to worry, contigency plan #107 dealt with heart attacks), and we were very much boosted to hear of M2's bump on Caius just before our start. This row was much tidier than the first (possibly helped by the relative lack of wash?!) and we hit a good rhythm coming down first post reach. They held us off with a couple of good pushes but we got them outside the Plough. Job done. (Jane)

Well, the bumps chart says it all really. LMBC were bumped back by Downing in rather unexpected circumstances after what looked like an overhead crab parked them on the outside of First Post. We made it to a length off the overbump on Clare by the Railway Bridge, but ran out of river. (Erica)

Looks like you got pretty damn close to the bump on Clare, I'll be rooting for you all the way today! Best of luck. (AmeLia)

I had avoided posting a report for this race because I wasn't sure that I could avoid using rude words. The overbump has eased my pain somewhat. We let ourselves down in the middle third of the race, and our storming reach (4 lengths in 2 minutes! I've never wished that the reach was longer before!) wasn't quite enough to get us the overbump. What it did do, however, was give us confidence for the next day's racing. (Jane)

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Well done! I'm so pleased for you. Congratulations!! Enjoy tomorrow (and maybe try holding out until the Plough for a change). :) (AmeLia)

Watching Queens' spanner into the distance as we (I) took Iain's advice and set up a nice long strong rhythm. He may have even said that certain members of CUW were rowing 'well'. This may on the other hand be a vicious rumour. Ground down Clare over the course, excellent coxing from Abbi gave us the advantage we needed to take them with not a huge distance left to the finish. (Joff)

Amelia has pre-empted my race report - WOOOO!!! Some excellent pushing-out meant we were up on Maggie off the start, and made further gains down first post reach. The pushed away however and got the bump on Downing, which meant contingency plan #155 (by far the preferred option) sprang into action. An excellent line from Abbi and some prompt clearing by Maggie took us clear of the carnage, and we powered down Plough reach with the overbump very much in mind. Calls of 'on station' as we came onto the reach meant it was very much on. My legs, arms and lungs were distinctly unhappy with me at this stage, but I informed them that there was no point wasting four minutes of pain for the sake of another two, it couldn't hurt much more right? (wrong). We gained fairly steadily down the reach, culminating in one of the best views I've had in ages - their cox sitting beside me with my blade lodged on their stern. Amazing! And especially satisfying to see (or not see) Queen's nowhere near. F*** over Trinity indeed! (Jane)

Not our best row ever but by no means our worst; it did the job. Unfortunately Tit Hall stopped rowing once bumped, and as we were stuck on their stern, we both ended up drifting into the barges on the inside of grassy rather than clearing properly. This caused Maggie to take a very wide line around grassy and plough into the outside bank (though I think they eventually got away). Then came Downing being bumped by Clare with Queens in hot pursuit, meaning that when the bump occurred, all three of them went into the far bank. Christs were unwilling to hold it up and took out the Queens cox at full speed. Meanwhile we had all blades in on both sides and were precariously balanced between a barge and the oncoming crews whilst remaining wedged onto Tit Hall's stern. Eventually, after the klaxon eventually convinced Peterhouse to hold it up, we were able to extract ourselves and pull in for greenery. Certainly the most bumps carnage I've seen in a while - made for an exciting last bumps race. I miss rowing already. (Jane)

Thankyou all for being so awesome to row with, for tolerating my 'strops' (particularly Abbi :) and the craziness of trying to organise mens and womens hour outings when you're supposed to be doing both. I'm missing you all already! Here's to finally being in a decent starting position in Mays (though I've STILL not managed to bump every day of mays in W1. However, I reckon going up 5 probably makes this acceptable.) (Joff)