The banter boat of MECBC took to the river once again, the pain of the gruelling row over of the previous day still fresh in their minds. Queen’s III had got lucky and bumped out quickly by crashing into a spoon barge on the previous day – and we were now chasing said spoon barge. A bump was on the horizon – we could feel it; taste it.
The banter boat lived up to their reputation with a pep talk from coach Pete, who had finished his exams that day, that consisted of, “Row vigorously but delicately…. I’m really really drunk”. Pete then assured me that I could “Cox that Christina… You cox that! Yeah!” With a strong row up and more banter over marshalling – including more words of wisdom from Pete (“Nail time, girls”) the start was upon us. Tension in the air, poised and ready the third boat of MECBC started on the gun with a distinct lack of banter, which was replaced tenacity. However; the tenacity was unnecessary as the spoon barge that was Hughes/Lucy Cavendish preceded their reputation by having an unexpected meeting with the bank alongside and untimely crab. The rest needs no description – a quick few easy strokes allowed for a bump by overtaking.
Pete assured us the next day that he could remember “absolutely nothing” about the bump.
Christina Larkin, cox, W3