The Club's Results

We were fairly sure Downing didn't have what it took to get near us, but wanted to get Jesus today in order to have a good crack at Caius. We closed just a little, but Jesus pissed off into the distance after Ditton. (Rich)

We decided that a hardening of the gearing was in order, to really fly at Jesus and put them under pressure early in the race. Downing were clearly no threat, having only avoided being bumped by Maggie yesterday because the LMBC cox failed to get them round Grassy corner! The big change in gearing, along with our carrying a mounted video on our stern, meant that we had a rather spacky row and the outcome was much the same as yesterday. Disappointing. (Rich)

Our tactics included 'row better' and 'take the video off'. We wanted to just be more relaxed really, but in the end nothing we did seemed to make much difference, as we again closed up to maybe a length but were then dispatched (Caius all the while rowing in glorious isolation with Jesus similarly nowhere). Very boring! (Rich)

Our last chance to take out those Jesus bastards! We decided to again harden our gearing, although between them Julia & Rob decided to harden 2 notches instead of 1 without telling us. This felt very heavy, and although we were a big crew, even we struggled slightly. In the end it wasn't to be, Jesus again rowing away, and the speed order of the top crews being the same as the finish order. A slightly disappointing week, but a fair and worthy result. (Rich)

The 2nd VIII were going for their headship. They were far too strong for Maggie II and had them easily by Grassy corner. Excellent to now be the best second VIII on the river. (Rich)

A relaxed and calm approach to the first day's racing rewarded us with a smooth and comfortable row. For the first time in the rowing careers of our crew the race mirrored our best pieces of the term and we settled quickly to the rhythm we were wanting, rating an easy 36 to 37. We were just cruising but destroyed the crew in our sights - closing to a canvas on LMBC II with nice rowing up plough reach and finally hitting them with a little less technique but more power out of Ditton to take the 2nd VIII headship. (Martin)

They rowed better than yesterday, but still not as well as they can. They took them down at Grassy. (Rich)

Clare: A girl's name.

Disney: Never convincing, often funny. Today, the 2nd VIII bumped up to the top of Division 2, making a big impression on Clare down Plough Reach, then finishing them off with a highly effective push out of Ditton corner. The bump finally occurred near the Railings. The crew are agreed that the rowing during this race was just about the best we have produced all term. (Graham Fisher)

Rowing as sandwich boat they came up against the might of Sidney Sussex, who they needed all the way up to the Motorway Bridge to catch! An awesome day for them - 2nd VIII headship and 1st Division status - very happy. (Rich)

Rowing as sandwich boat, we were chasing Sidney Sussex for a place in the 1st Division. Having done our best to recover from our earlier efforts, we were prepared for a hard row, but as it transpired, we began to move up on them straight away and they offered little resistance, the bump being achieved at the Motorway Bridge.

This put 1st & 3rd II into the 1st Division for the 1st time in many years (I'll figure out how many as soon as I have more time to be "Statto"). This is the result of a lot of hard work throughout the term, and we would like to thank both our coaches and our supporters.

However, our work is not yet finished. Tomorrow we will be chasing St Catharine's, who were bumped today by Peterhouse. We anticipate that our races from now on are likely to be longer and tougher than those up to this point, but we are confident and ready to rise to the challenge. (Graham Fisher)

They sadly lost their chance of a bump every day when they met a pretty reasonable Catz crew. Those who had been bumped by Catz last term were certainly out for revenge, but they never really closed on them. (Rich)

After the excellent rowing of the first 2 days to climb into the first division we now found ourselves chasing Catz. As we had bumped Sidney more easily than Peterhouse had - and Peterhouse had bumped Catz - we were reasonably confident of having a good go at Catz. Another solid warm up, perhaps not quite as nice as yesterdays, set us up nicely for the start.

When the gun went we set off well matching Catz. However, we never quite managed to hit the cruising rhythm of the previous days and didn't cope too well with the rough water that happens at the bottom of divisions. Although a solid First Post Reach took us to almost a length off their stern, some fairly ropey corners allowed them to push it back to distance. We pushed hard all the way down Plough Reach and Long Reach, but without the rhythm that had made it all possible on the previous days, we made little impact, Clare even managing to close a little behind us.

As we have shown ourselves capable of bumping Clare, we know we can go at least 1 1/2 lengths quicker and intend to do so tomorrow. Come and watch us. (Martin)

The grotty weather that had hit the earliest divisions had returned by the time we had to row down, and so it was a well wrapped up second eight that pushed off and headed staright down to the start in a bitter Northerly wind and light drizzle. I had actually been ill for some of the morning and was drugged up to the eyeballs with foul tasting stomach medicine. Despite this we all knew that this, our last race together as a crew, would be a massive chance to show that we could more than hold our own in the first division.

So a nervous row down followed, although the Plough reach practice start was not bad at all and as we approached the lock we began to click. After Friday's experiences, we knew that we had to hammer Catz off the start and keep the pressure on, especially as they would be after a struggling 'Binson boat. In the end we needn't have worried about Binson - Catz never really came close and we had the course to get them. Things started well, and we moved up to a length by the Plough, but once again they matched us stroke for stroke and moved away in the reach. A final push moved us back to within 2 lengths, but we were never going to reach that elusive 16th position. Clare, meanwhile, were left for dust and never even had to think about challenging us.

If I had to find a fault with first division rowing, it would be that you just don't have time to get ready for dinner. After a quick change, we met in John Parker's room for a quick pre-dinner drink and a fine-tuning of those lyrics. I think the dinner was enjoyable (I just was not hungry thanks to the several medicines Boots had fixed me up with) and the company certainly was. In the time-honoured tradition, the second eight were asked to perform a song. Taking The Waterboys (get it?) classic "The Whole of the Moon" as inspiration, the epic Cover our spoons was created. (Simon)

The 2nd VIII were again chasing Catz for blades, but couldn't find the extra boat speed, despite having geared up a notch. They closed slightly, but never got the hooter that might have urged them on to bump. Nevertheless, a fantastic week for them, and all credit due to a damn good crew. (Rich)

Well, bumping New Hall wasn't the easy task we thought it might be. After a twenty minute delay to the division due to an unfortunate incident involving Sidney Sussex and the bank, we had a great row, closing New Hall down from the start. We held them at a length for most of the way and managed to close to half a length under the railway bridge. Unfortunately the bump was not to be, but with Fitz behind us tomorrow, we're determined to place our bow very firmly through their stern. And that's a promise. (bron)

After a few minor changes we were ready for New Hall and closed quickly. After pushing it down to a canvas, we couldn't quite make the bump - we're saving that for tomorrow. All in all though, it was a great row. We ditched Fitz, who finished six lengths behind us, and all the pressure was on New Hall who fought to evade certain death. And it is certain. Tomorrow the business will be done. (bron)

Wow what an exciting afternoon on the river.

We didn't have the best of starts but soon started to eat into Pembroke 3, unfortunately pembroke 3 were eating into Kings 2 at a slightly faster rate. By 1st post corner we all had overlap on each other but the King's cox acknowledged before any contact was made. We came to a virtual standstill as we attempted to plough through the carnage ahead and got it back together to go for an overbump as we went into plough reach. Our hearts sank as we rowed past yet more carnage of the next boats up and were left trying to catch St. Edmunds at the head of division. We took quite a lot out of them but unfortunately it wasn't enough and we finished about 10 lengths behind them after a really solid "row over".

Now just stop and think for a moment, we started in position 9. Therefore there should have been an even number of crews ahead of us as we went to the finish. However there was just the one - St. Eds! We hadn't noticed (cos we were concentrating on our wonderful rowing) that we had passed a crashed Jesus 4 that was in the bank next to the boats that had bumped out ahead of it. Hence to our utmost delight we had an achieved an overbump without even knowing it. Why our bank party didn't notice and made us row the whole course (instead of to the plough) I don't know - we will deal with them later. For now though we set our sights on the falling Churchill 3 - easy pickings for day 2.

Best spot for viewing us do more damage tomorrow - I predict the top of 1st post reach. (Hogley)

As predicted we bumped Churchill 3 at first post corner, the gun is very loud when you are next to it. We were much more settled and together than yesterday. Tomorrow even we can't muck up a row past an empty station. Queens 3 forgot to turn up again. (Hogley)

Most of the action for us today was before we got to the start. We had been expecting that Queen's 3 wouldn't turn up today - they hadn't yesterday (Lucky Clare). But as we went to boat we saw them coming down the river. Then we started to get a bit flustered - the boat was full of big blokes, 2 or 3 of them wearing university kit. By we got to marshall we had begun to question if they were a legal crew or not, but we were reassured that they had no university colours to put in the boat. They were having to wear that kit because the rowers had no queens kit to wear - bless. As they followed us down to the start it became obvious that it wasn't going to be an issue that they had turned up today as they struggled to get more than 5 or 6 blades in the water at any one time.

We successfully channelled all our emotions into getting the boat to move and were unphased by having a crew to chase, we wound to a really solid 40 and did our most controlled stride yet down to 37, hooters came quickly and it was all over bar the greenery collecting by 1st post corner.

Tomorrow we get to chase Pembroke 3 (again) we had got overlap on them on the 1st day when they bumped the falling Kings 3 on the way into the gut, and now thanks to some overbumping and double overbumping we get to chase them again. Today they were hit by the inform Clare 3. We hope to finish them off by the plough at the latest tomorrow - come and watch - we want to be parading a flag down the reach! (Hogley)

Well as I predicted we caught the Pembroke 3 crew in the plough reach, eating away at them from the gun with no major stresses. Behind us the Queen's crew had not managed to turn up again so there was no one to chase us. So we ended our terms rowing drinking Champagne on the bank opposite the Plough, up six celebrating our blades.and watching the rest of the division row past.

We had had overlap on Pembroke on the first day if you recall, so we knew that the bump would not be a problem if we rowed well. But thoughts of blades were running through the minds of some of the crew (poor things chose not to row in the Lents Gents VIII) and the row was not the best of the week. Our "not best" rowing though was the best in the division with only a couple of other crews matching us for speed or technique despite the less than large stature of 7 of the crew (General concensus had it that 5 was a bit too heavy - my view is that the rest all need to eat more pies).

The crew would like to extend our gratitude to our coaches (especially those of CUWBC) and the lower boats captains for their hard work and support this term. The unnecessary rowover on the first day has still to be atoned for - I'm sure that if our bank party manages to provide us with suitable refreshment all could be forgotten. I now just need to find the money to pay for the second blade of the year. (Hogley)

Our view - the 8th boat closed to 1 length and NO more. We lost half a length very quickly, then tidied it up and coming out of first post we pushed them away, took a peachy line through grassy gaining loads more water and then noticed a big black barge. 2 boats behind us bumped out. Then two more. Two more, a couple more and some more still and were left being chased by maggie 8 !!!!!! (Stuart)

Following the euphoria of templetons first ever bump we headed out on friday goign for what we hoped would be an easy bump on the tidy but mystifyingly slow maggie VI. This was the day to put 1st and 3rd VII above all sixth boats abr our own. Going for the quick kill off the start with a fast climbing Jesus VI behind we closed to around a 1 foot gap by the motorway bridge, we dont have a rate counter but for us we were already goign a bit manic. Jesus VI behind us were still on station and no cause for concern. Several pushes between the motorway bridge and 1st post saw us completely fail to close the smallest of distances, and as we tried harder so we rowed slower and suddenly jesus closed a length in an extremely short space of time, it all went a bit tits up from there really..... oh well back to the rowing over head of division 6..... (Stuart)

Rain, rain rain. We put the boat in the river in the rain. We hid in the boathouse. We got the blades out in the rain. We hid in the boathouse. We tipped the water out of the boat, legged it off to the start. Under the railway bridge our practice start, heralded by thunder and lightning was the best 10 strokes rowing we ever did all term..... We got to the start emptied the boat again. The gun went, we ambled off the start extremely casually, catz 4 closed a tiny bit, but completely unfazed in our 6th row of the bumps we showed again how we are capable of being the 6th divison head boat by destroying everyone in thegut and surrounding corners. By grassy the 4 boats behind us had bumped out and we wound down to half pressure, and an even more leisurely rating. Half way down the reach a boat appeared, and unsportsmanlike crew they were - were chasing us for the double overbump, being pursued by a 1st and 3rd boat trying to overbump them and avoid maggie. Unhurried (well stroke pair were, not sure about the rest) we gave a little burst by the railway bridge and contnued to coast home, about 2 lengths ahead of binson, saving our efforts for the 7th and final row of the week. We went for the overbump in the next race, corpus three in the distance. A measured controlled race, aiming to hit them somewhere in the reach saw us gain no ground at all - but you should have seen how much water we emptied out of that boat. Oh well, we rowed over, rowed over, rowed over, bumped, were bumped and rowed over again and again. (Stuart)

After an excellent start we had closed to within 1/2 a length of Templeton's Boat. Coming into Grassy we lost a bit of ground. However, this was not to matter because as we reached the apex of the corner at Grassy we slewed into a barge coming in the opposite direction. Consequently Girton caught us up and were awarded a technical bump despite not making any ground on us at all. We are hungry for revenge. (J.D. Fialko)

After a steady start we settled into a slightly uneasy rhythm going round First Post and into the Gut. Girton probably managed to get within a length of us within Plough Reach and gained a slight extra advantage after we were forced to take a wide line round Ditton. However the crew put in an excellent push off Ditton and we slowly pulled away from Girton as we progressed down the reach to complete a very gutsy row over. (J.D. Fialko)

Middle of the 6th division, a bright summer's day but a bit blustery with increasingly threatening clouds blowing across the sky. I'm umpiring (despite being really quite ill), but the crews I'm involved with have bumped out and I find myself joining the 10th VIII's bank party coming out of Ditton. Behind them LMBC VII are steadily closing, going for their blades. On paper it's a formality - 7th VIII v 10th VIII
Half way up the reach - a long way for a Gent's VIII - and they're struggling, fading fast in fact; LMBC are scenting victory. It's down to less than 2 feet when Chris takes a look over his shoulder and the LMBC bows, and turns back to his crew.
"Ask yourself this question," he says, calmly and clearly, "do you want to get bumped by the scum? Do you. Want to get bumped. By the scum? Next stroke, go."

In the space of three strokes one foot became a quarter of a length and LMBC were broken.

It really doesn't get any better than that. (Simon)