Reana Maier, W1, seat 5
Day 3 of Bumps, and after yesterday’s gut-wrenching row-over, W1 is facing the unpleasant prospect of chasing Peterhouse W1 again. The day is bright and sunny, however, perfect for our bumping shades. Re-rows in both the M4 and W3 division cause delays, and we spend an unusual amount of time marshalling on the reach. Before finally heading up to the starting stations, we got the pleasant task of giving a raucous cheer to our W2 as they row past, decked out in greenery signalling their first bump of the week.
The row up has a decent lift and good cover, and we’re feeling nervous but determined. We know what we need to do, but we also know that Peterhouse isn’t going to make it easy. When the starting gun goes, we make a good start, then try to settle into the long, powerful strokes that will inexorably close the gap. The row today is more spirited, more controlled and more committed than yesterday’s. We slowly gain on them, getting single whistles, then two, then three, even continuous whistles signalling overlap, but each time we squeeze close, they manage to slip away. By the time we’re on the long reach closing in on the railway bridge, we’ve had continuous whistles three times, but haven’t caught them. We chase them closely all the way to the finish line for another heartbreaking row over. The crew is frustrated and angry, but we know Peterhouse had to fight tooth and nail with everything they had to stay those few inches ahead of us. I have a feeling this is a race that’s going to stick in our minds for a long time.
Lent Bumps Day 3 W2
Gaby Rimmer, W2, 5.
What a glorious day for W2. The sun was out and our spirits were high, everyone keen to get some bumping action after two days of tiring row overs. Chasing Clare Hall and being chased by Anglia Ruskin we set off. We pushed hard and strong and took down Clare Hall just after the motorway bridge. First bump ever and it felt good! We may have been the cause of Clare Hall's boat getting stuck in a marshy bank but nothing could bring our happiness levels down as we rowed back to the boathouse with all our greenery, singing out ABBA, Queen and S Club 7 tunes. Bring on Hughes Hall tomorrow!
Lent Bumps Day 2 W2
Christina, W2 Cox
Bit grey and cloudy but no rain, and not much wind!
Start went really well, but boat ahead bumped before we had a chance. Really good, solid race, pity we didn’t bump and rowed over!
Will hopefully be bumping Clare Hall tomorrow!!
Start went really well, but boat ahead bumped before we had a chance. Really good, solid race, pity we didn’t bump and rowed over!
Will hopefully be bumping Clare Hall tomorrow!!
Lent Bumps day 2 W1
Georgie Field, W1, Cox
W1 were excited for the second day of bumps, and as it was only my second bumps race I had that feeling of nervous excitement as we rowed down to the start (in our awesome matching sunglasses 😉 ). We were chasing Peterhouse in the race to claim the top spot of the division. The row down was strong and we were getting some nice cover. We did two practice starts on the way down, one technical and one with power to get ourselves ready for those all important first few strokes off the gun.
We pulled in at our station filled with excitement and anticipation- and a slight sugar high caused by copious amounts of wine gums! We heard the one minute gun and prepared to be pushed out. When the final gun fired I dropped the bung and we were off! The start was looking strong and we gained some ground on Peterhouse and coming onto the long reach had three whistles on them. Unfortunately the dirty water and Peterhouse’s strong will got the better of us and we rowed over, to fight for that top spot another day.
As always I praise Octopussy’s beautiful steering capabilities and secretly hope that through some act of God the sun will come out so that we actually have justification for the sunglasses! Tomorrow is looking up- we are all fired up and ready to finish off Peterhouse and get into that first division! Remember girls, sit tall and lets show them what we are made of!! MECBC- WELL HARD!
As always I praise Octopussy’s beautiful steering capabilities and secretly hope that through some act of God the sun will come out so that we actually have justification for the sunglasses! Tomorrow is looking up- we are all fired up and ready to finish off Peterhouse and get into that first division! Remember girls, sit tall and lets show them what we are made of!! MECBC- WELL HARD!
Lent Bumps Day 1 W2
Hannah Grealish, W2, 3
The row down was tense but confident as we were all excited if not slightly anxious about our first day of bumps and what on earth was going to happen to us! Weather was mild but grey although this didn’t dampen our spirits one bit.
When the cannon let off we jumped into a strong start and it wasn’t long before we could hear the whistles going from the bank as we gained on Hughes Hall II and we were all pushing our hardest (as can be seen from some beautiful photos)! Unfortunately, despite being so close to bumping we lost momentum after catching a crab and fell behind slightly. However, despite rowing flat out and tiring slightly we managed to pick it up just before the Plough and gave a final push to catch up with Hughes Hall again but unfortunately not quite bumping them.
Needless to say, we were all thoroughly shattered after an epic row over and ready for Reana’s scrumptious ginger snaps. Highlight of the day was definitely Watson’s attempt at coxing us back to the P&E, which proved surprisingly inspirational and highly entertaining.
Tomorrow Hughes Hall are going down… BOOM…and we shall adorn ourselves in lots of greenery. 😀 😀 D
Lent Bumps Day 1 W1
Amy Crow, W1, 3
On the row down we were all feeling pretty confident as we had had a strong outing on the weekend and were brandishing our ‘bumping shades’ with pride. After a good couple of practice starts and hearing the low-down from Mark on our competition it was just a case of keeping our nerve. Although Girton had a fast start, our length and power saw us gradually close the gap between us until coming out of grassy where we succeeded in catching them (after bow took a cheeky look). After adorning the boat in greenery we proceeded home triumphant ready to face the possibility of joining the W1 division on day 2!
Winter Head 2 Head 2012 – W1 Race Report
It’s barely a week into the term, and MECBC is already back racing on the Cam. Yesterday was City of Cambridge Rowing Club’s annual Winter Head 2 Head event, a 2x2km timed race from the railway bridge to the motorway bridge and back. While we’re always excited for a race, there was a little extra anticipation this time – it was our first race in our brand new, and as yet unnamed, boat. Set to race in the first division of the day, we arrived at the boathouse bright and early to find a very windswept river awaiting us.
Georgie called for our rolling start just before the railway bridge, and as soon as we were onto the reach, it became obvious that we were in for a real fight. Though the wind was in our favour in the first leg, it made the water on the reach, where there’s no protection from the wind, extremely choppy. Our blades hit the crests of the waves as we squared, making the boat difficult to balance and giving us all the kind of epic backsplash normally only seen from Marina, our Captain of Boats. We were soaked within a minute. Once off the reach, however, and into a bit more shelter, we managed to level things out a little and get some decent lift going, though still not up to the level of finesse and power that we had accomplished by the end of last term.
After completing the first leg, we spun and marshalled again, glad of the rest, but not wanting to wait too long before heading off on the second leg – the wind was chilly, and our damp kit wasn’t helping. Mark warned that, with the wind against us, we’d really have to push hard and push together on the way back, especially once we got back onto the reach. The mood in the boat was focused and determined as we rowed up to the starting line.
The rolling start to begin the second leg was more stable, and it quickly became clear that we were moving the boat along with more power and control than we’d had in the first leg. Counterintuitive though it may be, we almost always row better in a headwind. In between her usual calls, Georgie gave us the added incentive of closing the gap on the King’s boat in front of us. As we rounded Ditton corner, we all sat up in preparation for rowing the reach, knowing the wind would be strongest there. The combination of the headwind and the narrowing gap between us and King’s brought out a palpable fighting spirit in the boat, and we pushed hard toward the railway bridge. As we drew near the finish line, from behind me, I heard Ola shout, “I can hear them!”, meaning that she could hear the King’s boat’s catches. We were really close now. A last set of ten power strokes brought us under the bridge and across the finish line, less than two lengths behind King’s. Our first race of term and our first race in the new boat was finished.
The results posted later that afternoon showed that we had completed the first leg of the race with a time of 7:48 and the second leg with a time of 8:49, for a combined time of 16:37, placing us 1st in Mays Division 2 (a full 40 seconds faster than any other Division 2 women’s boat) and 6th of the college W1’s. We also managed to beat half a dozen Mays Division 1 boats. A respectable result, though, as always, we have much to improve upon before our next fight on the Cam. The prize for topping our division turned out to be glass tankards which we happily used to hold our celebratory drinks later that night.
Reana Maier
MECBC W1
Lower Boats Captain 2011-2012
MECBC Illustrated Coxing Guide
MECBC Illustrated Coxing Guide
The definitive guide to coxing!
Schedule for this week
Do check the schedule and ask if anything is not clear (e.g. conflicts between google calendar and emails).
Day 4 of May Bumps 2011 – W1 Race Report
Day 4 of May Bumps 2011 and Bumps Round-Up – W1 Race Report
It’s Saturday, the last day of Bumps. It’s been an amazing week; both
our boats are on course for blades. Just one more bump each, and our
boat club will have a perfect record. No pressure. The weather is undecided today, cloudy then sunny, a sprinkle of rain
that moves quickly on. As the crew warms up, we try to listen to the
radio for news of our second boat’s progress, but a mixture of poor
reception and the noise of the ergs means we miss the crucial update.
We get the boat out and are preparing to push off, when we finally get
the word. They bumped! Blades for W2! They’re beaming as we pass
them on the river, decked out in greenery, and we can’t help giving
them a raucous cheer. Now, it’s all up to us. By the time we’re on our way up to the
starting stations, the weather has decided which way it’s going.
Unfortunately, that way is a steadily increasing rain. Today we
marshall under the motorway bridge which gives us some protection from
the rain, but it also means we’re right next to the cannons. The four
minute warning reverberates off the concrete, and I’m getting really
nervous. Jesus II is our target today, and we’re expecting this to be
our most difficult race so far. One minute cannon. Twisty stomach.
Rechecks. The rain has stopped. Push out. BOOM. We draw out from under the bridge, and our cox, Akiko, calls
for a big push on the legs after the start sequence. It feels as
though the first whistle is forever in coming, but once it does, the
second and third are not far behind. As with yesterday and the day
before, we don’t need to make it past first post corner before we’ve
caught them. We clear the river, and it starts to sink in. Day four
and bump four. We’ve done it – blades! We adorn ourselves in foliage
once again and break out our boat club flag for the victory row home.
More people line the bank than previously in the week, and our
greenery and flag draw cheers and well done’s not only from our
friends in the crowd. When we get back to the boathouse, champagne, crew photos and the
traditional swim in the Cam follows. We even managed to throw our
coach in. Sucker. The celebrations will continue tonight and
tomorrow morning at our Bumps Breakfast. I think we deserve it.
our boats are on course for blades. Just one more bump each, and our
boat club will have a perfect record. No pressure. The weather is undecided today, cloudy then sunny, a sprinkle of rain
that moves quickly on. As the crew warms up, we try to listen to the
radio for news of our second boat’s progress, but a mixture of poor
reception and the noise of the ergs means we miss the crucial update.
We get the boat out and are preparing to push off, when we finally get
the word. They bumped! Blades for W2! They’re beaming as we pass
them on the river, decked out in greenery, and we can’t help giving
them a raucous cheer. Now, it’s all up to us. By the time we’re on our way up to the
starting stations, the weather has decided which way it’s going.
Unfortunately, that way is a steadily increasing rain. Today we
marshall under the motorway bridge which gives us some protection from
the rain, but it also means we’re right next to the cannons. The four
minute warning reverberates off the concrete, and I’m getting really
nervous. Jesus II is our target today, and we’re expecting this to be
our most difficult race so far. One minute cannon. Twisty stomach.
Rechecks. The rain has stopped. Push out. BOOM. We draw out from under the bridge, and our cox, Akiko, calls
for a big push on the legs after the start sequence. It feels as
though the first whistle is forever in coming, but once it does, the
second and third are not far behind. As with yesterday and the day
before, we don’t need to make it past first post corner before we’ve
caught them. We clear the river, and it starts to sink in. Day four
and bump four. We’ve done it – blades! We adorn ourselves in foliage
once again and break out our boat club flag for the victory row home.
More people line the bank than previously in the week, and our
greenery and flag draw cheers and well done’s not only from our
friends in the crowd. When we get back to the boathouse, champagne, crew photos and the
traditional swim in the Cam follows. We even managed to throw our
coach in. Sucker. The celebrations will continue tonight and
tomorrow morning at our Bumps Breakfast. I think we deserve it.