May Bumps 2009

Reports:

1st Men
5th in division 1

Wednesday
Bumped Trinity Hall

Thursday
Bumped St Cats

Friday
Bumped Queens’

Saturday
Bumped Downing

1st Women

HEAD OF THE RIVER

Wednesday
Rowed over HEAD

After a solid paddle down to the start we spun on station ready to test ourselves against the other crews, after not racing against them since Champs Head on the 17th May.

We had a good start, opening up the distance to 2 lengths through the first corner. With encouragement from the bank we continued to press away from Jesus, opening up the distance still further down the Plough Reach and onto Ditton corner. At the railings we were ahead by approximately 4 lengths, and continued to send it away through the finish.

Marianne Butler

Thursday
Rowed Over HEAD

Decent paddle down to the start, with a bit of a delay due to the men’s division being set off later. Had one start on the Plough Reach going down, to spin on station just after the 4 minute gun.

Had a good start, found our rhythm and started to push away around the corners, got on to the Reach and kept it solid on the way home.

Marianne Butler

Friday
Rowed Over HEAD

Saturday
Rowed Over HEAD

2nd Men

5th in division 3
Wednesday
Bumped by Selwyn II

Thursday
Bumped by FaT III

Friday
Bumped by Christ’s II

Saturday
Rowed Over

2nd Women

3rd in division 2
Wednesday
Bumped Darwin

After a powerful start, Pembroke were able to instantly take half a length out of Darwin and continued a strong push through to first post corner by which point they were within half a length. It was a shame that after such a strong, clean first minute that Pembroke’s technique then began to sag which allowed Darwin to hold at 10ft. Pembroke continued to push hard though and eventually Darwin gave way allowing Pembroke to overlap them coming into grassy corner. After a considerable period of overlap, even when it appeared Pembroke’s bow was about to mount Darwin, concession was finally given a little way into Plough reach.

Adrain Potter
Thursday
Rowed Over

Like yesterday, Pembroke led with a very strong start and quickly took distance out of Peterhouse. By first post corner, they had closed to within half a length. It was disappointing that once again Pembroke’s technique began to slip and unlike Darwin, Peterhouse were able to persevere. By the long reach Peterhouse had extended their lead back to station and continued to push away slowly until the finish. Darwin regained some ground they lost at the start of the race but never made any significant gains.

Adrian Potter
Friday
Rowed Over

Saturday
Rowed Over

3rd Men

9th in division 4
Wednesday
Bumped by Caius III

Thursday
Rowed Over

Friday
Bumped Tit Hall III

Saturday
Bumped Clare III

3rd Women

10th in division 3
Wednesday
Bumped ARU II

Pembroke’s Champagne boat looked absolutely stunning on the first day of bumps. A combination of psychedelic zebra print leggings with hand decorated t-shirts and visors is certainly what every boat should aspire to. After many envious comments and a few odd looks on the row down we were ready to race.

We went off the start with a bang, giving it everything we had. This was unfortunate for ARU II as their cox had steered them straight into the bank. We really hit them with a fair bit of force during the lengthens. Thankfully none of them were injured and once we untangled ourselves we were able to celebrate, arguably, one of the quickest bumps in the history of PCBC.

All the crew look forward to a more challenging row tomorrow.

Catrin Petty
Thursday
Bumped Darwin II

Day two and the Champagne boat was once again decked out in all their finery. And not only that but their bank party, in an impressive display of solidarity, were also dressed to impress. The boat was expecting a harder row than the day and we weren’t disappointed. As our cox put it so fittingly, “Wow, we had to row a power 10 and everything!”

The boat is looking forward to an exciting race tomorrow.

Catrin Petty
Friday
Bumped Selwyn II

Saturday
Bumped Jesus III

4th Men

14th in division 5
Wednesday
Bumped by Homerton II

Thursday
Bumped by Jesus V

Friday
Bumped by Sidney Sussex III

Saturday
Bumped by Kings III

5th Men

2nd in division 6
Wednesday
Bumped ARU III

Powering off the start, we rapidly gained on ARU and within a few minutes we had three whistles, and definitely no threat from the Girton crew behind us. In order to please the massive crowds that had gathered on the bank this Wednesday lunchtime, we maintained this position (deliberately obviously) for quite some time, leaving the helpless ARU crew to try and struggle away. We soon tired of this facade and upped the power once more, giving a good bump on Plough Reach.

Alan Day
Thursday
Rowed Over

Today was looking to be a tough row. With only 2 boats in front of us, it was likely we would have to row over, something which did not faze us as this was what all the hard training was for. This was confirmed as Downing IV bumped out Queens’ IV in about a minute, leaving the river open for us to enjoy a leisurely row upstream.

Coming onto the Reach with around 4 boat lengths on ARU, we dropped the rating to refresh our strength should we need it. Still pushing them away (despite their coach’s encouragement ‘They’re rating lower than you!’) we saw them defeated by Hughes Hall II under the Railway Bridge, leaving us the only boat left still in the race as we cruised over the finish line

Alan Day
Friday
Bumped Queens’ IV

This was looking to be an easy bump to make up for the long row yesterday. Gaining one whistle off the start, we continued to gain on them as the double-overbumping Hughes Hall crew slowed down behind us were pushed back into keeping station by our speed. Having three whistles and then overlap as we came into Grassy, a nice line by Tim secured the bump (or in fact, several bumps).

Alan Day
Saturday
Rowed Over