Intercollegiate Races, 30th March
Men's Race	Downing bt	Oriel	½ L
Women's Race	Wadham bt	1st & 3rd Trinity	2½ L

Henley Boat Races, 30th March
Women's Reserves	Osiris	bt	Blondie	½ L	6:01.5
Women's Lightweights	OUWLRC†	bt	CUWBCL	3½ L	6:08
Women's Blue Boat	OUWBC	bt	CUWBC	4 L	5:50
Men's Lightweights	CULRC	bt	OULRC‡	3½ L	5:30
† Emma Clifton (M.08) (7)
‡ David Zimmer (2)

Veterans' Boat Race, 5th April
Cambridge bt Oxford	1¼ L	7:30

Tideway Boat Races, 6th April
Men's Reserves	Isis	bt	Goldie	13 L	18:39
Men's Blue Boat	OUBC	bt	CUBC	11 L	18:36

Oxford City Bumps, 26th April
St Catz IV racing in Men's Div 2
Race	Start	Result
1	10th	-1	Bumped by Pangbourne B
2	11th	=	Rowed Over
3	11th	+1	Bumped Wadham
4	10th	+1	Bumped CORC T2 A

Bedford Regatta, 10th May
Women's Novice VIIIs (8 entries)
King's School Chester	bt	Catz II	Easily	ntt
University Coll. (Oxf)	bt	Catz I	5 L	4:06
Women's College VIIIs (4 entries)
University Coll. (Oxf)	bt	Catz I	Easily	4:06

Isis Spring League, 11th May
68 crews raced, including 31 Men's VIIIs
1st	4:09.5	Magdalen A	1st M8
7th*	4:32	Catz I	7th M8
*Unofficially - Catz were not timed

St Catz men closing on Wadham in City Bumps at the start of term (Photo: Peter Morgan)

The programme opened with the intercollegiate races and, for only the second time since these started in 2010, an Oxford College (Wadham) beat its Cambridge opposition & 3rd Trinity). Wadham's coach, Rod Andrews (who'll be well-known to Catz rowers from the 1980s), was looking quite pleased, especially since he'll have essentially the same crew starting 2nd on the river in Eights. Oxford have yet to win the men's race but Oriel were at least close enough to Downing to clash blades just short of the finish line.

And so, on to the 'real' Boat Races. Osiris and Blondie were closely matched and although Osiris took an early lead they never managed to get clear, finishing just half a length up. In the women's lightweights' race it was Cambridge who took the early lead but not for long as Oxford just rowed through them. The Cambridge women's Blue Boat had a 4~kg per person weight advantage, but Oxford seemed unimpressed as they left Cambridge at the start and continued to extend their lead all the way to the finish line (the BBC will be hoping for a more even match-up next year). Just when everything seemed to be going the way of the Dark Blues, the Cambridge supporters finally had something to cheer as their men's lightweights proved equally dominant in the last race of the day. But still, an excellent day for Oxford's women's crews.

Current Catz student David Zimmer was rowing in the Oxford men's lightweight crew (see his report) and former student Emma Clifton (now at Magdalen) was rowing for the women's lightweights.

In the men's Blue Boat race, Oxford won the toss and opted for the Surrey station, giving Cambridge the advantage of the first bend. Cambridge worked hard to make the most of it but once the course had straightened out they only a couple of seats to show for their effort. With the crews rowing stroke-for-stroke, it was evident that Oxford had the higher base speed. Having reversed the deficit Oxford then put in a big push for clear water. With his crew spent and Oxford about to get away the Cambridge cox had only one card left to play, which was to 'lean' on Oxford in the hope that they'd either cede the stream to avoid any entanglement, or at least that a blade clash would disrupt their rhythm. Oxford didn't budge, the Cambridge no.2 clipped the Oxford no.7 blade, his oar flipped over and the resulting crab very nearly caused an ejection from the Boat (I believe he had his head dunked in the Thames at one point). By the time Cambridge had recovered Oxford had half a length of clear water, a margin which just increased every stroke.

At the end of the race the Cambridge cox raised his hand in appeal - for which the umpire had, understandably, little sympathy since just before the collision he had been warning Cambridge not to encroach on Oxford's water. Cambridge also subsequently claimed that they were slowed down by the damaged rigger caused by the crab although, watching the replay, once they restarted their no.2 seemed to be pulling just as effectively as everyone else.

But Cambridge did, once again, win the Veterans' Boat Race. We'll let them have that one. We've given them precious little else these past 10 years.

Boat Race Wins: Oxf-Cam	2005-14	Overall
Men's Blue Boat	7-3	78-81
Men's Reserves	6-4	21-29
Men's Lightweights	6-4	15-23
Women's Blue Boat	7-3	27-40
Women's Reserves	8-2	17-23
Women's Lightweights	7-3	12-16

My journey from racing in the 2010 Christ Church Regatta to competing in the Lightweight Men's Boat Race this year has certainly been an interesting one. This has been my third consecutive year of rowing for OUL, and undoubtedly the most exciting. An extensive new year training camp in north western France was a great distraction from the rigours of academic life. The endless river Loire, coupled with wet and wild conditions led to some of the most challenging but rewarding rowing I've ever experienced. Due to the extensive flooding, we were forced to relocate from Wallingford to Dorney Lake for a lengthy period, resulting in some rather early starts to get back for lectures etc.

Whilst our result this year was somewhat disappointing, we were simply beaten by the better crew on the day, and the experience of trialling is one that I'll never forget. Rowing for OUL has been one of the greatest decisions of my life, and has taught me far more than how to row. Thanks to SCCBC and the Rowing Society for all the support along the journey.

Trevor is the only person I have ever known who sacrificed his whole career for his political principles and for our party. His life has been a shining example of Liberal Democracy in action.

As a senior Scientific Officer at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Trevor was given permission to stand for the County Council in 1973. During his second term on the Council, he was invited to take part in a TV programme. His employers refused permission for this on the grounds that it would be a contempt of court. However he then received advice from the County Solicitor that no contempt of court could be involved, since no proceedings had been entered concerning the matters he was to discuss.

During the programme he expressed the view which he had arrived at some time earlier (and which he had long been expressing within the organisation) that the culture of secrecy at Aldermaston had led to a lowering of safety standards. He did so as a County Councillor, speaking on behalf of his constituents, some of whom also worked on the site.

An independent official inquiry (led by Sir Edward Pochin) later confirmed that Trevor's concerns had indeed been fully justified and that several employees at Aldermaston had been subjected to levels of radiation well above accepted safety limits, leading to a cessation of the work involved until new buildings were available.

In spite of this, Trevor was first severely reprimanded, and eventually forced out of his job. He was never given the right to an independent appeal, and this whole case preceded, of course, the 'Whistleblower' legislation now in place.

Having first served as a Borough Councillor, Trevor served with distinction as a County Councillor for four terms, during which amongst other achievements, he helped to ensure that Greenham Common was returned to Council ownership and opened up to the public. He has also been an officer of the local party, and a frequent attendee, not only at local party functions, but also at regional and national conferences.

Trevor has never received any Government acknowledgement of the gross injustice done to him, nor any compensation for the financial loss and distress which he has suffered. He is now an elderly man and increasingly frail. If the party is to show its appreciation of the example he has set us all of what it means to be prepared to suffer personally for your political beliefs, the time to show that appreciation has surely come.

Moreover the issues on which he made his stand have been highlighted recently, with the safety of the nuclear industry (in terms of both defence and power production) being highly topical, and freedom of information, the rights of the media and the rights of local councillors all being currently under discussion.

The 1942 St Catherine's 1st Eight.
Back row, left to right: G. A. Morrison (4), J. H. Kahle (3), A. Green (2), T. J. Brown (bow).
Middle row, left to right: S. Solomon (6), R. N. Giles (str), J. Marsh (coach), J. H. Walker (7), W. G. Timms (5).
Front: G. Knight (

We look for energy and enthusiasm. Coaching qualifications and the ability to drive minibuses and trailers would be an advantage, but are not essential. For information please e mail the head of rowing, Graham Elliot, at gse@bryanston.co.uk. Further details will be on the school website www.bryanston.co.uk

Eights 2014: Wednesday Start Times
Crew	Div	Bungline	Time
Men's 1st Eight	I	7	6.45pm
Women's 1st Eight	II	3	5.15pm
Men's 2nd Eight	IV	3	3.40pm
Women's 2nd Eight*	V	3	1.45pm
*Subject to Rowing On
NB: on Saturday all divisions race 1 hour earlier

The women's 1st Eight will be chasing Worcester (who bumped them last year) and chased by Jesus (who got close), although so far neither of these crews looks to be up to last year's standard. The men face a bigger challenge: starting ahead of Trinity, who won blades last year and - on paper at least - containing two of this year's Blue Boat and one from Isis. Ahead of Catz are Magdalen, who won the ISL head race earlier in the term.

You can find some videos of our crews in training last weekend on the 'News' page of the RS web-site.

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