News from Michaelmas Term 1998

• Michaelmas Term rowing review
• Women's Lent First VIII selected
• Michaelmas Boat Club Dinner
• Fairbairn Cup for Seniors
• Fairbairn Cup for Novices
• Clare Novices' Regatta
• Head of the River Fours
• Cambridge Winter Head
• University IVs
• Michaelmas Cocktails
• Cambridge Autumn Head
• Novices' Day
• Boat Club Squash
• Success for Churchill in pairs racing

Michaelmas Term rowing review

The men's senior roster remained almost completely intact from the previous year, allowing the First IV in particular to show strongly in several races. The crew finished 3rd in the Cambridge Autumn Head, and were desparately close to toppling LMBC in the University IVs. On the Tideway for the Fours Head, the crew finished among the top Cambridge crews in 172nd place (6th in S3). The Second IV came in 22nd in the Autumn Head, and were knocked out early in the University IVs, but performed very well in the Fours Head to finish 273rd, just 40" behind the First IV. Back in the VIII for the final three weeks of term, Churchill's top men's crew finished in 8th place in the Fairbairn Cup, the College's best result for many years. The challenge of the Men's Second VIII was blunted by frequent personnel changes and a shortage of coxes. Nevertheless, the crew finished in an incredible 4th place in the Cam Winter Head, and took 33rd position (6th Second VIII) in the Fairbairns, despite a line-up patched together on the morning of the race.

Churchill face a challenging term next term, with the First VIII starting in 5th place in Bumps, but performances this term bode well for more success in the future.

Women's Seniors

Churchill's top women, rowing in a IV throughout the term, enjoyed some success. The crew finished 7th in the Cambridge Autumn Head, but lost in the opening round of the University IVs. They finished 464th (16th in S3) in the Fours Head, and rounded off the term with a fine row to 4th in the 4+ division of the Fairbairn Cup. The Second VIII competed in two races during the term. They finished 7th in the Cambridge Winter Head, and 22nd in the Fairbairn Cup. A Fun Four trained occasionally during the term, but did not race.

After a tough 1997-98, Churchill will aim to bounce back with a strong Bumps performance next term.

Men's Novices

Four men's novice crews from Churchill competed in races during Michaelmas Term. Men's Novice A were an enthusiastic and powerful crew, but their performances were stymied by equipment troubles during races. They took 6th place in the Winter Head, despite the 3-man breaking a footplate during the closing stages. Novice A scored a good win over 1st & 3rd, but went down to finallists CCAT, in the Clare Novices' Regatta. In the Fairbairn Cup, the 3-man broke his slide at half distance, and the crew could manage no better than 14th. Novice B started a little slowly with 20th place in the Winter Head, but scored excellent wins over Caius and Robinson in the Clare Novices' Regatta. The crew finished 27th (7th lower boat) in the Fairbairn Cup. Novice C finished 17th in the Cam Winter Head, but went out early in the Clares. They rounded off their term with a good row to 32nd in the Fairbairns. Novice D started the term a month late, but were ready to race in time for the Fairbairns, where they came in 64th.

Most of the novices are planning to continue rowing next term, and several will certainly threaten for seats in the Lent First and Second VIIIs.

Women's Novices

Two women's novice VIIIs, Dr T and Pink Lady, enjoyed considerable success during the term. Dr T came in 5th in the Cam Winter Head, and were unlucky not to advance past the third round of the Clare Novices' Regatta. Pink Lady finished 12th (3rd lower boat) in the Winter Head, and produced superb performances to beat Homerton B, Queens' C, Jesus C and 1st & 3rd B on the way to the final of the Clares. In the Fairbairn Cup, both Churchill crews were very evenly matched, taking creditable 7th (Pink Lady) and 8th (Dr T) places.

Two women from each of the crews have been rewarded for an excellent term with selection in the senior First VIII for Lent term.

Women's Lent First VIII selected

Michaelmas Boat Club Dinner

Fairbairn Cup for Seniors

The Men's First VIII completed the 4.3 km course in 14'57"47, earning a creditable 8th place overall and 6th place among Cambridge Colleges. This was Churchill's best men's result in the Fairbairns, at least in recent memory. The Men's Second VIII posted a good result of 33rd overall and 6th among College second boats, despite an abbreviated programme of outings and a proliferation of substitutes (including a stroke man rowing on the wrong side for the first time!).

Churchill's leading women's entry was the First IV, who took a very good 4th place of the eight women's 4+ crews. The Women's Second VIII completed the course in 19'07"91 to take 24th place overall and 22nd among Cambridge Colleges.

Full results are available.

Fairbairn Cup for Novices

Men's Novice A suffered a disappointing result after an equipment failure halfway through the race left one crew member unable to row. Their time of 10'42"77 still earned 14th place, however. Men's Novice B finished in 11'17"80 to take 27th overall and 7th non-A boat. Novice C weren't far behind, finishing in 11'36"67 for 32nd overall and 10th non-A boat. Novice D started the term a month late, so Fairbairns was their first race of the term. Their time of 13'46"22 brought a 64th place finish.

Churchill's women's novice crews were incredibly evenly matched. Pink Lady (Novice B) and Dr T. (Novice A) completed the course in 12'33"56 and 12'33"67 respectively to take 7th and 8th places. Pink Lady were also the second fastest non-A boat.

Full results are available.

Clare Novices' Regatta

Churchill's Men's Novice A crew won a very tight race against 1st & 3rd Trinity in the opening round. However, they could not match for eventual runners-up CCAT in round 2. Men's Novice B recorded good wins over Caius B and Robinson B in rounds 1 and 2. The third round clash with eventual Plate winners LMBC B was agonisingly close, due at least in part to a proliferation of errors from LMBC! Men's Novice C crew went down to Magdalene B in the first round.

Churchill's Women's Novice A crew easily beat Downing in the first round, and, despite a disastrous start in round 2, came from three lengths down to overhaul Lucy Cavendish. The third round contest against Clare was a thrilling encounter, with both crews evenly matched to the halfway point. Churchill then powered ahead and looked certain to take the win, but their progress was cruelly halted by a crab. The performance of Women's Novice B boat was, for Churchill, the highlight of the Regatta. They convinvingly defeated Homerton B, Queens' C and Jesus C in preliminary rounds on Thursday, and then edged 1st & 3rd B in a tough semi-final. The final against LMBC B was a great race, but Maggie ran out winners.

Full results are available.

Head of the River Fours

The Men's First IV completed the course in 20'00"10 to take 172nd place out of the 550 crews competing. This time was 6th fastest of the 40 crews in the S3+A division, and was just 9.5 seconds slower than the top Cambridge College crew, Caius I. Sadly, the crew was delayed badly by an accident midway through the race. The Men's Second IV finished in 20'40"59, 273rd overall and 25th in S3+A. The top S3+A crew was CULRC's Granta III, while the top 4+ overall was Leander IV.

The Women's First IV finished 464th overall, and in 16th of the 22 WS3+A crews, with a time of 22'55"45. The leading women's 4+ crew overall was Queen's Tower/Marlow, while the top WS3+A crew was from OUWBC.

Detailed results are available.

Cambridge Winter Head

The Men's Second VIII were the fastest crew in their division to the Plough, and came in 4th in a time of 10'04". Girton won the division in 9'48".

The Women's Second VIII earned 7th place in the women's N8+ division with a time of 12'14". Caius (11'22") was the top crew in the division.

Men's Novice A finished in 6th place in 12'19", despite a spectacular mishap that cost them time near the end of the race. Men's Novice C clocked in at 13'27", taking 17th place overall and 5th among lower beginners' boats. Men's Novice B completed the course in 13'47" to grab 20th place. LMBC blitzed the field to win in 10'53".

The Women's "Dr T." crew were 5th overall and 3rd fastest Cambridge crew in the women's beginners' category with a time of 14'42". The Women's "Pink Lady" crew's time of 15'20" earned 12th place overall and 3rd among Novice B boats. Westminster School's time of 14'09" was the best for a women's beginners crew.

Detailed results are available.

University IVs

In a thrilling opening round contest in the Men's 4+ 1st Division, Churchill Men's First IV beat LMBC I by 0.5 seconds! Unfortunately the regulations require a margin of over 1 second so a re-row was required. Second time around, LMBC edged out Churchill by 4 seconds in another tight race.

The Men's Second IV were drawn against 1st & 3rd I in the opening round, and lost by 34 seconds.

The Women's First IV also raced 1st & 3rd in the first round, and were beaten by 20 seconds.

Results are available at this site.

Michaelmas Cocktails

Cambridge Autumn Head

Churchill Men's First IV earned third place overall with their time of 10'24", just 6" slower than the winners. The Second IV finished in 11'29", placing 22nd overall and 6th in the Novice division.

The Women's First IV took 7th overall, 5th among Cambridge Colleges and 3rd in the Novice division.

Full results are available at this site.

Novices' Day

More novice photographs are available from Rob Thatcher's web site.

Boat Club Squash

Success for Churchill in pairs racing

Results:

• Semi-finalists (S2), Peterborough Summer Regatta (16 August, 500 m)
• Winners (N), 99's Regatta (13 September, 600 m)
• Winners (N), Boston Marathon (20 September, 31 miles)
  Winning time of 4:31'07" broke the old N 2- course record by 35 minutes!
• Winners (S4), St Neot's Head (11 October, 2600 m)