SCCRS Newsletter#2, Hilary Term, 1999

Newsletter#2, Hilary Term, 1999 (20th March)

Dear Alumnus, This term's rowing was a bit of an off-on affair, with barely 3 full weeks rowing before Torpids. Having recently moved Torpids from 6th week to 7th week, it is, of course, inevitable that for the past couple of years the river has been perfectly rowable throughout 6th week, but rising again during 7th week. This year, a combination of strong winds and stream meant that crews in the Rowing On divisions weren't allowed out until the Saturday.

From Emily Woodeson, the Women's Captain:

With only 7 of last summer's three crews still training, the emphasis was on building on the success of the novices last term. Two crews were training this term and for the first 3 1/2 weeks we spent a large amount of time in the gym, often there twice a day. The diet of ergos, weights and circuits was getting rather dull and we even invented a new game based on Ultimate Frisbee but with something a little easier to catch. Just as we were ready to take on the world with our new game, the river opened and both crews maintained the enthusiasm and commitment of the previous few weeks.
The 2nd VIII entered Torpids as the highest second boat on the river (Osler-Green were unable to put out a second crew this year) and did well to maintain that position, although they did come terrifyingly close to being bumped, with LMH II having overlap in the Gut on Saturday. The 1st VIII, under the eye of Jo von Maltzahn (another Brookes oarsman), were very inexperienced but put in a lot of time and effort over the term. On the first day we rowed over strongly clear of New College and gained confidence. Probably too much, as the following day we somewhat lost the focus and got bumped outside OUBC. On Friday we rowed better and gained some ground but we saved our best for Saturday where we had overlap on New from OUBC to the finish but couldn't quite get the bump. The majority of the crew are returning for Eights, where we start behind New College again, and are looking forward to exacting sweet revenge.

From Peter Murphy, the Men's Captain:

I returned at the start of term to find the river in flood and the red flag up. This meant that after picking the crews they did not get to row together for over three weeks. During these weeks we spent much time in the gym and on the ergs. Parts of the first crew were doing hour long ergs of their own volition and also, even more surprisingly, a few of the seconds. In third week we finally got on to the river and although the crews had a lot of chopping and changing with people going away for weekends, the boat started to come together. Then, a week before Torpids, two of the 1st VIII were deemed ineligible by OURCs. Because of this, the two previous years' captains, Richard Law and Tom Wright, were called upon. Richard, who had been training all term with City of Oxford, was fit and looked forward to the challenge, but Tom had not done any exercise for four weeks and was a little more wary. We started on the Wednesday chasing Wadham, as we have been for the past two years. After a very hard row we finally caught them after OUBC to go head of Division 2. Rowing as Sandwich Boat in Div.1, following this effort and two crews bumping out in front, we didn't really go for the overbump and waited until Thursday to get Univ after a scrappy row over in front of Wadham. On Friday we caught Oriel II at the end of the Green Bank leaving Lincoln to get on Saturday. We steadily closed them down and finally hit them in the middle of the Green Bank. The 2nd VIII gained their blades after making swift work of catching the crews in front of them and probably rowed less than the whole length of the course in total over the week. All in all this was a very successful term and we are looking forward to Eights, less rain and more sun.

Given what can be euphemistically described as an 'unsettled' term's training, the success of the men's 1st Torpid was something of a surprise, although nonetheless welcome for that. Unfortunately, for reasons of space and tact, I cannot reproduce here the insider's view of their 'secret training plan', but you might find it on the Boat Club web-pages. I think we can conclude that, in a term of limited rowing opportunities, experience counts for a lot. Personally, I'll just add that it's a relief no longer to be a member of the last Catz men's 1st VIII to win blades.

On the evening of the Saturday of Torpids, approaching 100 people attended the Rowing Society Dinner. Bruce Mitchell made a brave attempt at the fastest AGM on record, but may have been scuppered by taking time to introduce his personal guest, a gentleman who had dared to write in the last edition of St Catherine's Year, that 'golf' was the only civilised sport left. A member of the Boat Club passing by the end of my table would almost certainly have disagreed, had she not been crawling on her hands and knees at the time.

Ben Brookes has been selected for the Oxford Lightweight crew in this year's Henley Boat Races (recently spotted stalking up and down the bakery aisle in Sainsbury's on the strength of a rumour that some low calorie pastries had just arrived). And following an unexpected victory in last year's Isis-Goldie race, Ed Foster will making another appearance in Isis on Boat Race day (April 3rd).

Finally, warm thanks to all those who've helped fill in the missing names from past Catz crews. And slightly more tepid thanks to all those who've said they'd have a look and haven't quite got around to it yet (you know who you are).

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

Links

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Oxford University Rowing Clubs

St Catherine's College Boat Club

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