The Club's Results

Okay, we won, but to be fair the top competition were dressed as Xmas presents. Incidentally, they (LMBC) won the prize for fancy dress, but since they'd buggered off by the prize giving, it got awarded to someone else. The race wasn't too bad, given the 'training' we'd done. Rated as high as we could and it all came right. Very disconcerting coxing upstream through the Elizabeth Way corner at speed. Continuing the theme of novelty presents this term, we got a shot glass. Nice. The last one (a scarf) was actually useful today as I had a sore throat. As I write this, several hours later, I can't speak properly anymore. (Andy)

I was pleasantly surprised by the level of technique in this scratch VIII - lots of us hadn't rowed for a long time, and we drew members from all the levels of the club.

Certainly a good amount of power in the middle of the stroke, although it would have been nice to keep the finishes in a bit longer. This had felt okay in the practice outing (read 'a last ditch attempt to kill or cure Dan's hangover') but went totally on race day. Lots of fun afterwards comparing forearms and the associated burning pain. The rate stayed well up - in no small part due to Coker and Sills in the stern - although this did mean the boat was suicidally heavy at the catch. Every stroke a max weights test... fun.

(All good for the legs, and it'll be nothing compared to the power going down as we round Ditton in Lents xx) (Dan)

Lots of sunshine, hit a duck, held boat at heads for ten minutes, ate mince pies and a won shot glass... Beats sitting in the lab on a Saturday afternoon ;) (Sam)

I think we can be fair and say that the row down didn't seem like the race was going to be amazing (as Sarah illustrated well by whispering 'I might just stick to 6's' on the way down). However, as we wound up to 28, where we sat comfortably, it felt a lot better and we even managed to sit it for the majority of the time. Not a bad result considering this is the first time nearly half the boat had been in a racing shell. So yea, chuffed! Tho I didn't get wine or mince pies cause of IV's racing and work... :( (Lyns)

Wow! I'm impressed with 2nd. This was the first (and probably last) time I've ever stroked a race, so I was particularly impressed at the rating staying up the whole way - I was just waiting for Sarah to say that we'd 'sagged'...then I remembered that she's a trifle more polite than Magnus ;) (Jane)

Well, I think that is amazing. Considering that my timing sucked all the way up to the Pike and Eel- I was not used to the oars or the 'much lighter than Peter Brandt' boat... and I had super big shoes that my feet kept threatening to slide out of (a lesson in folding long socks four times over heal to keep foot in shoe)... next time I'll bring more than 1 pair of socks...
However, when we were racing it seemed to come together and I felt like we had just started and Sarah was telling us we were half way... which is the best thing to hear! Then all of a sudden we were on the home straight and it was over... time for mince pies and mulled wine in the sun. Great result everyone!!! Just wish I'd stuck around to see the girls fall in the Cam :-) (Narelle)

How on earth did you girls fall in? (Dan)

There was just a little bit of confusion about the ordering of 'Stroke side out' and 'Bow side blades out'... (Lyns)

I notice you've failed to mention the result...other than falling in! (Jane)

Great racing from the crew. From a novice's point of view it looked really good. One thing too mention however, Lyns you owe me one!!! (a dry pair of trousers that is ;-)). Personally I think it was all planned to get me into the boat and then topple it. And this after all the bank-partying I did for you (sob).

I think I should mention as well that I was the only rower in the boat that managed to not get completely soaked but clambered over the capsizing boat onto the bank. (Sarah had enough common sense to jump out of the boat as we parked). (S.C. Mertes)