First and Third Trinity Boat Club
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The Club's Results

Pembroke Regatta, Lent Term 2006

4th men's VIII (Lower division)

Coxed by: R.R. Fenn

1st round
Beat Caius III by half a length
A real nip and tuck race! A strong start put us up half a length on the common side before Caius came back due to the bend on the reach and ended up half a length up on us. We blitzed round underneath the railway bridge and a strong burst brought us back to half a length in front. Caius pushed hard on the inside of the corner and were catching on us towards the finish but we were too stong and held them off. (A.J. Sugden)
Not a bad race this one, very good start by us but caius came back, three seats up about half way down the reach, but good coxing by rich led us into our first push and we drew back coming under the railway bridge and with good timing caught back to be 2/3 seats up. We then pushed into a good lead holding them off as we took the outside of the last corner with firm strokes taking us into the next round, finishing just over half a length up. (Martin Y)
2nd round
Beat Selwyn III by 3/4 of a length
Another close run affair! A strong start from the Selwyn crew gave them half a length advantage when lengthened to a length by the railway bridge, but a bit of a crafty line by Richard saw us clashing blades with the Selwyn crew before again a huge push off the railway bridge propelled us towards them and we even survived a half crab to stretch the lead to half a length by the end of the race. (A.J. Sugden)
Probably our best race of the day, we felt this one would be easier than our first race but it was far more satisfying in the end.
A strong start left us in good stead and we drew almost to the railway bridge just about neck and neck only 1/2 seats down, then came our best push of the day; with the first stroke the boat lifted and we took 2 seats out of selywn, our bank party (the one legged rower will) noted our drive even from his position, then through steadfast coxing and intrepid stearing Rich took us on an aggressive line and shouted his row through the bladeclash call, Rob had some good strokes clashing with the 2 seat of their boat not allowing him to enter the water square and we took our advantage pushing all the way to the line.

The most notable call of the day was Rich's, "We're going to f**k them out of this corner", bold aggression and we loved it. Thoroughly good row guys, kept it together throughout the entire race. (Martin Y)
Simply the best race ever:) We were easily a length down going into the bridge, but we came back soooo strongly.

After hearing Oxford's cox in the boat race, it seems that they've been copying Richard's motivational calls:) (Paul)
Semi finals
Beat St Edmund's by a few lengths twice...
A completely bizarre row. When we arrived to marshal we were told that, as the cox of the 99s had cut his face on barbed wire so they couldn't row in the semis. Then we were told we had to row the course even though we had no competition, so grudgingly we set off down the reach to do our pre-final "lap of honour". However, when we span past Ditton corner, we were promptly told we would be racing against a crew, this crew being Eddie's (who FaT 5 were very unfortnate not to have beaten earlier in the day by all accounts). We drew up to the start and looked up to see a horse bolting down the towpath and causing all sorts of mayhem to bank parties and spectators (one person had to be treated by the on site medical staff). With the horse well down the reach, the race began. We started off very strongly and it was quickly apparent that Eddie's weren't going to offer too much resistance - we had taken two lengths on them on the outside of the reach when we were suddenly told to hold it up. Not having a clue what was going on, we paddled to the end of the course and were told, not only the horse, but two barges had held up race proceedings and several races were to be re-rowed, including ours despite the distance we had opened up on Eddie's. The second row was much like the first with a strong start taking a length on them on the outside with a controlled row down the reach and another push under the railway bridge to take us comfortably into the final... (A.J. Sugden)
Well before this race we thought we had a by to the final as a nine's crew had dropped out after a nasty accident had befallen one of their rowers who managed to walk into rusty barbed wire while trying to take a leak and ended up in A&E for all his trouble. Then just as we were spinning after Ditton we found out we were racing a St. Edmunds 3rd eight, but soon worked out that this was the crew that only just beat the 5ths and that was probably due to some unfortunate not stay on your seat moments, so thought we could still have a fairly easy row.
Just as we were about to draw up for the start of our race a loose horse comes at a good gallop around Ditton tearing up the towpath with everyone
scattering for their lives, so much for and uneventful race.
Well we started, drew strongly into a good half a length lead, then into a length lead, then a good push took us more than two lengths clear then everyone on the bank started screaming and we easied just before the railway bridge a long way up from the Eddie's boat.
Some git had decided that this would be a good time to bring a pair of barges down the river and we would have to rerow.
After an age waiting for boats to sort themselves out as we sat in the middle of the river 100 yards past the railway bridge the marshals finally decided to get us back up the reach albeit amidst a couple of 1st boats doing a semi-final and various other eights, the crews racing in front of us in our division also had to spin and come back from much much closer to the finish line much to one of their annoyances and following them one the row back up the reach was the pretty good Jesus 1st boat that went on to lose in the final to our 1st men, with a very tidy (good looking) cox who at once told all eights near her that she would be going through the middle of them so they all scuttered out of her way and we eventually made it down for our rerow.
Now starting afresh we went of fairly good, not as aggressive as last time but still very good pressure and drew up to a length and a halfs lead over Eddie's then pretty much just held it with various pushes and drives finishing a good 2/3 lengths up, having easied a fair bit before the line. (Martin Y)
Final
Beaten by Jesus III by an "undisclosed distance" (approximately very small)
What can I say, a good row but unfortunately Jesus III were a class above over the short distance. For the first time we were on the towpath station, much to our dismay at losing our lucky path! A strong start by Jesus saw them take half a length on us which they extended round the bend on the outside from which point they never looked back. To our credit, we didn't let our heads drop and put in a gutsy performance, using the same pushes and trying to keep the boat together, but unfortnately it wasn't enough. Maybe not the best way to end the day, but it was our first final and we held our own in two close races, perhaps suggesting we've got the mental toughness to go that extra yard for those elusive bumps in just over a week's time!

However, comedy moment of the day must be the banter between Lorry and the Jesus cox when we were lining up:
Lorry: "Hope you don't catch crabs!"
Jesus cox: "You'll be seeing our arses all the way through the race!"
Lorry: "So you're going to be behind us...." (A.J. Sugden)
We shouldn't feel downheartened for this loss, as we rowed well pushed well, but were maybe just that little bit tired after 3+1/2 races. Very good aggression again by Rich and good rowing all round, but think we just lost out on sheer power.

Also this supposed Jesus 3rd eight, was pretty much their second eight (Jesus only ended up entering boats into M1 and Mlower divisions) and contained pretty much all their second eight rowers.

But for a days rowing this was very very good and puts us in good stead for bumps. (Martin Y)

1. Overtaking Selwyn
2. Marshalling
3. Into the final!
[more...]


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