News from the Captain of Boats
May Term ‘09:
Last May term ended up as a very successful one for the boat club, with the college finishing 6th in the Pegasus Cup for May Bumps results, but there were certainly rocky times along the way.
The term began promisingly, with a good collection of students entered into the Small Boats Regatta. Eddie Surtees and Mary Bjorkegren provided the stand out performance, as they won the Women’s Magdalene Silver Pairs in convincing fashion.
As training for bumps began, we managed to field 5 men’s crews (including Fellows and Rugby boat) and 2 women’s crews. Crews raced a variety of different races through the term, all on the Cam. These included the Spring Head to Head, the Head of the Cam and Champs 8s Head. M1 struggled to produce consistent performances, and results did not shape up well against our close competitors in bumps. M2, on the other hand, produced a number of good results, even challenging the times for M1 on occasion. The lower boats continued to compete well in their respective categories.
Come bumps, however, all crews rose to the occasion. M1 put all the troubles of term behind them to pull out their best row of term on day one, which was sadly cut short by an ejector crab. However, this form was continued through the week, ensuring the crew only went down one. M2 excelled, with an overbump on day 1 to end the week up 5, winning their blades. The fellows and rugby boats found some quick opposition around them and sadly ended down two and down one respectively. However, M5 not only got on, but also managed to climb 3 places on the river, towards a permanent spot.
Michaelmas Term ‘09:
This term has already begun with a very successful training camp. It seems that the senior men’s squad will be able to field three IVs in Uni IVs, and a top VIII along with a second IV, or possibly a second VIII in Fairbairns. LBCs are hoping to attract enough novices for three novice men’s VIIIs once again.
Senior crews will compete in the Autumn Head, Uni IVs, Winter Head and Fairbairns. Novice crews will compete in Queen’s Ergs, Clare Novice Regatta and Novice Fairbairns.
This term’s aims will not be results based. We are looking to lay a solid foundation of fitness and strength training from which to build in the next two terms.
We have plans for two special training occasions this term. The first is on 31st October/1st November at Peterborough rowing lake – a chance for both seniors and novices to put in some solid training on a less crowded piece of water. The second will be a two or three day training camp at the end of the term, when novices can start to sit in boats with seniors, and really ingrain the finer technical points before breaking for the vacation.
George Watson
(Boat Club Captain)
