Race Reports
BUMP 2
We were much more confident today than yesterday. Although we expected ARU to front load, we also knew that there was more in us, especially in our start.
With that in mind, we had a fair row up, with a good couple of starts. We certainly felt more relaxed now that it was our second time around, and because we had our invalid crew member and coach on the bank with us.
Our start was excellent. We were expecting ARU to move up on us off the start, but instead we left them for dead, and within 20 strokes got a whistle on Churchill.
Who bumped?
W2's second day started with an impressive reverse parallel park as all 8 backed it down to pull in on the reach for marshalling. After the previous division rowed past W2 rowed up with good technique and pulled in with plenty of time to spare, allowing us to check out the competion.
Off the start (which could have been neater) Queens II quickly got one whistle. W2 then gained on Newnham to get a whistle as Queens continued to gain to get two whistles. Selwyn pulled it on further and gained 2 whistles on Newnham. Just before grassy we got a call of "hold it up you bumped" - however the whole crew has admitted to not knowing who had bumped whom - until we subsequently smashed into Newnham. We pulled in quickly and watched as Queens crashed into the opposite bank trying to avoid us.
A strong start for W1's campaign to join the 1st division
Having had a good term of rowing and surprising many boats around Selwyn W1 were hopeful about outcome of today. We knew we could beat Fitz; it was just a matter of making sure we did!
Welcome to bumps M3
M3's bumps campaign began full of drama. A confident row up from the boathouse was preceded by a staring contest with Sidney II, our target boat, which Selwyn won. This was then repeated when Sidney rowed past us again having missed their station (thinking they would be starting from further back...was that a sign?!). Again, Selwyn won. If bumps were a staring competition Selwyn III would be pushing headship, but unfortunately bumps involve rowing too. Shame we didn't get to do much of this today. A stacked ARU second boat behind us had got it down to less than a length off the start. Our start was jittery and panicky but this was the start of our problems.
BUMP
We weren't quite sure what would happen in this race. There were a number of unknowns - how good were ARU this year? what about Christ's II's result from Robinson Head? would Queens' II hold off ARU long enough for us to get a shot at them? We decided to go out and see, leaving our race plan flexible.
The row up was fairly confident, fairly neat. We have a tendency to panic off the start, so our first practice start under the bridge was more controlled, if a little restrained. Second time round was much better. We got to station, span, waited for the gun.
