Newsletter#1, Hilary Term, 2002 (3rd February)
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New year but same old red flag, with howling gales thrown in just to make sure rowing anyone rowing on a lake is also having a miserable time of it. It is now customary for the University squads to go abroad for winter training camps in order to ensure at least some quality water time (will Colleges soon follow?) so Matt Smith and Angus Warner headed off with OUBC to Spain, Mike Bull and Will Mulholland with the Lightweights to Switzerland, and Fiona Howarth with OUWBC to Belgium. With kit, travel and winter training camps, competing for the honour of the University is quite an expensive business nowadays, so the Rowing Society tries to ease the burden a little with £50 donation a term towards our triallists' costs. Over the past 10 years, St Catherine's members have filled 19 'seats' in University crews, which puts us 10th overall (Pembroke is top with 47!). However, with 4 of those seats in 2000 and 5 triallists this year, the trend looks to be upwards, and it would be nice to think that the Rowing Society is doing something to encourage it.

Caroline Trotter, Women's Captain 97/98, has been one of our more active rowing alumni. I asked her to explain herself:

'I joined Vesta RC in July 1999, a year after leaving Catz. Since then I have survived numerous Head of the River Races (2 each in an eight, four and pair), two Women's Henleys and three Boat Club Dinners. My technique and fitness have certainly improved - I can now row on both sides, scull and steer, and can hold a better split for a 5k ergo than I could for a 2k at Catz.

'Vesta is located on the Putney Embankment (directly opposite the re-start of last year's boat race) and is perhaps better known for its sociability than its rowing prowess. However, the twelve members of the women's senior squad are determined to become as successful on the water as in the Vesta bar. We have quite a heavy winter training schedule, with outings on weekends, and up to six other training sessions during the week. Our results so far this season have been encouraging (including my crew's 2nd in S24+ Fours Head, 1st S24+ and S32x at Marlow) and the big test will be on March the 9th in the Women's Head of the River Race.

Photo: Vesta RC, winners of S2 coxed IVs at Molesey Regatta (Caroline Trotter, centre)

'My (non or even ex-rowing) friends think I am slightly deranged and I can sometimes see their point, especially when the wind is howling and there are white horses on the water. Weekend lie-ins are a rare luxury and instead of city-breaks to Prague or Paris, I go to row in Peterborough. Rowing in London is hard work and it can be difficult to fit everything in sometimes. But it is brilliant fun, and there is something special about being out on the Thames at sunrise or sunset that makes it all worthwhile.'

The St Catz 1st Torpids got in a couple of weeks training before the river was shut. The men are being coached by Marcus Munafo (funded by the Rowing Society) while Emily Woodeson (Captain 98/99) is coaching the women. If the river calms down again, Torpids this year will be from 27th February - 2nd March, with the men starting 6th in Div I (5pm), the women top of Div I (4.30pm) and the Men's 2nd Torpid 11th in Div IV (2pm). I'll try and supply evening reports on each day's racing to those on the email list, and I'll pass on any messages to the crews - thanks to those who sent them last year, they really do help. Come hell or high water, on the Saturday evening (2nd March) there will be the usual Rowing Society Dinner & AGM in College.

• Men's 1st Torpid
• Women's 1st Torpid

Links

St Catherine's College

Oxford University Rowing Clubs

St Catherine's College Boat Club

St Catherine's Rowing Society