Results and reports by Event

Greg Brunt reports:

Having fuelled up heavily in our Soreen taste test at crew dinner the night before, M1 set out on Saturday knowing they had a reputation to uphold. With decent results in the last few races there were rumours that other crews were scared of our unidentifiable power (source: Ferdi). After a solid paddle down to the start and a slightly chaotic marshalling we were off. A good roll-up lead us into our best start yet, as we brought the rate up to 38 and accelerated down towards first post. Having settled into our race rhythm we cruised round first post and grassy corners with some excellent steering from Stefan. As we hit the reach, the gusty wind slowed us down a bit before we got back into the rhythm of things and brought the rate up with the railway bridge in sight. We ended up in 4th place, cutting four seconds off our time from the second leg of Head2Head. Overall, we were very pleased with the effort and once again celebrated in Spoons, with Guinness courtesy of Gripper.

Uploaded Friday 17th February, 10:47

Jennifer Weston reports:

A lovely sunny morning greeted W1 who arrived early at the boat house to take on the race. Once everyone had woken up we were on the way down to the start at the lock. Gripper’s advice: “go off like fartlek and see how far you get”. After a slightly chilly wait marshalling we were off under the bridge with a strong first push up and into the corners. Despite Qing’s excellent calls and Gripper’s encouragement, we were all tiring as we approached the reach and the BIG 60. Pushing through and in Gripper’s words “emptying the tank,” we made our way down the reach, crossing the finish line in a very respectable time of 8:15.

Uploaded Friday 17th February, 10:53

On Saturday the 5th of February the M2 crew faced a big challenge in the form of Newnham Head. A simple 2k time trial which saw us tearing it down the Cam from the Newnham bridge, past the Reach to the finish. Anyone lucky enough to have done this treacherous route will know it includes a series of sharp turns which can send even the most experienced of boats into the bank. Alas, M2 was not scared, we flew and died in a terrific display of average splits and exceptional spirit. Admittedly, we had our moments, losing our timing at one turn and lying to Grip about our rate. This, though, should not detract from the performance of the best crew in Clare, we came a respectable 8th but 1st in chat. Onwards and upwards!

Uploaded Tuesday 7th February, 12:41

Ella O’Loughlin reports:

With no race plan other than to follow our noses back to the krispy kreme doughnuts Emma had brought as our race cake, W2 happily splashed our way up the river to marshall. We decided to keep to a rate of 28 but, being the absolute beasts that we are, took that up to rate 30 and kept it there right down to the finish. Rumour has it ‘yeah Clare’ has never been heard so many times over the course of one race. W2 finished with a respectable time of 9.03, motivated in part by the need to keep our strokeseat warm as Rowan had decided to brave it without a base layer. We finished 9th out of 21 W2 crews, profoundly middling but with unrivalled enthusiasm and sex appeal.

Uploaded Friday 17th February, 10:51