The events of 30 years include the formal launch of what was to be Catz' last wooden boat, which is in marked contrast to last term's rather more low-key christening of the latest men's VIII.

Assuming the red flag ever comes down (it's been up for a week now - how's the 'drought' in your area?), there are dates and times for a slightly expanded Summer Eights, and the Olympic prospects for one of our old boys.

Henley Boat Races, 25th March
Women's Reserves	Osiris*	bt Blondie	3½ L	6:57
Women's Lightweights	OUWLRC	bt CUWBCL	1⅓ L	6:48
Women's Blue Boat	CUWBC	bt OUWBC	¼ L	6:38
Men's Lightweights	CULRC	bt OULRC		¾ L	6:00
*Inge Hertzog (6) and Charlotte Marshall (5)

Tideway Boat Races, 7th April
Men's Reserves	Isis	bt Goldie	5 L	16:41
Men's Blue Boat	CUBC	bt OUBC*	4 ¼ L	ntt
*Zoe de Toledo (cox)

The programme started with the 'informal' inter-collegiate races, Oxford being represented by Pembroke in both the men's and women's events. The men lost to Gonville & Caius but the women beat Emmanuel (Oxford's first victory since this competition was started a couple of years ago).

Catz' main interest was in the Women's Reserves race --- see Charlotte's report. There were several blade clashes in the first part of the race but nothing major enough to cause the umpire (Matt Pinsent on this occasion) to have to repeat last year's disqualification. Eventually Osiris broke clear and a subsequent crab in the Blondie crew helped them achieve the biggest winning margin of the day.

Catz had a less direct interest in the women's lightweight race, with the daughter of one of our alumnae (Olive Law, née Spurway, M.79) in the Oxford crew. I was standing with Olive and the rest of her family on the bank, peering into the distance as the crews approached, trying to decide who was winning. We eventually convinced ourselves that Oxford were ahead and by the time the crews reached us us it was even looking comfortable. So, a relaxed evening in the Law household.

Cambridge were favourites for the Women's Boat Race, having finished 9th in the Women's Eights Head, 12 places and 26 seconds ahead of Oxford. The race unfolded as expected with Cambridge gradually drawing away. It was even starting to look a bit embarrassing but, with about 300 m to go, one of the Cambridge crew caught a boat-stopping crab. Realising that this particular race wasn't yet over, there was a huge roar from the Oxford supporters but, despite an undignified scramble for the line, Cambridge had just enough in hand to win by ¼ of a length.

In the final race of the day the Cambridge men's lightweights took an early lead, and held it to the finish line without ever managing to break away from Oxford.

It has been announced that, from 2015, the Women's Boat Race will be held on the Tideway on the same day as the men's race. This will almost certainly raise the profile, and standard, of women's rowing in the two Universities. At least let's hope for fewer crabs by then.

Winning the Osiris-Blondie Boat Race is unquestionably the highlight of my rowing career. The trialling season was challenging; due to a broken wrist I spent the earlier months limited to Wattbike training but managed to get back in the boat for our New Year training camp in Temple-sur-Lot. Henley week was a fantastic experience. As captain I felt a great responsibility for the crew and did absolutely everything both on and off the water to ensure we maximised our potential. I am so proud of how the crew responded and how we all came together - our strength was in our team. We had absolute commitment from every seat in the boat and our race plan was `an explosive start then keep it going until we cross the line first'. Numerous blade clashes at the start made the race into a real fight, but going through Cambridge and getting across the line in front made it all worthwhile. It certainly seems a world away from my first ever race at Christ Church Regatta 2010 and I am very grateful to both SCCBC and OUWBC for the opportunity to progress so far in such a relatively short time.

Despite being almost a stone (7.9 kg) a man lighter than Cambridge, their performances in the pre-race fixtures meant that Oxford came to this race as favourites and a fast start put Cambridge under pressure straightaway. Rowing on the inside around the long Surrey bend, Cambridge managed to get back into contention and even got a few seats ahead, but, still rowing on the outside, Oxford drew back level. From this position, there's usually only one outcome, but then a protestor was spotted swimming in the river and the race was stopped.

After 20 minutes of faffing - mostly due to difficulties in getting the chasing flotilla back in position - the race was restarted at the same point. Once again Oxford were away much more sharply and took the lead. With the final bend in their favour, it was again looking good for the Dark Blues. But they were being warned for encroaching into Cambridge's water, there was a clash of blades, and the oar of the Oxford no.6 was broken in two. The umpire allowed the race continue, leaving Cambridge to row away from an Oxford boat reduced to 7 rowers and one large extra passenger.

OUBC Crews 2003-2012
Colleges ranked by no. seats
=1.	Oriel	15
=2.	Christ Church	12
=2.	St Catherine's	12
4.	University	6
5.	Kellogg	5
6.	Pembroke	4

Even that wasn't the end of the drama. At the finish of the race the Oxford bow collapsed and had to be taken to hospital (he subsequently made a full recovery).

A second question is whether the umpire should have stopped the race again after the broken blade. His opinion was that, since Oxford were deemed to be in Cambridge's water at the time, they would have accept the consequences of any damage. Blade clashes are a regular occurrence in Boat Races, but I can only recollect one other occasion when such a clash caused serious damage. This was in the 1990 Isis-Goldie race when Goldie broke a gate. On that occasion Isis were disqualified since the collision occurred while they were in Goldie's water (It was actually the same umpire, and again a Catz cox, but that's by-the-bye). So it was harsh, but not unreasonable or inconsistent.

Anyway, whatever Oxford's misfortunes, they were not Cambridge's doing, so we should not begrudge them their victory.

Despite winning their race, Isis may also consider themselves slightly aggrieved. Given subsequent events, few people will have noticed their 5 length victory over a fully-functioning Goldie crew (more than CUBC's margin over Oxford) and that their time, 16:41 (in not particularly helpful conditions) was not only a record for the Isis-Goldie race, it was also equalled the third fastest time of any Blue Boat.

St Catherine's first competed in Eights in 1876, a fact which seems to have passed completely unnoticed in 1976. Anyway, 1882 was the year from which we regularly competed in Eights so, in 1982, it was decided that that was good enough for a overdue centenary celebration.

The following extracts are from the Captain's Diary.

Hilary 1982

A gentleman of the press was on hand to witness the launch of Alexander Beetle. Tony showed immaculate timing and positioning in popping the champagne cork on cue and getting in the Oxford Mail photo. Lady Nairne poured a whole bottle of champagne over the bows and some of the first Eight looking on couldn't help shed a tear at such a moving occasion. Fortunately they resisted the temptation to lie under the bows and catch the drips.

Trinity 1982

The 1st VIII trained for a week on the Isis before moving to our new stretch at Radley. The lock gates at Sandford opened up and, as we paddled out, a blue launch takes up pursuit. Its loudspeaker crackles a deafening welcome, the crew sits bolt upright to attention. Coaching at Radley had begun. Under the supervision of Jock Mullard we start to concentrate. But Andy Trotman is the chap who really starts to get inside the crew and after a couple of days was tearing apart our finishes and rebuilding them. The crew showed tremendous improvement and really responded well to being treated like schoolboys.

1982 Women's 1st Eight, about to bump Wolfson. Janet Rogers (B), Mary Murphy, Angela Megson, Selina Goodman, Meg Jollands, Penny Studholme, Sandy Leggett, Olive Spurway (S) and Nick Bolas (C).

By the time it came to our Centenary Dinner I was extremely happy as the full implication of our achievement was that we had equalled the best of 1949 when the first three College crews each got six bumps in six days. A marvellous dinner with the Master and Lady Nairne present. I managed to dig up a speech from somewhere and quoted bits from the record of the last 100 years. Some of my quotes were actually written by old members present at the dinner. The oldest member present was Alfred Drew from 1928 and he gave a marvellous speech which was well received by all. It was tremendous talking to the old boys, many of whom had appeared for drinks in the marquee in their Catz rowing caps and fantastic moth-eaten blazers.

Before beginning a hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.

Your correspondent pouring champagne over the bows of the new men's 1st boat, while a bemused, and possibly slightly thirsty, Martin Ramsdale looks on.

In the evenings I'll send out the usual email summaries to those on the RS email list, as well as update our web-page with results and photos from the day's racing. But if you're looking for something more immersive, I can recommend the ever-evolving `live-content' offered by the OURCs web-pages (loved and loathed in equal measure by a number of supposedly-revising finalists).

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