Newsletter#2, Michaelmas Term, 2000 (10th December)

When I wrote the last newsletter, at the end of 3rd week, I did mention that I'd just spent a particularly wet day on the towpath ...

Report from Matt Denmark, Men's Captain (pictured right)

The term got off to a good start with the senior men's squad training in an VIII and IV's under the guidance of our new coach, Bobby Gibson, and three men's novice VIII's in training for Christ Church Regatta. But then it rained. And rained. And rained. The Isis went to 'Red Flag' in 4th week and is still Red Flag now! This resulted in many happy hours on the erg and in the gym for the senior squad, and tank sessions and some gym work for the novices. Thanks to funding from the Rowing Society, and Anu's help in driving and coxing, the Men's Senior Squad managed to have three valuable weekends rowing at the impressive new Dorney Lake complex, at Eton College. Meanwhile, in an effort to keep the novices interested, I introduced them to the delights of the 'crew date', where our novices entertained Mansfield and St Hilda's women's novice crews to the best of their abilities. They tell me that, from what they actually remember, a good time was had by all! I'm pleased to be able to report that the vast majority of this term's novices are still very enthusiastic and fully intend to row next term. Overall, I can report that the men's squad is looking very promising and, hopefully, heading towards a highly successful Torpids next term.

Report from Louise Gregory, Captain of Lower Boats (pictured left)

Given that this is a rowing newsletter it seems totally redundant to mention further the rain which has blighted everyone's efforts this term. Having been on a constant flag watch for the first three weeks of term, novice rowers and their coaches were eventually forced into what I thought was destined to be complete hibernation. However, I had not realised the enthusiasm of what seems to be an excellent group of novices. Thanks to the two marvellous Captains, gym sessions, tank sessions and, most importantly, 'crew dates' kicked into action. Hence, our five novice crews were able to get a taste of the sport and a few embryonic lycra wearers have definitely been spotted! Christ Church Regatta may have been cancelled but I am really grateful to all the experienced rowers who helped out early in the term. The novices have certainly been a force within the Boat Club, and this is due in no small part to the enthusiasm of those who offered to coach them. Indeed, I have noticed that a number of the novices really are keen to emulate senior rowers; if you ever get the chance, ask the Men's Novice A crew to demonstrate their impressions of Matt Denmark standing in the JCR in his lycra!

I also asked the women's captain, Laura Goodsir, for a report, but it appears that she flew off on an exotic holiday the moment term ended, so you'll just have to settle for this particularly demure-looking photograph (right) which, I am reliably informed, is a personal favourite of hers.

Dorney Lake is a new 8-lane rowing course which opened earlier this year. As the only piece of still water anywhere near the Thames valley, during the floods it's become the rowing equivalent of a waterhole, attracting clubs from miles around (incidentally, Tom Skinner (M.76) spotted among a small pack of rampaging Henley RC veterans). It has also taught many coxes, and prospective coxes, that steering a straight line, along a buoyed course, in still water, is nowhere near as simple as it sounds.
Pictured left: Catz men and women warming up in the car park at Dorney Lake

The Oxford University squads have also struggled to find water-time this term (while their Cambridge counterparts have had few such problems). Nevertheless, OUBC held their Trials Race last Friday, in which Matt Smith stroked Hammer to a 6 length victory over Tongs. Florence Williams is trialling for OUWBC, although the only time I see her nowadays is through the glass doors when I'm passing by the Atmospheric Physics Lecture Theatre - the 'Madge' logo on the back of her kit is a bit of a giveaway. I'll keep an eye out to see if it switches to 'OUWBC' at any stage. Helen Barnes (M.96), who qualifies as an 'old girl' now that she's moved to St Antony's for her postgraduate course, is trialling for a place in the Women's Lightweights and came top of their entries in the recent British Indoor Rowing Championships.

As a break from the grim weather over here, Frank Gignac informs me that Oxford had a clean sweep in this October's 'Camsis' regatta, the annual boat races between Oxford and Cambridge alumni held in Washington DC, with Heidi Avery (M.88) once again stroking the Oxford women's four to victory. Frank himself has been a regular correspondent since the Rowing Society took to the internet about 5 years ago. Although a member of Campion Hall, he rowed in St Catherine's 1st VIII from 1958-62, Isis in 1961, and, in the History, is described by one former Captain as 'a large and genial American who was studying to be a Jesuit priest'. I decided to prompt him for a few more details to fill in the intervening years:

'All right. Since I certainly am an avid reader of your newsletters, I suppose I should tell you what I've been up to rowing-wise since leaving Oxford. It hasn't really been much. When I taught at Fordham University in New York City 1968-74, I was faculty moderator and sometime assistant coach of the Fordham crews. Several years after I arrived in Washington, Oxford and Cambridge alumni started an annual Boat Race on the Potomac, in which I rowed for Oxford Alumni from 1985 through 1995, until I got too old and weak! In 1990 Catholic University started a crew team, and I have served as its faculty advisor ever since.'

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

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