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Men's 1st VIII Fairbairns 2009-10 , Fairbairn Cup
Men's Senior VIIIs
20
14:52

After some great performances from Christ's crews in the preceding Fairbairn's races, M1 looked to continue this form in their own attempt. We started well and found a strong rhythm once out of the choppy water created by the concrete walls around the start area. We continued working hard within the relaxed rhythm up to around the P & E pub. However, here tiredness allowed the technical faults that have bedevilled us all term to creep in, and we started losing length at the front end.

A great push off the railway bridge set us up well for the second half, but again, tire legs could only sustain the rhythm for so long. We were a little sloppy through the corners, but managed to regain our compose on the final straight to finish strongly, moving away from the Emmanuel crew behind, who had previously been gaining on us.

Our result of 19th overall, and 12th college, was respectable if unspectacular. We are, however, happy with our training this term and hope that it will stand us in good stead for better results come Lents and Mays.

A big thank you to our coaches through the term, and to our enormous bank party on the day - not quite a record size, but a constant inspiration none the less!

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Men's 1st VIII Fairbairns 2009-10 , Winter Head , Race 1
Student Senior 8+
17
9:15

After a scrappy week of training, we approached this race aiming to get the basics right, and set ourselves up well for racing the course twice. Despite a start that was far better than anything we had achieved in training, we were never able to find a solid rhythm, and we rowed scrappily for most of the course. After a quick chat at the finish line, we resolved to find better consistency and discipline in our second race.

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Men's 1st VIII Fairbairns 2009-10 , Winter Head , Race 2
Student Senior 8+
15
9:14

Despite having raced once already, we still felt strong coming in to this race, on the back of some solid fitness work this term. Once again we started well, and found a slightly better rhythm, although this was disrupted by some worse rowing through the corners. The Jesus College crew behind us closed quickly, and by Ditton corner were about one length behind. However, through the second half of the race the crew responded admirably, holding off the bigger and stronger Jesus crew right up to the finish, conceding only 3/4 of a length in the second half of the race.

Overall, whilst not overly optimistic about our placing in relation to other colleges, we were happy to beat our first time in the second race, indicating that the core fitness work this term is paying off. We now have just a couple of weeks until Fairbairns to iron out a few details that will hopefully bring us crucial seconds in this term's big event.

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Men's 1st VIII Fairbairns 2009-10 , Autumn Head
CRA Open Senior Colleges
5
9:37

With not much water time at the beginning of the term, M1 went into this race a little short of preparation, and in a different boat, as the Bill Windham was still in the process of being re-rigged. We also set ourselves a voluntary rate cap at rate 30, prioritising a better technical row over a quicker time at this early stage in the year.

Despite these handicaps, we found a nice rhythm off the start, settling onto rate 30 as planned. This was maintained by a series of pushes through the corners. Unfortunately, as we tired coming onto the reach we lost sight of our technical goals and the Queens' boat behind us closed considerably. However, the crew pushed on hard after the railway bridge to finish strongly.

Although the time and placing were not brilliant, we achieved our aims of a solid technical row, on a nice rhythm at rate 30. We have plenty more training through term, and a couple of extra pips in rate, to allow us to make up ground on our competitors through term.

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