The Club's Results

Firstly a thank you two our super subs from the rugby team who pulled some amazing times although slighly dubious technique.

The rest of you were amazing, with some real commitment and great times. A great start to the term, and hopefully a good base on which to build before Clare's and Fairbairn's.

On another note, you beat LMBC (St John's) 1st's but not their seconds, methinks they had the wrong crews, but basically you're better than the scum! (Lorry)

Pressuring Caius nth boat all the way down to the start was fun, with some excellent coxing by Emma. Lads looked good and it wasn't even that cold.

The rolling start was delayed slightly because of said Caius boat spakking about on first post reach, but went well once the marshal allowed us to go. Heads were up, blade work in the water fairly pleasing.

Corners were excellent - bow four and cox working very well with good power laid down by stern four. Legs push down Plough Reach picked the rating back up after Grassy (24ish), and similarly after Ditton.

I was impressed by the commitment on The Reach given the work already laid down. Forearms were starting to go (I told you!) leading to sloppier squaring/ bladework. That said, we only had two crabs in the race and both times the crew recomposed within five strokes.

I think they were the second fastest second novice crew after Queens', beating Magdalene first novices and comfortably thrashing other seconds. Definitely have it them to row as a first boat, with two lengths to find in the catches and suspension before Clare Novices. Bring it. (Dan)

Easily is an understatement (Martin Y)

The problem with nm2 is that half of them are medics and hence have to attend dissection. A desperate call for subs by Martin lead to 4 of our (later victorious) nm1 crew to row in this boat, two of which, namely Tristan and I rowing strokeside instead of bowside. This lead to some obvious squareing up difficulties (and blisters) on my part which I more or less had sorted out by the beginning of the race.

We pushed off with a magnificent start to be almost a length ahead by stroke 10. Seb's hardcore training with nm1 really paid off here. We caght a crab about a third of the way down which almost slowed the boat to a standstill but we managed to sort it out and row on.

About 100 m before the railway bridge there seemed to be a general consensus among the rowers to reduce the pressure and take it easy to the finish line. This meant we didn't gain any more ground on Clare B but as we were at least 5 lengths ahead this didn't matter too much. (S.C. Mertes)

A strong start, led to a strong rhythm which led to a decent advantage, which was easily converted into a victory. (Martin Y)

Well novice men 1 stole our strokeman, so I as valiant lbc had to sub for the race. Although not in the true spirit of clare novices LMBC were keen for a duel no matter what.

Off the start we gave them exactly that, a strong pulse kept us ahead until moments before the line when a double crab gifted LMBC the victory which was so close to being ours.

Guys through all the races you were fantastic and I'm sorry it ended so close, but you fought so hard and come fairbairns we will prove your worth!!!! (Martin Y)

Stunning row guys. I was watching you the whole time, and I really thought you were going to push through. The opposition were fading, and even lost a seat...however, the crab (at almost the same time as they lost their seat) meant a loss by the smallest of margins. Th epick up to the finish was impressive tho. I see you guys doing very well in Fairbairns and was pleased to see how well you guys kept working together the whole way especially as the crew was so close to you the whole time. A weaker crew would have lost that race a lot earlier (Lyns)

Just to clear it up, although rowing as the second boat in the womens first division, we are a mens crew.
We were certainly faster than the boats ahead of and behind us and the rest of the second novice division.

joint 6th & top 2nd boat!!!
Yeah!!!! (T.A. O'Neill)

you beat LMBC 1, Downing 1 and Caius 1...

Bwahahaha! (Lorry)

Amazing result, we beat so many first boats. All that training has really paid off. Now we just have to show the seniors what we can do tomorrow. (Sam)

Committed to the race plan well - look forward, draw high for the first half; look forward, backsplash for the second. Simple things that seem to have gone out of fashion.

Rate was perhaps a touch low for the first third and we lacked for a cox box. Everything else close to perfection: good pushes, fantastic line from Emma (again), lots of concentration and commitment down the reach. Good.

Tomorrow we need more of the same, with the emphasis on more. Concentration when tired will be key. Look up, sit up, shame the oppo when the going gets tough. (Dan)

We were the top college 4th VIII, but I think that we were slightly tired from the v. sucessful row the day before. (Kristina)

As with the day before (a storming Novice Fairbairns for nm2), they started well within themselves. Obviously tired from the day before so catches were a little ropier by Chesterton but not bad. Finishes strong.

Depsite a mentally draining push to the railway bridge the commitment didn't flag. The rating started to rise as the catches sharpened up (required a bit of shouting from me, but that's what I'm there for) and the boat looked reasonable down the reach.

After a dodgy Ditton (my bad, called it a little early) the crew refocussed: I was AMAZED at the power in the last third. Rating was at its highest and every single member of the crew was giving it his all from the Plough onwards. Awesome to watch, and a fantastic culmination of a term's work. (Dan)