The rowing was diabolical, and we quickly lost ground to Jesus ahead and Maggie behind. The gut was very slow and at Grassy LMBC were within 1/4 length. We scrambled and struggled to respond down Plough reach, just holding them. By Ditton Emma were all over LMBC and Maggie put everything into attacking us which we responded to just, by a few feet. Maggie got hit and Jesus were nowhere to be seen so we settled into a 3/4 pressure row, which we had to abandon in favour of firm pressure again by the P&E because Downing were trying to overbump us! What a mess. (Martin)

On paper Emma were three lengths faster than us to Ditton and they had been training to race 500m. They raced 500m, or less. We were hit on Grassy, and there was simply nothing we could do. (Martin)

The first part of the course went brilliantly - we closed on Emma slightly(!) and pulled away from Downing. Downing, a light and fit crew, were rowing a longer race however, and in the reach we began to pay for our early enthusiasm. By the Pink House they were at a quarter of a length and we pushed and held them there for a while, but we then went wide under the railway bridge and they pushed hard and hit us a few strokes beyond it. To spectators it looked like we gave in, but in the end they were going so much faster when we had already pushed very hard, there seemed little more we could have done. The rowing hadn't been pretty, but we had at least sorted some things out since yesterday. (Martin)

Our newly established fast start worked wonders today. A painful race, we held LMBC behind us on distance for the whole course. Downing pulled out a length or more over us, and the top seven crews all rowed over, and all sat recovering in the small area under Chesterton footbridge, with numerous "three cheers" resounding between crews. (Martin)

It was an aggressive row, but as expected Clare were simply faster than they were. (Martin)

They went out on fire to challenge Downing II behind them. Downing had been looking extremely good, but had a fast Selwyn behind them; our boys attacked it impressively to row the race to Ditton. At the Plough, Downing went Down, when the boys were possibly a little outside distance. A very fine row. End of day 2, still head 2nd VIII. (Martin)

As heard by Simon over a CUCBC radio: "1st & 3rd are paddling over the course." We had no chance of catching Clare and conserved energy by rowing over at half-pressure. (Guy)

Facing a well-drilled Selwyn, there was little to do other than go down one at the head of the second division. The 2nd VIII face Downing in the battle for highest 2nd VIII tomorrow. (Martin)

It was judgement day. Downing closed to half a length for Plough reach and were held at that distance by a fine piece of rowing. However, Downing's speed held a little better into Ditton, and despite an almost imperceptible speed differential through the corner and the boys being on the verge of being straight for the reach, there was light contact and the bump was conceded.

Downing were by any standards a very good crew, and to have rowed clear on Thursday, thereby guaranteeing finishing 2nd highest 2nd VIII was a fine result - even though ultimately a disappointing one. (Martin)

A very scratchy (only a few outings in the 4) crew of gents and grads got hit in the corners by Pembroke, who were a lot faster than we had assumed. (Simon)

Over very quickly. Homerton, who would easily be competitive about two divisions above us, spacked on the start for a few strokes, then got into gear and bumped us going into 1st Post. (Simon)

Phew!
We knew we had no chance of getting Homerton back, and expected them to gobble up Pembroke - which they did. Except our plan to go all out for the overbump was failing as we hadn't really made much impact on Clare. Although they then did us the favour of mucking up Grassy (and I think damaging their boat), suddenly putting us back in the game and giving us a target to aim for. We got them coming out of Ditton - and just in time, as a fast Emma boat had just appeared behind us, looking for the overbump.
So suddenly up one for the week - but with Homerton behind us again. Hmmm - wonder what will happen there... (Simon)

The result was inevitable, unless Homerton could manage to wrap their boat around the bank on the way to the start, or (more likely) their boat fell apart. It did neither. They got us in about the same time as on Thursday, just going into the gut. We shared their champagne, and a good time was had by all.
And we made their blades look very silly... (Simon)

This crew never had much of a chance, as there was nobody in it and it never turned up to race. (Guy)