The Club's Results

The result says 4th, but Girton W2 was really their W1. Nice to see we are still gaining on Jesus and LMBC (1st and 2nd division respectively) and that we beat Pembroke.

Overall it was a pretty decent row that sagged in the middle, but some commitment and a lot of grunt (plus some spit...) saw us wind it up for the line quite well. It also suggests that fitness, rather than technique is the main factor holding us back and that with a few solid weeks work we should be able to achieve our aim of moving up into the 2nd division. (DM)

This was our first crew attempt at a standing start, and this wasn't helped by the interesting call "Attention... ROW!" from the marshals. After having failed to take a first stroke, as a crew we were quite surprised to find ourselves ahead after less than 10 strokes. The rhythm felt all over the place, but we pulled away anyway, so how this crew supposedly beat us by 40s at Newnham we will never know!! (Louise)

Horrible, panicky, spacky, 6 different draw strokes type start and a good 40 or 50 more strokes before we settled into anything vaguely resembling a rythym. This didn't really matter as the opposition weren't up to much and we had clear water by the kink. After this we picked it up a bit and we're able to extend our lead over the rest of the course. (DM)

Great row girls!! This race felt good, the start was awesome and we pushed through Queen's at a powerful 32. They were left for dead. If we row like that in bumps, no crew around us should pose any serious problems! (Louise)

A much better start saw us fairly level after the first 30 strokes before we turned the screw and took them apart seat by seat. The boat felt like it was crusing pretty much the whole way at a nice 32, and some nice effective pushes saw us produce masses of clear water. Definitely our best row of the day and a good confidence booster. (DM)

We knew this was going to be tough as LMBC W2 have been performing well this term, and we panicked a bit of the start with the rate going high without the same power going down as earlier in the day. They pulled away from us on the reach, but there was some impressive commitment in our boat, especially after the railway bridge. We didn't give up and were gaining on them at the end. All in all, lots positives to get from this day, and we know what we have to work on to get our blades. (Louise)

As Louise says LMBC have been the dominant boat in our division all term so this was always going to be the most difficult race of the day. Our start was fine and we settled into a nice rhythm again, but the power wasn't there. Maggie went off very hard and opened up a good lead over the first half of the course. However, by the railway bridge they were dying and some committed pushes from us saw us close the gap a bit, but by this point it was too late.

Despite losing this was a very encouraging day and if we row as well as we did today then we should hopefully cause a lot of people a lot of trouble in bumps.

Thanks to Alex C for subbing in the last 2 races, everyone who supported on the bank, and to Louise and Katie for carrying me in and out of the boat. (DM)

A gutsy, determined row over that's definitely one of the best rows we've had as a crew.

It was pretty controlled off the start (the real one...) and we wound to about 38 before settling around 33. By grassy we were inside a length and a solid push saw us close to half a length by ditton. However we died a bit round the corner and they were able to pull ahead. Not long before the finish they crabbed and we steadily gained on them, but it was too little too late and they crossed the line about half a length clear.

Tomorrow we are chasing Wolfson who we should catch, which means we are still on for going up a division. (DM)

Well it doesn't get much more exciting than that. You didn't lose nerve after the crab and you pushed off the other crew nicely which was truly admirable. In the nick of time you also decided that a bit more pressure could go down which resulted in the space between the whistles being very small for that stage in the race. Couldn't really ask for more drama or a more deserved bump. Well done. (Jij)

This was a bit close! The bump happened literally at the finish. Wolfson had already gotten their bowball over the line - but it's a stern finish in bumps - and contact was made before the stern had crossed the line. Excellent work! (Richard)

You were giving me a good scare listening on the radio. The commentary is variable but the guy on first post knew who the crews were and seemed to suggest you were being caught.

As more information came through it seemed like you had rowed over half a length of... Therefore it was a pleasant surprise when the radio guy asked a marshall who said simply 'FaT bumped Wolfson.' (Thomas)

Coxing is a constant learning curve, but apparantly I pay a bit too much attention sometimes. Having been told by a million people not to steer for a bump, I can now appreciate that it's ok to do so when you have quite a few feet of overlap. Hopefully I have now had my share of fuck ups for the week.

The start felt nice - it's going to take more than a crab and some over optimistic whistles from the crew behind to unsettle us. We ditched the stride and powered along at 36 round first post and grassy where some nice pushes saw us fend off Clare and move within a length of Wolfson. At ditton it all got interesting. They went wide and a solid push from us saw us close to half a length. Then an even better push saw us close the gap steadily with every stroke. At this point everyone on the bank was screaming at me to steer over, but apparantly I go deaf in races. We hit them eventually with their bow over the line. Phew!!!

Thanks to Wolfson for a great race and to their cox for pulling us in when marshalling. Cheers, much appreciated. Thanks to the girls for getting me my first bump and sorry to our bank party for making it so tense.

Tomorrow we have nothing chasing us and have a longer course to have another go at Corpus over. Hopefully we can keep it together in the second half of the race and take the bump that eluded us yesterday. (DM)

Most tense race ever!! I'm so sorry I made it harder for you girls by catching a crab after the start, but the crew coped really well with it and stayed cool, getting back together quickly. The push round and out of Ditton was amazing, and getting a bump on the line has never felt so good!!! Thank you so much for getting me my first bump guys!! And Happy Birthday Rosie from W2. (Louise)

Not much to say about this one. Frantic start, shit cornering and a bump in front of us almost straight away didn't really leave us with many options. We had a peak at the overbump but the rowing never really came together and with every stroke it seemed less likely. We know we can row better than this. (DM)

Losing a rower to illness overnight wasn't exactly ideal preparation for the day. Sonya kindly agrred to sub and fitted in no problem on the row up with katie coping pretty well at 7 as well.

We were confident for the row over having bumped Wolfson earlier in the week, but we knew that they would be behind us for a fair bit. Our start was clean but lacked power and this let them take some distance off us in the gut, but after we came round grassy (a bit tight...) a series of pushes saw us pull away. By the time we came onto the reach there was loads of clear water between the crews and then Clare II bumped Wolfson at ditton. We wound it down to complete an enjoyable row over. (DM)

Well done girls! you did what we could not last year :D go get corpus tomorrow!! (Kristina)

After the earlier row spirits were high among the crew. We had a great row down to the start complete with two immense practice starts. Even Louise was smiling while we were pulled in at the lock!

The start was powerful and controlled, although we may have settled a few pips too high. This didn't really matter as we had planned to be in for the short haul. Once round the corner (without hitting any reeds this time) we were inside a length and moved to within half a length by the bridge. A nice push saw us close the gap even further and we hit them not long after the motorway bridge which turns out not to be the best place in the world to bump due to a slight paucity of greenery. Oh well, with my bumps record I'll take anything.

We've achieved our aim of moving up a division and tomorrow resume our tussle with corpus. Hopefully third time's a charm... (DM)

Well done girls! Finally in the 2nd division - you deserve it! (Mark)

What an amazing day of rowing. I owe massive thanks to Sonya for filling in, but also for allowing me to experience the joy of the 7 seat. Or maybe it was just our rowing today that felt so good! Either way, it was an awesome day.

Keen to get Corpus tomorrow! (Katie)

Congratulations on moving up a division, and best of luck for the last row :) (Charley)

Well done guys! You are really kicking butt. Miss you all heaps.
Belinda :) (Belinda)