SCBC

When your cox is wearing a ushanka (traditional Russian fur hat) and your 5 is wearing a first-boat all-in-one, you know you’re in for an eventful afternoon’s racing. The lycra only received one comment from a marshal during the tiresomely long wait as one by one the crews ahead of us in the division pushed off, at which point it was swiftly drawn to their attention that 5 was 5’2” and hardly an M1 rower. NM4 had always had had a problem distinguishing coxes from rowers, ever since Queens’ Ergs.

After a disappointing showing at Clare Regatta, NM1 pushed off for Fairbairns with everything to prove. While we had open water ahead of us on the row up we looked impressive, certainly compared to many of the other crews sprawling across the river. The usual marshalling carnage meant it took an eternity to reach Jesus lock and spin, much to the marshals’ annoyance rather unfairly. Eventually we reached the starter and built up to a relaxed looking 27 to pass Jesus Boathouse. So relaxed did this look to the bank party that we were seriously concerned and demanded that the rate go up. Up it went and the rate was held very neatly at 30 for the rest of the race. Pushing off the bridges all the way, the crew responded well and maintained the composure essential in such gruelling races.

On the Saturday of Clare Regatta, NM1 awoke to a fog that reduced visibility to almost nil. The decision to drop by Clare boathouse in hope of some clarification merely succeeded in ascertaining that it was deserted, so we assumed that, as threatened the previous night in an email from Clare contradicting one from CUCBC, the races would be going ahead. The brief erg warm up at the boathouse was desperately needed after the Arctic temperatures of the cycle ride there, and soon we pushed off wrapped up as warm as possible to face Magdalene NM1. After a long wait at Chesterton wondering whether Magdalene were going to show, they eventually appeared just as we started the row up to Ditton.

NW2 had had a great terms rowing and were looking to consolidate everything they'd done in the Novice Fairbairns race.

We had a very technical row up to the start; focussing on clean, tidy rowing. After spinning at Jesus lock, marshalling was difficult due to the wind and the fact that we had no bank space to pull in at. However, Emily kept good control of the boat and the crew were very switched on.