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Newsletter#2, Hilary Term, 2001 (20th March)
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So, on the 125th anniversary of our first appearance in bumping
races, and 25 years after our first women's crew, St Catherine's gets its
first 'Headship'.
Report from Laura Goodsir, Women's Captain
Another term's training was spent almost entirely in the gym - some new 'sliders' in the boathouse made erging a little more realistic and having a coach to supervise our land-training helped keep us motivated. The 1st Torpid managed to escape to Dorney Lake for a very productive weekend's rowing and when here in Oxford we headed straight down to the river, dragging the nearest senior cox with us, every time we heard the words 'Amber Flag'.Report from Matt Denmark, Men's CaptainBut with Nephthys Regatta (already postponed from last term) called off due to the flooding along with numerous external regattas, it seemed as if Torpids couldn't possibly happen - there was even talk at Captains' meetings of scrapping it for a normal regatta somewhere else.
When the river level fell just enough for Torpids we were all extremely relieved we had kept training so hard. All the hours of ergs and weights were worth it - the 1st Torpid started 2nd (Osler-Green didn't enter) and bumped New College to go to Head. It was fantastic then to row over the next three days, especially leaving increasing amounts of clear water behind us each day.
Many thanks to all of you for your support - it was great to see so many people at the river and the Dinner, and to get so many messages from around the world. Thank you from all the rowers to Bobby our coach; without the huge amount of effort he has put into our coaching and land training we would never have achieved the level of rowing we have.
A very successful term for Catz rowing with the men matching the women's tremendous achievement by winning blades, bumping Queens, Brasenose, Worcester and Magdalen, leaving the 1st Torpid 6th in Division I, a position which equals the men's previous best (1972). Many thanks to the Rowing Society, Anu, and of course to our coach, Bobby Gibson who made all of this possible. Since Torpids and the various post-Torpids parties (unfortunately captured on camera and now on the boat club website!), we have continued to train and took a slightly changed VIII (including another comeback for Anu at bow!) to the Head of the River Race, finishing 191st and enjoying a great day out. Training begins for Summer Eights next week, and hopefully we can build on our Torpids success towards a strong performance in Eights.Unfortunately, given so little water time, both 2nd Torpids had to be scratched but they'll keep their places for next year. As it turned out, Torpids only just went ahead - the following Monday Christ Church Meadow was sealed off due to Foot and Mouth Disease restrictions. More words from 'rent-a-bow' in the College's Spring Newsletter.
Next weekend is the Boat Race, with Matt Smith currently in the OUBC stroke seat (incidentally, the last Catz man to stroke Oxford was our Vice-President Rupert Obholzer (M.88), who will be umpiring this year's race). The following weekend (1st April) are the Henley Boat Races with Floss Williams rowing for Osiris and alumna Helen Barnes (M.96) rowing for the Women's Lightweights. Again, due to FMD restrictions, spectators are asked not to turn up. However, I hope to get some race reports for the next Rowing Society newsletter.
Anu Dudhia (email: dudhia@atm.ox.ac.uk )
St Catherine's College
Oxford University Rowing Clubs
St Catherine's College Boat Club
St Catherine's Rowing Society