Introduction

Results

Oriel Regatta (12-14 June)
Men's IVs
Rnd 1	Catz I		[scratched]
Rnd 1	Catz II	v	St John's I	lost
Rnd 1	Catz III	v	Lincoln II	lost
Men's Junior VIIIs
QF	Catz	v	Pembroke	row over
SF	Catz	v	Mansfield	won
Final	Catz	v	St Benet's	lost
Mixed VIIIs
Rnd 1	Catz	v	S.E.H. II	won
Rnd 1	Catz/Hilda's	v	OXILP	lost
Rnd 2	Catz	v	Jesus	won
QF	Catz	v	Lincoln	lost

Trinity term saw some fantastic rowing from the Catz Birds, despite overall losses in the Eights Charts. The Birds all worked hard, with the top boat training 10 times a week, and the 2nd and 3rd Eights both training multiple times a week as well. We had quite a few novice rowers in all of the boats and were extremely pleased to have our 3rd Eight qualify in Rowing On; the first women's crew to accomplish this since 1996! Overall, we went down a few places during Eights, but the 1st Eight remains safely in the 1st division and the 2nd Eight is sitting in the 4th division. In addition to some serious training, the Catz Birds had a busy social schedule and enjoyed all their time off the water as well.

Erika Johnson who, despite apparent easy familiarity with the vernacular ('Birds'), is actually from Texas. She is the first American woman, and first visiting student, to be Boat Club Captain.

I had hoped to end my year as captain by reporting on all three men's boats winning blades in Eights. Sadly that is not the case, but with a strong core of rowers remaining and a very exciting novice induction programme being put together by the new captain, Evan Burfield, and his committee, I believe it will be an appropriate and realistic aim for both Torpids and Eights next year.

With continued coaching from Anu Dudhia and Mike Curtin, both the 1st and 2nd Eights looked like being strong enough to gain places. Unfortunately the progress of the first boat was limited by the usual problems in bumps racing - dodgy lines from the start, a lot of bad luck, and of course, the most annoying thing to happen in Eights, slower crews bumping out ahead. The crew was one of the fastest on the river, but that is often not enough in bumps. The second team benefitted hugely from being coached by Mike and Anu, and was composed of half of the 1st Torpid and four promising rowers from the second boat in Hilary term. Despite being bumped by two faster crews, the crew improved over the week and I was glad to have been a part of it. The 3rd Eight narrowly failed to qualify during Rowing On, which was a very impressive achievement considering that was the first day they had managed to row all eight! It was very pleasing that the majority of that crew reached the final of the Junior VIIIs section of Oriel Regatta.

The Benjamin F. Sylvester Jr. Award

50 Years Ago ...

The Wheel, 1952-53

The year has been notable for two things. The first was our change of barge, and the second the purchase of a new clinker eight. The old St Catherine's barge is the Club's no longer, but in its place we have the much larger Salter's Barge, moored at the finishing post. The new clinker has been named John Brook and was christened by Mrs. Brook [wife of the Censor, the Rev. V. J. K. Brook.] at a small ceremony at the barge. The clinker was ready a fortnight before Summer Eights and was used by the seconds.

Tuesday, 2nd December, 1952

As it had been found impossible to award the Forster-Bunting trophy by means of elimination races, it was decided to introduce a Sculling Ladder, the Trophy to be held by the member at the top.

Tuesday, 29th April, 1953

At an OUBC Captains' meeting the possibility of introducing 4-day racing as at Cambridge was mooted, but discussion was postponed to a later date.

Rowing in the Afterlife