May Bumps 2011 Round-Up

May Bumps 2011 Round-Up

Having written the W1 race reports for the Bumps so far, I couldn’t
help but try to get a final word in now that it’s all over.

It’s a May Bumps for the record books for the Murray Edwards College
Boat Club: eighteen boaties making up two crews, two coaches, a whole
lot of sweets, eight bumps, two row overs, a division jump and two
blades. An epic week.

The work and dedication of the past year, and especially the last
term, have paid off in an impressive way. Not only did we achieve
double blades, we received word today that MECBC has won the Pegasus
Cup, awarded to the most successful boat club in the May Bumps,
beating out 31 other colleges. The strong performances of both our
boats were prominently noted in the media coverage of the Bumps,
bringing long awaited and well-deserved recognition to our club.

On a personal note, it’s difficult to describe what this week has
meant to me, what this term of rowing has meant to me. Joining the
boat club is the best decision I’ve made since I got to Cambridge last
October. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I’m so grateful
to have been a part of it.

Thank you to all those who came out to the river on the often cloudy
and rainy days of last week to cheer us on. Thank you also for all
the well wishes and congratulations that have followed our amazing
win.

A huge thank you to W2’s coach, Watson, and W1’s coach, Mark, for
their dedication and guidance, without which we would not be
celebrating such a victory.

I want to thank and congratulate all the members of W2, Chloe,
Eleanor, Jeny, Pauline, Amy, Natalie, Katrin, Nidhi and Sally-Anne,
who bounced back from spoons and a broken boat in Lent Bumps to
topping their division and moving up to the next one while powering
their way through to blades in the Mays. A phenomenal job by any
standards.

Last, but never ever least, I want to thank my fellow crew members in
W1, Akiko, Izzi, Ying, Gina, Marina, Liz, Natalie, Holly and Eve, who
subbed in for us on the last day. Rowing with you this term has been
an intense learning experience, one which I have enjoyed more than I
can say. There was never any ego or friction in the boat, just a
genuine interest in making ourselves into the best crew we possibly
could. We have a lot to be proud of.

MECBC is a boat club on the rise. We’ve set an incredibly strong base
on which to build in the coming years, and I look forward to the
progress ahead. See you on the river in Michealmas.

Cheers and boatie love,

Reana
Murray Edwards W1
Lower Boats Captain 2011-2012

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