Race Reports
What happens in Robinson...
Once again the mighty Selwyn MIII VIII were powerful off the start, gaining a little on King's. However, a slow Clare (despite being on for blades) and a tired MIII - after a long week of rowing for us - gave a decisive bump to Pembroke.
They say the Higher the rise, the greater the fall. We definitely fell.
Got 'em!!!!
Today we were chasing St Edmund's. Considering our utter annihilation of Jesus III yesterday (my birthday) we knew we were either going to bump or row over. The bump was a definite possibility - Eddies denied us the double-over bump on Thursday so we were itching for revenge. However, Eddies would not be the large amount of fail that had pretty much defined Jesus yesterday. This would take a bit more stamina instead of the all-out for 300m that had succeeded so well on Friday.
Our practice start was solid and tidy and lent us confidence. The row up was tidy and we pulled off those sexy pauses that had so intimidated Jesus 3 the day before. Eddies didn't gain on us despite rowing continuously, but they didn't disappear into the distance the way Jesus had.
Bump Up!
On our row up we were allowed two practice starts for a change. The first was a little scrappy (probably due to a wind it down rather than up call from Emily) but the second was fantastic (probably due to the epic amount of Selwyn support around the Plough and Grassy).
Lies
Selwyn M1 would like to tell you the truth about today. We would like to say that we had a phenomenal start, coming out at a strong 47, closing to overlap just before grassy, pushing our bowball past Robinson's cox into the entrance to grassy and Ben's blade hitting the stern to claim us the bump.
Unfortunately, CUCBC umpires were the two people on grassy who failed to observe this fact. CUR saw it, as did the video cameras on grassy, and the rest of the spectators. Robinson M1 saw it. Our bank party saw it. Ben felt it. Matt saw it. Matt felt it.
We need to drown our sorrows, off to 'Spoons
We set out today knowing we needed a strong performance to save ourselves from spoons. As we got to our station the 4 minute cannon went and at the same time an island of reeds appeared in the middle of the river 2 metres from our bow. As the one minute gun went, it became clear that there was no way that we would be able to fit through the gap and the division was delayed.
When the division got away a few minutes later we made a strong start again repeating the start from yesterday. However, it soon became clear we underestimated Clare behind us. Buoyed by the chance of blades they cruised into us and got us on grassy.
A disappointing week, although some solace can be taken in the fact that 3 of the boats that got us got blades, 2 of which were up 5 blades.
