Having had a few more weeks of training since the Head to Head race that started the term off, W1 arrived to the boathouse in good spirits, ready for a solid race against Churchill in the Pembroke Regatta. The paddle down was promising, and the crew remained positive and cheerful as we marshalled at the P&E, then by the railway bridge. There was some excitement as other boats raced past us, but as we paddled up to the railway bridge the focus was back in the boat, and we had an encouraging practice start.
The nerves started to kick in as we lined up next to Churchill at the beginning of the reach – as a relatively inexperienced crew this was the first time a few of us had raced alongside a crew, but we were determined not to let that faze us.
After what seemed like a very quick line up, we were off. Our wind strokes were not as quick as they might have been, but we settled into a solid rhythm, which with lots of encouragement to sit up and “put some spring in our step” from the banks we managed to maintain all the way. However, try as we might, it was not quite enough, as Churchill inched away from us up the Reach to finish just over a length ahead of us.
Although ultimately a disappointing result, the whole crew came away from the race with plenty of individual points to work on, safe in the knowledge that we can do better – and that we will do better- when it comes to Bumps.
Lily Stratford, stroke