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News from Lent Term 1999

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Michaelmas Term 1998

Latest UK and international rowing news from The Rowing Service

Lent Term rowing review

Men's crews

Men's First VIII had an encouraging and productive Lent term, despite dropping three places to 8th in Bumps. Several leading Churchill oarsmen dropped out of rowing after Michaelmas term, but those moving up from the Second VIII and from the Novice A crew were quickly up to speed. Churchill finished a close 2nd in the Newnham Regatta, and put in a brave performance in an incredible headwind to place 4th among College crews in the 4.9 km Head of the Nene. The crew were unlucky to draw Caius I in the opening round of the Pembroke Regatta, but they raced hard and lost by just a length. Unfortunately, preparations in the weeks leading up to Bumps were punctuated by week-long absences of several crew members.

Starting Bumps in 5th place was always going to be a tough challenge for Men's First VIII. They were victims of a ruthlessly fast Jesus crew on day 1, and also went down to a surprisingly quick Christ's crew on the second day. After a solid row over on the third day, the final day saw a thrilling race with Downing and Emmanuel. Churchill rocketed off the start and closed quickly to within 10 feet on Downing. Downing valiantly resisted the challenge, and Emma behind were making major inroads by the time the three crews raced past the excited crowds at the Plough. A final Emma push finished Churchill, and saved Downing from spoons.

The First VIII, armed with three substitutes and a radically revised crew order, finished 166th in the Head of the River Race in London.

The Men's Second VIII, composed of five 1998 novice rowers and three more seasoned competitors, had an encouraging and enjoyable term. The crew's first race was at the Head of the Nene, where they their 54th place finish could most charitably be described as steady. They fared far better in the Pembroke Regatta, where they scored a win over St Catharine's II before losing to 1st & 3rd II.

Men's Second VIII enjoyed a week of wildly fluctuating fortunes during Bumps. They had overlap on Pembroke II on the first day, but went wide around Grassy Corner and lost so much speed that they were bumped by Jesus II! On the second day, the crews ahead bumped out early, but they chased Queens' II relentlessly, and completed an incredible overbump and the Railway Bridge. However, Queens' later appealed that they had made contact with LMBC III earlier in the race, and the officials disallowed the Churchill overbump and ordered a re-row between LMBC and Queens'. Of course, Queens' didn't hit LMBC second time around... On the third and fourth days, Churchill finally enjoyed some deserved success, claiming bumps on Pembroke II and Queens' II.

The Second VIII also competed in the Head of the River Race, finishing 270th out of 420 crews.

The Men's Third VIII crew was made up of an enthusiastic group of novice rowers. They competed in the Newnham Regatta, where they finished fourth in their division with a respectable time, and in the Pembroke Regatta, where they were eliminated by 1st & 3rd V.

During Bumps, the Third VIII were unable to resist the challenges of 1st & 3rd IV, St Catharine's III and CCAT II on the first three days. The third day bump dented not only the crew's pride, but also their boat! As crews ahead bumped out, Churchill took emergency evasive action, and mounted the bank on the outside of First Post Corner. Happily, Third Boat salvaged their pride and avoided spoons with a gutsy row over on the final day.

Lent 1999 was a re-building term for Churchill's Men's First VIII, but all men's crews showed great dedication. Promising improvements during the Easter training camp in Nottingham suggest that May term could be more successful.

Women's crews

After the trials and tribulations of 1997-98, a new-look Churchill Women's First Boat are making strong progress back up the First Division. Three members of the 1997 May Boat and one rower from May Second VIII were joined by four 1998 novices rowers and a novice cox. The crew started slowly, with a low-key 11th place finish in the Cam Winter Head, but they showed great improvement from race to race. They finished 5th in the Robinson Head, and beat New Hall before losing to Caius in the Pembroke Regatta.

Starting 11th in Lent Bumps, the First VIII rowed over on the first day after crews ahead bumped out. On the second day, however, Churchill claimed a good bump on 1st & 3rd, and followed it up by hitting St Catharine's on the Friday. The crew finished the week on a high with an excellent row over, closing to inside a length on LMBC.

Women's First VIII travelled to London for the Women's Head of the River Race at the end of term. Despite three substitutes, they finished a creditable 128th, 9th of the 45 crews in the Novice Academic division.

The excellent Women's Second VIII, with five experienced rowers and three very good 1998 novices, were one of the fastest women's Second Boats on the Cam and were Churchill's most successful crew of Lent term. They finished second to Jesus II in the Newnham Regatta, and first (by an amazing 49 seconds) in the Robinson Head. The crew defeated the second VIIIs of Fitzwilliam, Caius and Emmanuel in the Pembroke Regatta, but lost a tight final to Jesus II.

Churchill II have risen seven places in the last eight Lent Bumps races, and the 1999 crew continued their march up the Third Division with another blades-winning series of bumps. Their hapless victims were Selwyn II, 1st & 3rd II, Lucy Cavendish I and Homerton II. Only on the final day were they required to row past First Post Corner, and that was because they lost a seat off the start. What more can you say? This crew were just too fast to be in the Third Division!

The novice Women's Third VIII trained hard throughout the term. In the Pembroke Regatta, they scored a win over 1st & 3rd III, but lost out to LMBC III. Forced to compete in the getting-on race to qualify for Lent Bumps, they finished 12th of 24 crews, outside the top 8 finish they needed to earn a starting place.

Lent term 1999 was very successful for Churchill's women's crews, who scored six bumps in total. Considering the strength and depth of the First and Second VIII crews, and the improvements made by all crew members at the Easter training camp in Nottingham, there is no reason why May term won't be just as successful.

Head of the River Race

Churchill Men's First and Second VIIIs joined 400 crews from around Europe in the Head of the River Race in London on 27 March. The First VIII completed the 4.25 mile course in a time of 19'15"18, to place 166th overall, 34" behind the top College crew, Caius. The Second VIII finished in 19'56"39, placing 270th overall.

Results are available.

Women's May First VIII selected

Churchill's women's captain selected the May First VIII after the Club's annual training camp in Nottingham. The crew features three May colours -- captain Helen Cooper, vice-captain Louise Jones, and Maddy Britton -- as well three other rowers from the Lent First VIII crew -- Angie McConnell, Siobhan Wilson and Carmen Berg. The line-up is completed by two members of the 1997 Lent First VIII -- Rachel Buswell and Susan Alexander. The cox is Colin Bell, who steered the women's First IV in Michaelmas term 1998. The crew will start in 10th place in May Bumps.

Annual training camp

Over 30 of Churchill's best male and female rowers attended the Club's annual training camp from March 15 to 17. The camp was held at the National Watersports Complex in Nottingham, and all who attended found the camp both productive and enjoyable.


Churchill College Boat Club training camp, Nottingham, 1999.

Women's Head of the River Race

Churchill Women's First VIII were among the 237 crews competing in the Women's Head of the River in London on 13 March. The crew completed the course in a time of 21'54"05, to place 128th overall and 9th in the University/College Novices division. The time also placed Churchill 12th among the 21 Cambridge College crews entered, 44" behind the top College crew, Jesus.

Detailed results are available.

Cardinals' Regatta

Two mixed VIIIs and a mixed IV from Churchill competed in the Cardinals' Regatta on the Cam on 11 March. The emphasis of this regatta is very much on fun. The prizes for best fancy dress are as hotly contested as those for fastest crew!

The MCR Caterpillar VIII beat Trinity Hall II but lost to Queens' III. The JCR Sombreros VIII and the mixed IV both lost their first round contests. The Caterpillar crew were the winners of the best fancy dress award!

Just in case anyone is interested, the results are available.

Lent Bumps Dinner

There was an excellent turn-out at the traditional end-of-term Lent Bumps Dinner in College on 27 February. The occasion was made particularly memorable by the presence of a number of distinguished guests: the Master of Churchill College, Sir John Boyd, and Lady Julia Boyd; the President of the Boat Club, Dr Jack Miller, and Mrs Marcia Miller; and representatives from the Boat Club's new sponsor, Kenan Systems Corporation. Thanks to Alan Mitchell for his work in organising the event so successfully.


Churchill's Women's and Men's Captains, Helen Cooper and
Alistair Jones, welcome representatives from Kenan Systems
Corporation to the Lent Bumps Dinner.

Lent Bumps preview

Men's First VIII
Starting: 5th in Division 1
Chasing: Caius I
Chased by: Jesus I
Form: Newnham Regatta - 2nd M1; Head of the Nene - 4th S4; Pembroke Regatta - lost to Caius I

Men's Second VIII
Starting: 15th in Division 2
Chasing: Pembroke II
Chased by: Jesus II
Form: Head of the Nene - 4th N; Pembroke Regatta - beat St Catharine's II, lost to 1st & 3rd II

Men's Third VIII
Starting: 10th in Division 4
Chasing: Caius III
Chased by: St Edmund's I
Form: Newnham Regatta - 4th ML; Pembroke Regatta - lost to 1st & 3rd V

Women's First VIII
Starting: 11th in Division 1
Chasing: 1st & 3rd I
Chased by: Clare I
Form: Cam Head to Head - 11th W1; Robinson Head - 5th W1; Pembroke Regatta - beat New Hall I, lost to Caius I

Women's Second VIII
Starting: 9th in Division 3
Chasing: Selwyn II
Chased by: Vet School I
Form: Newnham Regatta - 2nd W2; Robinson Head - 1st WL; Pembroke Regatta - beat Fitzwilliam II, Caius II and Emmanuel II, lost to Jesus II

Women's Third VIII
Starting: must qualify via getting-on race on 19 February
Form: Pembroke Regatta - beat 1st & 3rd III, lost to LMBC III

Links:

Lent Bumps Getting-On Races

Women's Third VIII competed in the Getting-On Races on 19 February in an attempt to qualify for Lent Bumps. Their time of 10'06" placed the crew 12th among the 18 competitors, but unfortunately only the top 8 crews qualify for Bumps.

Pembroke Regatta

Churchill's three men's and three women's crews competed in the Pembroke Regatta in Cambridge on 13 February 1999.

Women's First VIII won comfortably over New Hall I in their first round, but lost a seat and the race against Caius I in the second round. Women's Second VIII was again Churchill's most successful crew. They breezed through their opening rounds against Fitzwilliam II, Caius II and Emmanuel II. In the final against Jesus II, Churchill put in an excellent performance, but the Jesus crew ran out winners by 2/3 of a length. Women's Third VIII, racing for the first time in Lent term, scored a very good win over 1st & 3rd III in round 1, but lost to LMBC III in round 2.

Men's First VIII lost by a little over a length to Caius I in the opening round. Men's Second VIII scored a convincingly over St Catharine's I in their opening race, but lost to 1st & 3rd II in round 2. 1st & 3rd V were too strong for Churchill's Men's Third VIII in their opening round.

Full results are now available.

Head of the Nene

Churchill's Men's First and Second VIIIs travelled to Peterborough to compete in the Head of the Nene on 6 February. The First VIII covered the 4.9 km course in 16'53" to earn 17th place overall and 4th in S4. The Second VIII clocked 18'48", earning 54th place overall and 4th in the Novice division. The top Cambridge College outfit was the S4-winning crew from 1st & 3rd, who completed the race in 16'29". Star Club from Bedford was the fastest crew overall.

Results are available.

Robinson Head

Churchill's top women's crews enjoyed a particularly successful afternoon of racing at the Robinson Head on 5 February. Women's Second VIII claimed an emphatic victory in the women's lower boats division. Their time of 11'28" was 49" clear of the second-placed crew, Pembroke II. Women's First VIII continued their strong improvement, producing their strongest performance of the term so far to claim an encouraging fifth place finish.

Full results are available.

Newnham Regatta

Several Churchill crews posted encouraging early-term results in the Newnham Regatta on 30 January. Men's First VIII finished in second place overall, just 2" off the pace of the winners, Trinity Hall. Women's Second VIII also earned a second place finish, 7" behind Jesus II in the Women's Second Division. Men's Third VIII also raced, placing fourth in the Men's Lower Boats division.

Full results are available.

Cam Head to Head

The Women's First VIII competed in the Cam Head to Head on 23 January. After a crew change two days earlier, the First VIII was treating the race very much as a training piece. Churchill's time of 23'44" (11'06" and 12'38") earned an 11th place finish. The race was won by Trinity Hall in 21'24".

Full results are available.

Men's Lent First VIII selected

After a week of trialling on the Cam, Churchill's men's captain has selected the Lent First VIII. The crew features five members of the 1998 May Boat -- cox Olli Martin, captain Alistair Jones, David Sampson, Richard Gregory, and Ewan Main. Niko Loening and Phil Robbins have first crew experience in Michaelmas term, and were members of the blades-winning 1998 May Second VIII. The line-up is completed by Boaz Ben-Amitai, a top novice rower from last term's Novice A crew, and Adam Candy, a promising second year rower. The crew will start in 5th place in Lent Bumps -- the highest ever position for a Churchill men's crew.

© Churchill College Boat Club - Last updated: 10 October 1999
URL: http://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/boatclub/news-lent-99.html