A neat start got us going at a similar speed, but by the stride we were gaining a foot with every stroke.
Got to about a length and a half and maintained for most of the reach, mostly due to a drop from our own boat commitment and therefore speed. A tit hall crab let us gain another length and a bit before the fact we were meadow side allowed us to take the third full length before the finish in the final turn. (Thomas)

I wouldn't have wanted to be the umpire calling this!

Magdalene were faster off the start gaining about half a length on the towpath side of the reach. The guys focussed in well though and we held it there until magdalene crabbed allowing us to pull a couple of length lead which led to them dying as they gave up.

The lead was lost when a series of incidents around the railway bridge led to a serious loss of timing and boatspeed as bow pair dropped out.

Magdalene passed us to go 4 seats ahead 20 strokes from the finish. The guys in the boat commited there all. Overrating the magdalene crew by 4 or 5 pips we pushed for the end, getting our bows ahead a mere stroke from the finish.

Know one knew which way it was called until we checked with the marshalls. A massive cheer from the bank was met by similar from the boat. (Thomas)

They took us off the start as we sort of expected. We started to draw back but despite cutting the deficit to a length and a half, problems and heads dropping due to being behind meant we dropped back again.
A good final push off the railway bridge took us to a mere length and a bit off. A few hundred more metres and I think we would have had them.
A good race and a good performance from a 3rd/4th novice VIII. Hope you guys do well in fairbairns. (Thomas)