As often happens at the end of Trinity Term, this issue is completely filled with Summer Eights and the Ben Sylvester Award.

Sadly, not a great Summer Eights for St Catherine's: with a net loss of 7 places we finished 29th out of 35 competing Boat Clubs. But, as ever, there's more to it than the bare statistics and we have the captains' reports.

Elsewhere on the river, to no great surprise, Christ Church lost the men's Headship but, to almost equal surprise, Balliol managed to keep the women's (the photo right is part of the fall-out of Pembroke catching a crab just before they caught Balliol on the last day).

Trinity Term 2011 began the week before 0th for the keen rowers, joining the men for a training camp. Once term began in earnest, keen to get back on the water, the women organised outings each day of 0th week. The weather was overly kind to us, making the atmosphere even more enjoyable and giving an nice tan to those out in this week of sun-filled rowing.

After 0th week, we set the boats and immediately began the rigorous training schedules. Each week leading up to Eights, we completed four water outings per week, one erg and one set of circuits. The training was tough but improvements were being made.

After five weeks of heavy training, the Womens 1st Eight were looking forward to putting all of these hours to the test. With just over a week until racing began, one of the crew dropped out due to revision pressures, so one of the W2 stars joined the boat. Whilst she hadn't been rowing for the full time, she was incredibly enthusiastic and I'm very grateful to her for filling the empty slot.

The Women's 2nd Eight on the bungline on Friday. (It was no.3's birthday, hence the hats).

The Women's 1st Eight getting into a spot of bother with Worcester on the Saturday.

Unfortunately W2 didn't have a very large pool of women to draw upon, but after some very lengthy (and rather panicked) conversations, lasting right up until Saturday morning, we managed to ensure two full crews were present every day. Thank you very much to those people who helped us out by rowing; we really wouldn't have been able to enter both our boats if we had not had people like you to give us a hand!

The 1st Eight began well, rowing over twice on the first two days. Unluckily on the third day, they clipped the bank just before achieving the bump on Somerville, allowing Wolfson to crash spectacularly in to the crew, whacking the cox in the back and the stroke in the face! The 2nd Eight, suffering from the loss of their 8th rower, with no-one to take the place, missed a lot of practice time in the run up to Eights. Surrounded by crews on the up escalator with two of the four chasing crews taking blades, they were sadly bumped daily, though showed great improvements on each of the days.

Although the results weren't as we hoped they would be, all of the women have put in an enormous amount of effort this term, and we have all improved greatly. I hope everyone has had a very enjoyable term and thank you again to everyone for helping me out during many panicked moments! Finally, a massive thank you to Mal Spencer for coming along as a coach for both Women's boats, and giving up so much of your free time.

After a solid Torpids performance from all men's crews, there was a lot pressure and high expectations building up towards Summer Eights. A fair number of us were back before the start of term for extra water and land training to make sure that we hit the ground running. The weather was great, the Isis was nice and quiet, and thanks to a camera attached by Hugh we could watch back over some of the outings. A promising start to the term.

As per usual there was dip in outings during 0th week as the impending collections demanded our attention, but only 2 days later we had our 2 km tests with impressive results. It seems to be an increasing challenge getting people to erg, but for those who had put in the hours of holiday training it paid off with lots of PBs.

The M3 and M4 this term were organised and trained by Ben Trigg and Josh Morgan. M4 qualified for Summer Eights, first time since 2008, and M3 came very close. M4 were then placed unfortunately high in the Rowing On division, and so being chased by some fast crews. In spite of this and a bank collision, the guys rowed really well, and enjoyed it for what it was.

M2, as last term, were under the rule of David Ashmore and Phil McCullough. Again plenty of competition for every seat created a boat, with the core from the blades winning Torpids crew, full of enthusiasm. Day 4 of Eights was a tough day for the rowers, with 3 bumps in the bag, they were on for crossed blades. A rocky start meant they were further behind the crew in front than usual, and with the race klaxoned their opportunity of catching up was taken away. The guys still had a lot to celebrate up 3 places is another fantastic result!

The Men's 2nd Eight (mostly) looking relaxed on the bungline on Friday.

The Men's 1st Eight racing on the Saturday (centre), with Balliol closing!

For M1 it has been a bumpy ride this term in many ways. We lost rowers from last term to exams, field trips and eligibility. We trained and trialled rowers from M2, so for the first few weeks our line-up was less consistent than what would have been ideal. Things settled down as Summer Eights drew close ... until we hit a punt 3 days before racing. Pembroke were kind enough to lend us a 90's Empacher, it took some hours to get it into a rowable state, but we were pleased we had a boat with a bow attached. During Eights I know everyone gave 110%, but sometimes there is no escaping the crew behind. At no point did we 'give up any sort of advantage', between the crash, a different boat, stroke man falling unwell, we did the best we could given our situation. Damn proud of everyone in my boat.

The results were mixed, but all of the men have put in so much effort, I hope everyone has enjoyed the term, and for those returning next year I hope will take it up again.

I would like to thank Lizzie and the committee for supporting me again this term, but 3 people stand out. Thank you Matthew McGilvray, who again couldn't row with M1 this term, was just as committed, not only to the M1 boat but also with the M4 as well, really helping out the novices and Captains-Elect. Thank you Phil McCullough, through the entire year he has contributed so much to enhancing rowing at Catz. Last but not least thank you Theresa Kevorkian, for coxing, coaching and babysitting (some of, but not limited to, the M1).

Best of luck to next year's committee. Enjoy it!

A Benjamin F. Sylvester, Jr medal will be given annually to the member of the Boat Club who has most significantly contributed to enhancing the rowing life of St Catherine's College, Oxford.

Phillip McCullough proxime accessit.

Also nominated were: James Boxall, Leah Carden, Matt McGilvray, Duncan Reek and Malcolm Spencer.

Theresa Kevorkian receiving this year's Ben Sylvester medal from RS Chairman Kevin Skinner (left) and a bottle of champagne from RS Secretary Darren Chadwick (right). She's also holding a Cox-Box since it's the Saturday of Eights and she's still got a job to do ...

Theresa becomes the first American, and only the second woman, to receive this award since its inauguration in 2002. Apart from her coxing skills (women's 1st VIII last year, Men's 1st VIII this year) those who've nominated her have highlighted the time she's put into coaching and organising for the Boat Club as a whole. The following are just some extracts from many statements supporting her nomination:

'Theresa is a committed 'coaching cox' who never gives up improving the technique of every single rower in a boat.'

'Whenever a new student is keen to take up rowing it is often Theresa putting the time in, teaching the basics on an erg, with the offer of additional help at any time.'

'Theresa has been there from my very first day of rowing with Catz and since then I have not known anyone put in more time and effort to SCCBC ... being there for my first 2k test (without her 'encouragement' I wouldn't have made it to the end!)'

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

Diary

When all's said and done ...