SCCBC - Captains' Reports HT2006

Women's Boat Club

Amy Banham-Hall, Women's Captain

Of all the challenges that I've faced in my rowing career, this term has proved to be one of the toughest. Because of this, the huge success that we have enjoyed this term is so much sweeter. To go up five places in Torpids, with three emphatic bumps is a tremendous achievement in itself, but to do it at the top of div 1, finishing third on the river, is incredible. We had a small squad, in every sense of the word, but what they lacked in size they made up in spirit and sheer grit. Many of the girls were pulling ergs by the beginning of Torpids that Matthew and I never imagined they could at the beginning of the term. There has been a tremendous team spirit this term. A boat club is only as good as the people in it, and this term has shown once again that Catz girls are the most tenacious, determined and fun in Oxford, so I would like to thank all the girls for making this term the success it has been, both on and off the water.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried at times during the term, but with Matthew at the helm, and Timmy Cat in the cox's seat, we overcame some pretty large odds to pull off what many people said we couldn^Òt do. Daz tells me that he was chatting with the Merton cox before the race, and they were convinced that we wouldn't even push them. I have a lovely signed picture from all the girls of us doing just that, just before we bumped them in the gut!

Olympic athletes will tell you that it is all about peaking at the right time, and we did, but not before we had a few shaky weeks. Half way through the term we put together a composite boat with some girls from Pembroke and Wallingford for Henley Head which gained some of the girls precious racing experience. We managed to come in mid-way through the Senior 3 division - a perfectly respectable result considering the fact we were racing a scratch crew. However, we all knew we had more in us to give, and grew determined to prove what we new was our potential.

By the time Torpids came around, there were eight very determined girls, and one ambitious cox! Our first race lasted all of five strokes, as the late arrival of Somerville left them flustered and starting only a boat length ahead of our bows. We dispatched them with clinical ease, and the scene was set for the rest of the week. Thursday saw us pitted against Merton, with Hildas behind. Unfortunately our phenomenal start was to be our ultimate downfall. Having hit 42 off the start, Merton's stern was soon bouncing off the aptly named 'Catz me if you can', but New College chose today to crash into the bank, allowing all boats in the division to row clean past them. Their meteoric descent from the headship to the top of div 2 meant they were no longer there for us to bump on the Friday. If only we hadn't been so fast! Friday brought more woes, as the falling Christ Church managed to get bumped by Osler, after we had pulled out the sensation of Div 1 and bumped them before the gut. We were rapidly running out of crews to bump, but were certain that with a good row, Queens were certainly not unassailable. As the race came round and there still hadn't been a Catz crew to have made it through the gut, the pressure was incredible and all the crew ready to prove themselves again. We went through the gut a length and half behind, but with some powerful pushes, narrowed the gap to only a length, but unfortunately this was to be the closest we got. After our gutsiest row of the week, we finished third in Div 1, a feat that we could have only dreamed of at the start of racing.

The success is due in no small part to Matthew's fearsome regime of ergs and outings, but more so a testament to the effort and determination every girl in the squad put in, without complaint. This is your victory, all of yours.

Men's Boat Club

Peter Goult, Men's Captain

This term began with a very successful training camp, with a record attendance of 35 people during 0th week. Much progress was made early on and the boats began to order themselves. With senior rowers back the squad was looking very strong, and while hit by a few academic losses things looked hopeful. A steady pattern of training below the lock and add3ed support from Anu Dudhia and Matt Denmark helped Catz form very strong M1, M2 and W1 boats.

We approached Henley Mid Term, entering a 4+ and the three 8+ mentioned. All crews rowed the 3000m head of the river race well, settliong to good rhythm and particular mention should go the the M1 boat who, due to recent illness, had been stroked by Danish International Stephan Moelvig, and he helped them on their way to winning the S3 event, silver pots all round. Well done to all concerned, and particular thanks to Matthew Elliot for trailering support and Anu for coaching M2.

Finally, Torpids. With illness and academic trouble, the outlook 1 week before the races was bleaak, but a combination of huge erg times and as little luck helped all crews fall into shape in time. M2 pulled four bumps out of the bag and were exceedingly unlucky to get bumped on the second day by a Wadham schools crew, narrowly costing them their blades. M1 however, got off to a flying start on all four days, moving from 10th to 6th in the river, and demolished every crew in Div 1 in front of them in 30 strokes or so. With only 1 Catz crew actually rowing through the gut all week, this is if nothing else, a testament to some impressive starts. A good night was had by all at Torpid's dinner, with Mal Spencer being named as Men's Capt 06/07. M1 blades are being painted and chalked up as you read this. Very well done to all crews, and looking forward to Summer VIIIs.