The Club's Results
Women's Head of the River Race, Lent Term 2026
The Women's Eights Head, on the Tideway in London.
Sat 14th March
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1st women's VIII, Challenge Academic
119th, 2nd Cam college
Time: 20:53
Time: 20:53
Marshalling:
I thought the average quality of boatmanship was markedly worse than HORR last year. Whether that is a consequence of our lower starting position or average HORR vs WeHORR coxes I don't know.
Start:
Great start, up to about r36 just before the timing line and then settled very nicely down to r33. Very solid all the way through Barnes, great commitment from the crew. I made them aware of that and Arabella mentioned how good it felt after the race.
To chiswick pier:
A few minute long focuses on rocking over and positive front end. Crew dealt well with conditions getting a little bumper into the crosswind.
To hammersmith:
I turned too early after chiswick pier :( We were overtaking yet another crew (number 3 or 4 maybe?) and I lost awareness of where I should be positioned.
By the time I realised I was drifting too far right it was too late. I drifted back into the steam as we passed past the eyot but by my calculations this lost us about 10-15 sec which would be enough to nudge us into the top 100 spots. Rowing stayed good but finishes started to wash out a little. I called to fix this as we nudged back into the stream and finished yet another overtake.
Through hammersmith:
I thought this was the worst bit of rowing we did. Of course that's the bit they catch on the livestream. Sod's law. Timing was slipping as people started to row on their own a little.
Out of hammersmith:
Timing started to come back together as I encouraged focus on the front end. I had taken the bend under the bridge a little too aggressively as we were overtaking another crew on their right hand side and exited pointing right too much. Didn't take long before I realised my error and there was a marshalling dinghy up ahead waving at me (I assumed to apologise for being in the way). When it moved, there was a mark behind it. Whoops. Maximum left rudder, maximum right rudder, Arabella and Hattie's blades clipped it. That woke the crew up a little and we were back to a much better rhythm that going into hammersmith within about 10 strokes!
Past the stadium and barn elms:
Maintained a good rhythm with focuses on finishing the stroke and getting back out to quarter slide. Took the rate up one about a minute past barn elms which knocked off a split or two. Kept increasing in speed past the black buoy with big leg drive and finished at around 1:28 splits. I drifted a little too far left in the last km but the river bed is very flat there so don't think that made much of a difference.
Summary:
I think there was a lot left in the tank. The crew did not push themselves hard enough, nor did I ask for enough from them. However, we were all surprised at how well the rowing went which I think is partially why there was more to give. For the same effort, less physical work was required due to the better rowing.
Taking 15sec off our time due to my bad steering would have put us in 88th position. Dammit. Makes me very sad.
Overall a lovely day out that surprised all of us I think.
Michell Cup points
There is no data on this race.
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