Newsletter#1, Trinity Term, 1998 (10th May)

In the sorry saga of recent boat races, the Oxford reserve crews Isis and Osiris had shared the longest losing sequence, each having lost to their Cambridge counterparts (Goldie and Blondie) for the past 8 years. Osiris' last win (1989) was also the last time the crew contained anyone from Catz, so with Sarah Jones selected to cox them this year ... well, sadly not: Blondie beat them by 4 lengths for their 9th successive victory. Cambridge also won the Women's Blue Boat race (1.25 lengths, 7th year running) and the Men's Blue Boat race (3 lengths, 6th year running). The results of the Lightweight races were reversed from last year, with Oxford winning the women's event by a canvas but losing the men's by half a length.

Which just leaves the Isis-Goldie race. They showed glimpses of this on BBC TV prior to the main event: 'extraordinary' was, I think, how the commentator described it, although 'comedy-coxing' was the phrase that came to my mind. Anyway, there were two Catz men at 4 and 5 in the Isis boat: Ed Foster (fresher, Eton, Geography ...) and Oliver Jones (definitely none of the above). Ollie picks up the story:

'Anu has asked me to write a short report on my experience rowing for Isis in this year's Boat Race, no easy task as it is difficult knowing where to begin. Having being disappointed trialling last year, I returned last October to take a one year postgrad' course in an effort to do better this time round. After rowing in the Fours Head, taking part in a very competitive trials race, and spending 12 days training in Seville early in January, we returned to wet and windy Wallingford to finalise the crews. By the end of February this had happened, and Isis raced in the Reading head, exactly a month before the big day itself. Although finishing second, we all knew that to stand a chance we would have to go a good deal faster yet. However, we had a very determined group of people, and crucially a group that actually wanted to row and win with Isis. By the time we arrived at Putney, after spending a productive week with the Blue Boat in Amsterdam on the Bosbaan, we knew we had a chance. Goldie certainly didn't share our point of view, and provided us with ample free motivation leading up to race day; we learned that they were expecting to clear us in three minutes and win by at least five lengths. So, in the race itself our plan was to stay right next to them and induce some self-doubt in their boat. After a sprint to the mile post, we dug in and rowed round the outside of their Surrey advantage, always at least half a length down. By twelve minutes in, we drew level, knowing our bend was creeping ever closer. They must have realised this too, and seemed to fade. Within little over a minute we had clear water and the racing line to ourselves. Seeing Goldie behind us was one of the best feelings, a feeling nevertheless bettered when we crossed the line in what later transpired to be a record equalling time for the reserve race. Hopefully now other rowers at Catz and other colleges will want to row for Isis in the future, as three of this year's crew learnt to row at Oxford.'

You may have heard about the flooding in Oxfordshire over Easter. The towpath was submerged from OUBC to Folly Bridge, and water seeped under the doors of the new boathouse but no damage seems to have been done. The Catz gardens by the Music House were also inundated, although the tide turned before the fish in the moat got their chance to make a bid for the Cherwell and freedom. In the meantime we took a couple of eights up to Chester for a training camp (funded by the Rowing Society - thanks!). No floods up there, but looking out of a window (OK, pub window) on the first evening it was alarming to see the local rowers on the River Dee paddling up and down in the gloom, gradually accumulating more and more layers of snow. There followed 3 tough days training, with two 2-hour outings a day, enduring all sorts of weather conditions. All of which meant that a long, hot bath each evening, followed by a good night's sleep in soft bed and a full cooked breakfast in the morning were thoroughly well-earned. Mind you, that was just because I stayed in a local B&B - everyone else had to make do with the facilities in the Royal Chester Boathouse: communal showers, sleeping on the floor and sharing a tiny kitchenette (well, the Rowing Society doesn't give out that much money!).

Back home, the floods washed away any chance of rowing until the end of 1st Week (along with Wallingford Regatta). Fortunately now, at the end of 2nd week, things are back to normal. The 1st VIIIs currently look like:

The newcomers to the Women's 1st Eight are all from the 2nd Torpid, with Anna-Marie returning from the '96 1st Torpid. Only Tom and Helen survive from the Men's 1st Torpid. Ned and Samer last rowed in the 1st Eight in '96 and '97 respectively, and together with Geoff, Ben and Rob, freshers who all rowed at school, they have have been waiting for the sun to come out before offering their services for any serious rowing (or should that be 'waiting for the land-training to cease'?). Stern pair also had some piffling excuse for being unavailable the last two terms. Steve Williams (Oxford Brookes), with Ollie, continues to coach the Women's 1st Eight. I'm not sure who's coaching the men: it was supposed to be Neil O'Donnell (Keble, who coxed a fine Isis-Goldie race, I ... um ... remember thinking at the time), but they do seem to have someone different on the bank every outing. Maybe they're still auditioning.

Next weekend (16th May), perhaps to make up for missing Wallingford, the Boat Club is mounting a major expedition to Coate Water Park Regatta (just south of Swindon). All four 1st and 2nd VIIIs are entered, i.e. about 10% of the college. Forget hunting around for cars or minibuses for transport: they're just hiring a coach for the day for this one.

Apart from a Men's 3rd VIII also in the fixed divisions of Eights, there are another 3 men's VIIIs and a women's 3rd VIII who will have to 'Row On' before being allowed the privilege of participating in the 'serious' stuff of Summer Eights. There won't be a Catz marquee this year, but refreshments will be available in the boathouse for past and present college members and their guests. Racing is from 12.00-6.45pm Wed-Fri, and 11.00am-5.45pm on Saturday. I should warn everyone that due to an incident last year where a spectator was injured by someone on a bike, the Proctors have insisted on 'stewarding' the crowds this year. Nobody yet knows what that will entail, but please behave yourselves!

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

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