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Newsletter#2, Trinity Term, 2000 (26th June)
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As mentioned in the last newsletter, no rowing was possible until mid-way through 1st week due to the high stream. Meanwhile, showing a considerable amount of initiative, not to mention perspicacity, four of the women's 1st Eight (Sarah, Clarissa, Florence and Lauren) had taken themselves off to a training camp in Sarnen, Switzerland, so at least some rowing got done somewhere.
At the end of 3rd Week we had the 'marchFIRST Regatta' for Oxford and Cambridge college crews. The company has just started sponsoring the boat clubs of New College, Oxford and Downing College, Cambridge, and wanted to advertise themselves a bit - we'll leave it to the lawyers to discuss similarities between their logo and that of Madge. Anyway, since it was right on our doorstep and entries were free (not to mention the lure of £1000 prize-money), our men's 1st Eight and women's 1st and 2nd Eights all took part and got in some useful race practice (Caius, Cambridge, however, got most of the prize-money).
'Rowing On', the Friday before Eights, didn't involve any Catz crews but was notable for the fact that it rained heavily the entire day. It continued raining the next day, and the day after that the Red Flag was up once again. OURCs went through the usual consultations with the boatmen and the Environment Agency, decided that they didn't like the answer so then just consulted with the boatmen, and Eights went ahead on Wednesday with just the top divisions, rowed as half-divisions. Thursday's racing was extended to lower crews with the full programme only run on the last two days. Here is the report from the Men's Captain, Simon Evans:
'This term's bumps chart suggests a rather unproductive year for the men's boat club, although this could not be further from the truth - especially considering over half the squad were novices. In fact, the men's 1st VIII were beaten only twice this term by quite possibly the only 2 boats on the river who could have done it: Lincoln and Oriel. This served only to illustrate just how frustrating Eights can be but, of course, we'll all be back for more next year.'The men's 2nd VIII, all novices apart from the stroke, very nearly caught Linacre on the first day, but thereafter lacked the power to defend a position at the foot of men's division 3 and ended up with spoons. The men's 3rd VIII, and I use the term 'men' generically, contained rowers with even less experience and they only avoided the same fate by having their first day's racing cancelled.
The women were more successful with the 1st and 2nd Eights each gaining a place. 1996 was the last time the women's 1st boat got a bump. They rounded the week off very satisfyingly by catching on Osler-Green right in front of the boathouse, much appreciated by a couple of ex-Captains, Em & Caroline, who'd spent more days than they probably care to remember unsuccessfully pursuing Osler for the Headship. Recollections from this year's Women's Captain, Sarah Boddy:
'A concise summary of the year goes something like this: spectacular coaching manoeuvres (bike-river incident), Christ Church fun, Fairbairns misery (RIP stern half What Tiggers Like Best), several crew dates, Burway victory (YEY!), the fabulous USA 3rd VIII, more marvellous coaching manoeuvres (Captain in the river again, this time to save poor Piglit from the weir!), Torpids wash-out, one very long speech (sorry), Inter-college Head Race win (YEY!), fantastic Swiss camp, side-by side racing, many bumps (both on and off the water!) and a comedy mixed-VIII experience later ... so endeth the Boddy/Edwards era! Clarissa and I are both looking forward to being a part of hopefully an even more successful boat club next year! This is Captain Boddy signing off. Thanks to everyone for a highly eventful year.'Moving on, Matt Smith (OUBC) and Richard Law (OULRC) will both be rowing at Henley this week; Emily Woodeson is continuing with an OUWBC crew while Florence Williams and Kathryn Whyte are rowing in the Summer Squad; Sarah Boddy and Helen Barnes have both been rowing with the Lightweights' Summer Squad. If you look carefully, you may also notice one of the Rowing Society Vice-Presidents popping up at the odd minor regatta here and there.
On Saturday, 8th July (late afternoon, immediately preceding the Gaudy), I will be organising a leisurely (!) paddle for alumni - contact me if you're interested so I can make a rough attempt at organising boats beforehand. Also, the History of St Catherine's Rowing is finally published, I have a copy on my shelf to prove it - if you don't know how to order yours you clearly just haven't been paying attention. No one ever did explain the origins of the Boat Club's obsession with A. A. Milne (would the women's Captain have tried so hard to save a boat called Ben E. Factor?), but I can't think of a better way to sign off for the summer than to steal the closing line from Chris Toms' farewell email to the Boat Club:
'Bother! said Pooh, as the police closed in.'
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