In this Issue ...

Former Rowing Society President Tony Hancox with the women's 1st Eight about to boat for their demonstration race against St Hilda's in today's 'Go With The Flow' Open River Day. Despite making every effort to treat the occasion casually, they were severely out-relaxed by their opposition whose largely novice boat finished an eventful row 'some distance' behind.

Word from the alumni at the Rowing Society Dinner was that they would like more opportunities to get back into a boat, possibly with families along to provide support and/or derision. So this term there are two possibilities, not counting further events during the summer vacation (of which more in the next newsletter). By the way, if children or faint-hearts are involved, I would recommend the 16th June 'Garden Party' - some of Sarah's 'oldies' can be a bit rowdy.

2007 Oxford v Cambridge Boat Races
	Winner	Distance	Time
Henley Boat Races, 23rd March
Men's Lwt Reserves	Oxford	R.O.	4.08
Women's Reserves	Oxford	1 L	ntt
Women's Lightweights	Oxford	1 L	4.11
Women's Blue Boat	Cambridge	½ L	4.03
Men's Lightweights	Oxford	1 L	3.44
Tideway Boat Races, 7th April
Men's Reserves	Cambridge	4 L	17.48
Men's Blue Boat	Cambridge	1 ¼ L	17.49

City Bumps						28th April
Race:	1	2	3	4	Finish
M1	+3	+1	+1	+1	11th Div I	(Blades)
M2	+1	+1	-1	=	14th Div II
W1	-2	-2	-1	-1	9th Div I
W2	=	+1	+1	=	5th Div II

The day began with an informal race between the Oxford lightweight 2nd boat, Nephthys (featuring our own Alex Zdravkovic) and a crew of ex-lightweights. Slightly embarrassingly, the old boys won, probably because their extra wasn't so much of a handicap over the shorter distance and a positive advantage against the headwind. Nephthys then formally rowed over the course again at their scheduled time, in the absence of any Cambridge opposition, to be awarded the win.

The Osiris-Blondie race was next, with Osiris notching up their 7th straight win - the longest current winning sequence of any crew in the various Oxford-Cambridge boat races, and they were followed by the Oxford lightweight women avenging their narrow defeat from last year.

The women's Blue Boat race was delayed by Oxford having to change boats after damaging their own during the warm-up in a collision with the returning Blondie crew (I was actually standing on the bank watching this unfold, thinking 'surely they must have seen each other ...', evidently not). However, no sooner had the race started than Oxford broke a rudder string and the race was stopped. While they were fixing that, the men's lightweight race was set off, finishing with yet another Oxford win. Finally, the women's Boat Race got under way but the Oxford women - who by now had probably begun to suspect that it wasn't going to be their day - went down to Cambridge in the closest race of the afternoon.

Cambridge had already been firm favourites with a significant advantage in weight, age, Boat Race and International experience. Nevertheless, Ante Kusurin, the Catz stroke of OUBC, had promised to be aggressive all the way and was as good as his word. Oxford went out hard and led for the first half of the course. Even when Cambridge finally pulled ahead, thanks to the umpire keeping the Oxford cox, Nick Brodie, penned into the bank around the Surrey bend (biased? who, me?) Oxford were only just over a length down at the finish. The Oxford coaching team probably went to bed that night with rather fewer worries than their Cambridge counterparts.

The St Catherine's Boat Club and Barge in 1957.

The Boat Club came to the fore during Torpids, when the First boat bumped C.C.C., B.N.C., Jesus and University, and so enjoyed an excellent Bump Supper. At long last the Boat Club moved its headquarters during Trinity Term to the Barge acquired from Balliol. St Catherine's men can once again entertain their friends to tea on their own Barge.

The following extracts are from the Boat Club Minute Book.

6th December, 1956

The Treasurer [W. Parker] reported a satisfactory balance at the end of term of £11 9s 2½d, with £2 owing from the Dean for blade repairs. Tom Bourne (waterman) had been paid £3 as a douceur to retain his goodwill in Hilary Term. The Captain wanted the 1st Torpid to come up for a pre-term week of training at Wallingford, and a grant of £30 would alleviate personal expenses.

Monday, 4th March, 1957

The Boat Club had enjoyed its first Bump Supper since 1950. A notice was to be put up apologising to those people unable to get into Hall owing to gate-crashers. The identities of the culprits were known, and measures would be taken against them.

The Captain said that coaching next term was going to be difficult, especially with our newly-adopted style of rowing.

There was much discussion about the design of the Boat Club tie, and a committee was appointed to make recommendations [These were not, unfortunately, recorded. However, on a lighter note, the 1958 Rugger VIII commissioned its own informal tie: this featured an embroidered light blue crab (with a shell in the shape of a rugby ball on a maroon ground].

Tuesday, 2nd May, 1957

A start had been made on painting the Barge, and the Captain thanked those who had helped. Our boats were not in very good condition, and some patching would be necessary. He had received an article on the care of blades, and he hoped all members of the Club, especially coxes, would read it. A bill from Salter's for £104 was deemed excessive and had moved the Dean to write a letter of complaint.

The design of tie proposed by 'the committee' was approved, and Castell's would be asked to produce a prototype.

6th June, 1957

The Treasurer reported a profit of £2 6s 6d on teas served during Eights; from this he had bought flowers and chocolates for those ladies who had helped serve the teas.

Summer Eights

Eights 2007: Wednesday Start times
Crew	Div	Bungline	Time
Men's 1st Eight	I	5	6.45pm
Women's 1st Eight	II	2	5.15pm
Men's 2nd Eight	IV	2	3.30pm
Women's 2nd Eight	IV	11	2.55pm

Eights will run from 23rd-26th May. On Wednesday-Friday racing starts at noon with the last division at 6.45pm, and all Saturday's racing is moved forwards one hour (i.e., 11am-5.45pm).

From Sarah Boddy (M.98)

I would like to invite any former Catz rowers/coxes to don lycra once more and participate in this year's Alumni Outing on Sunday 27th May. The Old Birds event last year was a great success so this year I'm also inviting any Old Boys who are interested to join in the fun too. Provisional plan: meet at the boathouse at 2pm, potter about on the river for a while then head off to either The Isis Tavern or Head of the River afterwards. EVERYONE is welcome to join in for any amount of time they wish, even skipping the rowing/coxing and heading straight to the pub if exercise seems a little ambitious the day after Saturday of Eights. If you are interested, please email me at slboddy@googlemail.com and include your mobile number so I will be able to inform you of any last minute changes on the day.

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Sarah.

The day will feature races in composite crews, drawn at random from all those who wish to row. Make sure you dig out those old unisuits, blazers and caps - no need for grease though! For those feeling less energetic, there will be a host of bankside entertainments, including croquet, music, presentations about the history of the club, children's games for the youngster and young at heart, afternoon tea and of course there will be the chance to watch the rowing, which will no doubt prove to be amusing.

A bar will be available all day, selling a selection of hot and cold drinks as well as teas and cakes. Please bring picnic rugs and/or deckchairs. The dress code is Boat Club Blazers or sports jackets for the gents, and summer dresses for the ladies. For those who would like to hop in a boat for a splash (the more the merrier!) please bring shorts and a t-shirt and a change of clothing.

12 May 2007	Bedford Amateur Regatta
23-26 May 2007	Eights
26 May 2007	Boathouse Lunch
27 May 2007	Oldies Paddle
16 June 2007	Boat Club Garden Party
23 June 2007	All Sports Dinner
30 June 2007	Gaudy (M.62, 76, 92-95)
14-16 Sep 2007	Oxford University Alumni Weekend