St Catharine's College Boat Club

Rowed over

We were chasing Sidney today, who we had managed to gain on in sixes earlier in the week so we knew we could get them. We thought it would be a longer race than yesterday, but we were ready to grind them down. Unfortunately just after the start, incompetence above us struck AGAIN with Queens catching a boat stopping crab and Sidney getting them back before the motorway bridge. Just our luck!

We powered it down for the overbump, but unfortunately they bumped out too. Nevertheless we had an extremely strong row-over, with CamFM pointing out that we ‘have really good technique, unusual for their division’.

Up one this week is a great result but not one which reflects the speed and strength of the crew. Every day but one W2 experienced the misfortune that sometimes comes with being in a lower division, yet the crew stayed positive and strong. The fact that a boat never came within a length of bumping us is pretty solid and a better representation of W2 this Lent. Everyone involved should be really proud of their performance this term; the team has gelled really well together & developed into brilliant rowers. Bring on Mays!

Rowed-over

Aware of the dangers of being complacent in bumps, we arrived for the last day prepared for a challenge from Newhnam behind us. There was one question large in everyone's minds however. We had rowed over on the first day, suprising everyone, and bumped Pembroke on the second, a crew who on paper 'ought' to have been faster. Then we had bumped Newnham, an even tougher prospect. But could we get Caius?

Unfortunately the answer to that was no. For the first part of the race our attention was occupied by Newnham behind us, who had gained rapidly off the start. They got to within (a generous) two whistles, but again we proved ourselves the tougher crew, forcing them back to a length as their sprint faded. A superior line round Grassy saw them fall away to two lengths, after which we focussed on Caius ahead.

Despite a hard row, we never got within station of them, so it seems we may have reached our level this Lents. We can hold our heads up high with a result of 8th on the river, the highest W1 has been in since 1998.

I was severely tempted to write this report in the style of Clare boat club's account (here) but that would have been to mock what was actually a fantastic bumps race. Having ground Clare down to a nailbiting bump on the reach yesterday, we knew they wouldn't go away, but we were unprepared for the sheer ferocity with which they came. We feel (and I'm sure Anton and his bell will disagree) that the Clare bank party were highly optimistic, but it is certain that they gained more than a length before first post, helped by some short, nervy rowing from us. That said, we pulled ourselves together, and as Clare started to tire we held ourselves firmly at a canvas round the corner.

However, as always in bumps there was another side to the story. Up ahead, Girton who had performed such heroics against Clare on day 2 to give us time to help them out, had held us between station and a length for the whole of first post reach, when 'something' happened. I heard later that 3 of the Girton rowers stopped rowing, all I knew at the time was a shout of 'half a length' (no time to raise whistles to mouths) and suddenly a shunt, a yelp of pain, and cries of 'hold it up'. The Girton cox apparently took the full force of our bowball in her back - for which we apologise and sincerely hope she's ok. 

We could debate in great detail whether the outcome of the race could have been different had Girton not slowed (Were we holding Clare, who deserve full credit for an unbelievable start? Were they blowing up, or just gathering themselves for a final push?) but in the end that's bumps for you... The words 'got away with it' were heard, whispering on the wind, but we knew that anyway. We go into day 4, up 3, chasing a falling Peterhouse. 

Bumped ARU I

After a day off, M2 were back today, and up against the first boat from Anglia Ruskin and the incessant rain. After a long wait at marshalling due to some carnage in the women's division (we're looking at you, W2!), we pushed off and had a solid if unspectacular row to the start. Watching ARU crab on their practice start definitely gave me a little bit of confidence.

After being pushed out slightly late due to some erratic counting, the start was a bit scrappy, but there was a much better attempt at a stride than in the previous two races. Emma were pushed off into the distance, and the whistles came thick and fast from ahead, one off the start, two into the corner, and we finally landed on their stern coming out of the corner. A job well done.

Tomorrow we face by far our sternest test of the week in Hughes Hall M1.

Video of the first minute of the race:

Bumped Newnham

A textbook first division bump today. Pushing swiftly off Pembroke we began to grind Newnham down through First Post Reach, gaining our first whistle coming out of First Post Corner. A stronger crew ahead than yesterday meant the whistles were longer in coming, but aided by good lines and rock-steady psychologies we edged methodically closer and closer. By Ditton Corner we had continuous whistles, and stepped up a gear to finish the job as we came onto the reach. A hard fought bump, and a deeply satisfying one.