After training consistently during the holidays, the women came back during 0th week to try and make use of the quiet river. During the week, afternoon sessions were run daily, enjoying the freedom from lectures and the weather remained reasonable throughout. Unlike the same time last year there were only a couple of red flag days throughout the term, with the vast majority of days green flagged which was excellent for the novice coxes.

Unfortunately despite the positive weather the term was a stormy one, with the initial 8 girls in the first Torpid falling to 6 early on. The six continued to train hard with an array of subs taking the spare places in the boat for water outings. Despite the pressure of the situation, and the frustration caused, everyone remained positive but there was growing concern about what could be achieved over the short time we had remaining. After agonising for many weeks over whether entering Torpids was a sensible choice, a unanimous call that we should represent the College whatever happens was made.

The Women's 1st Torpid rowing over on the Friday.

The first boat was filled with just a week to spare, although injury led to another substitution just hours before the first race took place. The hours of hard work and water time paid off well over the first three days with only a single bump from a very strong Teddy Hall, in spite of many pessimists predicting spoons as the best possible outcome and fears of dropping entire divisions day by day. Saturday was another fantastic display of rowing and, despite an early concession to Wadham, these girls proved themselves and easily held of Oriel for a second day. These four days have shown what can be achieved in such a short space of time, and we can expect the best for Summer Eights and Torpids 2012.

We now look forward to another successful and exciting term of racing in Trinity Term, with renewed enthusiasm from a hopefully relaxing Easter break. Many thanks to the committee to for their enormous support during the term, particularly to Leah Carden and Rosie Lang for enduring every decision with me and to Theresa Kevorkian for her constant expertise throughout. Finally, best wishes to anyone sitting exams next term

This term has been a successful one, with M2 winning blades moving up 6 places, and M1 bumping Balliol moving back up to 4th on the river, a well deserved result for all the hard work put in this term. Back in 0th week, after training over the holidays, we returned to a much warmer Hilary term and got straight out onto the water to get as much practice as we could. The weather stayed kind for most of the term, and with a strong hoard [horde? - Ed] of men we managed to train 3 boats throughout.

M3 was mainly novices from this term and last, but have improved so much this term both in fitness and technical ability. Despite all this, qualifying for Torpids is especially difficult, and unfortunately they did not qualify. They're not disheartened, though, and many of them are aiming at seats in M2 for Trinity Term.

The blade-winning Men's 2nd Torpid. Back row, left-to-right: Toby Smyth, Josh Landrenau, David Ashmore, Dmitry Sokolov, James Boxall, Christoph Haase; Front row: Joshua Morgan, Phil McCullough, Tyler Roberts.

M2's campaign was led by David Ashmore, backed up by Phil McCullough, and all their time and effort has really paid off. Throughout the term they've managed to take advantage of our new coach Lizzie, something that 2nd boats don't always have the luxury of, and very quickly into the term there was competition for every seat. A lot of time has also gone into the boat itself, new shoes, annealed riggers, and cleaning it (thoroughly). I know you guys in M2 are proud of your performance in Torpids, congratulations to all of you.

The Men's 1st Torpid celebrating their bump on Saturday.

M1, under the reins of Theresa and instruction of Lizzie, have had a productive term, entering into IWLs C,D & E and improving on fitness throughout. It hasn't been clear sailing, though: a trip to Dorney cancelled in the early hours of the trip to be, a mangled rudder and a lost fin a week before Torpids, and an eligibility issue with Matt who was at the heart of the team. We worked through this, holding off Oriel, and finally getting the bump on Balliol on the last day of Torpids. Well done guys, we did it!

Looking forward now to next term, holiday training has started already and at least 8 rowers will be coming back early to get some extra practice in preparation for Summer Eights.

Thank you very much to all of the committee, special thanks to Theresa, Dave, Phil and Lizzie who have all put in so much time, and supported me again throughout this term.

Finally, the best luck to all those taking exams next term.

The men's 1st Torpid held their position at 12th in Div I but benefitted in the summer from a training stint down at Radley under Jean Le Manac'h, a regular arrangement which had started four years earlier with the help of the new Master, Sir Patrick Nairne. Having two ex-Radley schoolboy oarsmen in the crew did no harm either. Catz men rose three places to finish 6th in Div 2 (cf. 6th in Div 1 now).

The women, starting 2nd on the river in Torpids (as this year), fell to a fast Osler House crew on their way to the Headship but rowed over on the other three days to hold on to 3rd. Keeping much the same crew for Eights, they were bumped by Wadham on the first day, bumped them back on the 2nd day, were bumped again by Wadham on the 3rd day and finally bumped by a blade-winning Pembroke crew on the Saturday to finish 11th in Div 1 (compared to their current starting position 4th in Div 2).

We had two representatives in University crews that year: Joanne Gough rowed in OUWBC and went on to represent GB in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 (I believe she's still Catz' only female Olympic athlete); Ros Temple, now a lecturer at New College, rowed in Osiris.

It was the custom in those days for the Men's Captain to keep a diary, to be passed on to following captains for their amusement and, occasionally, education. This is the closing entry for that year.

Captain's Diary, 1985--86 (Keith Pritchard)

Well dear me - what a relief, at the end of the diary. This is the time for all that mushy, nostalgic stuff you always see in Captains' diaries. A year as SCCBC Captain is one hell of an experience - most of it good - some not so good. You get to meet lots of people and make lots of friends, and for some strange reason people look up to you. ...

It's also one hell of a hassle - you'll only find out how much of a hassle as the year goes on. Every now and then you will think that you have got it under control, then you find you haven't. The things you remember most are the good friends you've made, the good times you've had - everything else gets forgotten somehow.

Paul Miron (M.84)

Your readers, at least those of the Pritchard/Rhodes vintage, may be interested to hear that the erstwhile Catz guest coach of that era, Monsieur Jean le Manac'h finally retires this year from teaching and coaching rowing at Radley College. I can assure you that the dryness of his humour, which many of that period will no doubt recall, has not lessened with age. Your correspondent is still enjoying coaching the Radley Colts rowing, and is now running into the Sergeant family, most of whom seem to be rowing these days, at numerous regattas. My own son now rows for Abingdon J15s, and my daughter at Upper Thames. Both, I'm told, already have substantively bigger puddles than I could ever have aspired to. I'm also, shock horror, expecting a baby with my partner, Esther, this August!

Anu Dudhia (email: dudhia@atm.ox.ac.uk )