Race Reports, Lent 98

• Winter Training Camps
• Head to Head
• Winter League
• Henley 4s Head
• Newnham Short Course
• Robinson Head
• Pembroke Regatta
• Bedford Head
• Lent Bumps
• Cardinals

Winter Training Camps 1997/98

On 7-11 December 1997 and 8 - 12 January 1998, KCBC held two training camps at Peterborough rowing lake. Training three units a day, men and women, novices and senior rowers participated with the aim of improving fitness and technical ability, and to select the men's and women's first and lower boats.

Cambridge Head to Head

On 24 January 1998, the Men's 1st VIII entered the Cambridge Head to Head, an event raced over the bumps course upstream and downstream with a short break for spinning. As this was a head for eights, most other Colleges also took the opportunity to enter. KCBC, racing in arguably a less-than-maximum line-up, finished a very satisfying tenth overall, and third out of the 2nd division entries.

The result was particularly encouraging as it represented a massive improvement on the Fairbairn 1997 result of the KCBC scratch eight, and because some much higher-placed boats in the Lents like Queen's, Fitz, Christs and Peterhouse were beaten.

The results were:

1. 1st & 3rd, 17:56 (1st division boat)
2. Caius, 18:19 (1st)
3. LMBC, 18:22 (1st)
4. Jesus, 18:41 (1st)
5. Clare, 18:43 (2nd)
6. Emma, 18:43 (1st)
7. 1st & 3rd II, 18:50 (2nd)
8. Pembroke, 18:52 (1st)
9. Sidney, 19:04 (1st)
10. Kings, 19:07 (2nd)
11. Fitz, 19:10 (1st)
12. Queens, 19:12 (1st)
13. LMBC II, 19:19 (2nd)
14. Darwin, 19:21 (1st)
15. Peterhouse, 19:24 (1st)
16. Christs, 19:29 (1st)
17. Queens II, 19:51 (2nd)
etc..

Cambrige Winter League

Victory in the pairs was never in doubt as no other crews had entered that event. In the end it was Ben Beaumont and Matthias Hammer, who had the fastest time of 10:59, followed by Colin Rickman and Simon Freytag, who in only their second outing were remarkably close to the winners in a time of 11:16. Third were star rowers Adrian Stoll and Russell Moore in their first ever appearance in a pair, clocking in at 17:49 and narrowly escaping a swim just 50 yards from the finish line.

A KCBC clean-sweep was ensured when, later in the second division, the coxed four of John Thompson, Simon Freytag, Matt Garner, Matthias Hammer, and cox Suranga Chandratillake, won their event in 10:47 against somewhat stiffer opposition from Sudbury University, Oundle School, Nene College, Northampton and Rob Roy B.C.

Henley Fours Head

The men's squad sent a coxed four to the Henley Fours Head on 7 February, a 3000m race starting at Hambledon lock and covering the whole course of the better-known Henley Royal Regatta. More than 300 fours from all over Britain raced, and King's entered the novice fours event. A good start, but a nervous second half resulted in a time of 13:17. This was good enough to win the event with 15 seconds distance to the second-placed crew from Worcester, and comfortably beating opponents from Bath and Reading Universities and several school crews.

The King's crew were John Thompson (Capt.), Simon Freytag, Matt Garner, Matthias Hammer, and cox Claire Kwan.

Newnham Regatta

On 8 February the women's 1st and 2nd VIIIs raced at Newnham Regatta on the Cam. It was the first race race of the term for both crews and the strong head wind made it even harder.

The first crew had a gutsy row although the lack of experience became evident during the race as technique was forgotten. However, our efforts were rewarded with a creditable 4th place. The second boat in their race recovered well after a few initial mishaps coming 6th amongst much more experienced crews.

Ceri Jones (Women's Captain).

Robinson Head

The Robinson Head is a  race over the bumps course organised annually by Robinson College and held a few weeks before the Lent Bumps as a test for many College crews. This year the race was held on 6 February and KCBC entered the Men's 1st and 2nd VIIIs.

2nd VIII:
The second eight must be mentioned first, since their result was the better of the two in relative terms. A time of 10:05 placed them 16th overall and 5th out of all 2nd eights entered. For an almost novice crew, this is an excellent result, and ranks among the best of a KCBC 2nd eight in recent years.

1st VIII:
The first eight had the chance of making a real impact, but missed it, because three of the crew were out of action and had to be replaced by subs from the 2nd eight just returning from their race. A time of 09:48 placed them 11th overall, but really out of contention for one of the top slots.

Full results:

Pembroke Regatta

On 14 February the men's 1st and 2nd VIIIs raced at Pembroke Regatta on the Cam. This regatta is a knock-out side-by-side event organised by Pembroke College and raced over 1200 m from the top of the Long Reach to Peter's Posts.

The first eight were drawn against LMBC I. After a good start King's were in the lead by a canvas for the first 300 metres of the race, but then slightly missed their racing line and clashed with LMBC's blades. LMBC were less upset by the clash and continued on their line, whilst King's had to veer off, momentarily losing their stride. This was enough for LMBC to take the lead just before they had the advantage of the corner around the Railway Bridge. LMBC then pushed around the corner and opened up the lead to just under a length. With LMBC having taken the initiative, King's slumped and allowed LMBC to win easily by one and a half lengths.

The second eight were drawn against Sidney I and after a good race of pressuring Sidney all the way, lost by only just under a length. Considering that Sidney are four divisions higher than King's II in the Lents, this was a solid achievement. King's II now enter the Lents with high hopes.

Bedford Head

On 15 February KCBC entered the 2000 m Bedford Head. The women's first boat raced in the College Invitation Eights (of non-first division eights), as did the men in the equivalent men's event. In addition the men entered a coxed four into the Novice Coxed Fours event.

In a classic clean-sweep, KCBC won all the events it had entered. The women were pleased with their performance, especially because their time put them only two seconds behind LMBC I (who are much higher up and in the first Lent division). The men won their event in 6:18 min and by one second over LMBC II, who only a week earlier had beaten a depleted King's I by over 20 seconds in the Robinson Head. The best result of the day came in the coxed fours which King's won in 7:01 min and with a comfortable 18 seconds margin. Notwithstanding the fact that King's had entered the novice event, their overall time was the fastest coxed four of the day, including the Senior 1, 2 and 3 events!

Lent Bumps 1998

For the first time in bumps history the Lents this year are being held over five consecutive days from 24 - 28 February. In response to pressure from the University authorities, CUCBC decided to hold all weekday races after 2pm. To achieve this they discontinued the fifth men's division and the fourth women's division, and extended racing to five days, but with each division racing on only four days as usual.

See this separate page for bumps reports.

Cardinals Regatta

The Cardinals Regatta is an end-of-term fun regatta organised by St. Catz. Boats are raced side-by-side in a knock-out competition from the top of the Long Reach to the Railway Bridge.  King's entered a tub pair and three mixed fours. The tub pair of Matt Garner, Jack Wasey and cox Colin Rickman reached the final, but were beaten by Downing. The "King's A" mixed four of Ceri Jones, Katie Fleming, Ben Beaumont, Matthias Hammer and cox Suranga Chandratillake easily reached the final and beat a much-fancied (mainly by themselves) LMBC / Pembroke composite to take the winner's prize.