Results and reports by Event

Ferdinand Zoettl reports:

M1 raced in Winter Head, finishing 4th out of twenty in the student first boat category, completing the 2.5k course in 08:49.0. After a smooth but solid start under the motorway bridge, we settled into a firm rhythm that took us to first post. We reached the 1 km marker at the Plough in the fastest time in our category, 3:32.0! Expert steering and well-timed calls from Phil took us to the reach, where we knew what had to be done; stay long, stay loose, go fast. Feeling the pain, cheers from the women’s side and 2 seat Alex’s parents on the bank allowed the boys to put in a heroic sprint finish through the P&E. What followed was routine – stretch off, shower, spoons lunch – ready to continue our upward trajectory in preparation for Fairbairns!

Uploaded Sunday 11th December, 16:45

Becca Testa reports:

​​After big improvements in the last week, we were excited to compete in our first race this year as a set crew. A detailed race plan from Stefan the night before, splitting the race into 4 sections, made this one of the most prepared races I’ve ever done! And having pre-determined focuses along the race course really helped us move as one.

A strong build to rate 32, pushing off the A14 bridge, put us in a good starting position. We stayed tall and committed along the reach, responding well to Stefan’s calls and drawing off his aggression, with a big final push, emptying the tank to the P+E and finishing exhausted but proud with a time of 10:25 in 15th place.

Thank you to Stefan for the incredible coxing, Gripper’s all-important shouts from the bank, and to Cantabs for organising a great race day! Looking forward to lots more as a crew :)

Uploaded Sunday 11th December, 16:44

​​Imogen Philbey and Tirion Hills report:

Despite requests from the boat to do the race as a “strong UT2 paddle” Qing (and haribos) did manage to make us bring the rate up to a solid 30/32 which we kept consistent throughout the race. We decided not to follow Grip’s advice to “fly and die” but we kept it strong through the Plough with some power 10s and with encouragement from Qing (“LEGS!!!”) we kept it up along the reach.

By the time we got to the railway bridge we felt like we were spent and the power was dropping, but the fear of Gripper’s presence made us realise that actually had LOADS of energy left and we gave it our all until the finish.

Overall W2 were really happy with how we rowed (and exhausted by the end) and pleased to finish in 12th place with a time of 11:33.7.

Uploaded Sunday 11th December, 16:44

Lucy Paget reports:

Having completed a total of one (1) outing as a crew, we rowed up to the start line with only three goals:

1. Finish the race

2. Don’t catch a crab

3. Don’t fall in

We reached marshalling (a miracle in and of itself given we were in no rush to push off at the boathouse despite being late) and prepared ourselves for the row ahead. We set off and Molly called for rate 28 as we crossed the start line. I personally did not appreciate this as I had hoped the race would be completed at more of a Fairbairns pace, but as bow there was nothing I could do. We had a strong row, with only a couple drops in rate which we managed to pick back up with strong encouragement from Molly, and crossed the finish line with a time of 11:06.9, well below our unspoken aim of 12 minutes. We were also very pleased to finish 4th in the division and with only one small crab which was so well recovered I didn’t know about it until after the race when someone told me. Big thanks to Josh for bank partying and to Molly for coxing us on her birthday!

Uploaded Sunday 11th December, 16:45