SCBC

So it had been three days of pushing and hurting and being bumped, so when W1 turned up at the boathouse we all knew that today we had to perform! Today was our race, our row over!

We were starting head of the second division with LMBC II chasing us. We reckoned they were beatable despite them being on for blades. We rowed up to the start with conditions definitely better than yesterday. Two nice starts again and strong paddling up to our station.

Great bank partying saw us pushed out calm and ready to go. The cannon went and we flew off the start line leaving LMBC floundering behind. Then suddenly (about 2 1/2 lengths behind us) at first post corner their stroke crabbed and sent them skewing across the river! They proceeded to row into the bank to be bumped by Girton. Now this really was our race, but how would we fare with nothing to push off?

I could see Emma in the distance and we kept the stroke rate high around the corners with Emily taking tight lines. On Plough Reach we did a push and the boat speed picked up, everyone was still there, pushing their hardest.

We emerged onto the reach and Emily called key technique points getting us to think about them for ten strokes. And with the focus back into our race the boat speed picked up again. The catches in towards the bow ball call having a great effect!

Our bank party were screaming for us to keep going and even though I literally couldn't feel my legs we kept pushing, and the rowing felt really good despite the tiredness. We certainly rowed over in style!

At the P&E (after a hearty celebration) we began to plan for the the next race. We knew Magdalene were fast and we were tired but we were also determined and we had a very quick start. So with this in mind our race plan was simply to fire at them as quickly as possible and see what happened.

At the start there was a great atmosphere of calm determination and when the cannon went the boat flew. We pushed into Magdalene and got one whistle on them, but the tiredness started to show and we couldn't hold it. They bumped Peterhouse on Grassy and we wound down the rate to row home proud of our redeeming row over!

Selwyn Ladies have shown great improvements with term and really set us up for a great Mays!

Thanks to our coaches for this term and everyone who has bankpartied us.