Christ’s College Boat Club Lent 2023 Newsletter
Christ’sCollegeBoatClubhashadanotherexcitingand busy term. Last term’s novices have settled into their new boats and training programes, taking every opportunity to race ahead of Bumps.Huge progress has been made by everyone within the club, whether they have been rowing for a term or two years! Despite the very cold early mornings and the less than ideal weather, everyone has turned up to outings and given their all for their crew. Finally, whilst CCBC had difficult Bumps Campaign, all crews should be incredibly proud of their commitment. Next stop –Mays!
This Lent edition of the CCBC Newsletter contains:
- A joint Captain’s Report from our Captain of Boats, Georgia, and our Men’s Captain, Alex, who comment on the many races and results from this term
- A race report from Newnham Head
- A race report from Pembroke Regatta
- A fundraising notice
- Featurespace’s ‘Featured Space’, a segment from our wonderful sponsors sharing some exciting graduate programmes and internships!
- A separate Bumps Report will also be sent out alongside this Edition of the Newsletter.
If any of you wish to share rowing news or stories with the rest of the CCBC community, you are more than welcome to contact me to be featured in the next edition.
Many thanks,
Alix (Publicity Officer)aced3@cam.ac.uk
Facebook: @christsbc
Instagram: @christscollegeboatclub
LinkedIn: @christscollegeboatclub
Website: christscollegeboatclub.co.uk
Joint Captain’s Report
Fresh from the escapades of our training camp to Hungary, we were once again back in Cambridge for the start of another term. Lent brings many new experiences for our novices, when we start to see them settling into our CCBC routines, and truly becoming part of the family. With record numbers this year, and the majority of our club coming from our Michaelmas intake, there was the excitement of first bumps racing for many. With novices now a part of every crew at CCBC, they have gone from strength to strength, demonstrating true grit and determination.
Some of you may have been missing our monthly updates this term, and I’m very sorry for this. Earlier in the year, I had a difficult time with family bereavement and took a step back from captaincy. I am incredibly grateful to our Men’s Captain, Alex Holmes, (and far too many others to name) for jumping in and taking on my responsibilities whilst I was away. Frankly, Alex has been the true Captain of Boats this term - and we toasted him as such at BCD! Through this difficult experience, I’ve witnessed the sheer kindness of our members and the abundance of friendship that surrounds me at CCBC. With everything settling back into place, you can look forward to the return of our monthly updates, and a Spring summary to fill in the blanks.
Thetelephonecampaigniswell underwayandthisyear, wehaveadedicatedteamofboatiescalling.I’vespoken to some truly wonderful members of our CCBC community, and will hold your stories to heart whenever I’m on the Cam. These conversations have demonstrated the depth of our love for the club. It is clear that Christ’s - and indeed, our lovely blue boathouse -remains close wherever weareintheworld. Thank you for every donation, every story and each moment of your time - I am truly blessed to be our Captain of Boats this year.
Women’s Side
This season as a captain has truly been one of sisterhood, and I’m incredibly grateful to the women who stepped in to look after our squad when I took a step back. With my absence from captain’s duties presentingapotential fordisruption,it waseasytothink the Women’s Side pyramid might start crumbling. The reality couldn’t have been further from the truth. The truth of a pyramid is that its strength lies in its foundations. My own boat had a challenging term, with two injured dropouts from W1 and a constant rotation of (brilliant and very good) subs. With a mixed bag of results, we’ve already settled into an easter erg programme to make progress on our blades from last Mays - the group chat is buzzing with international schedules to coordinate our UT2s over zoom. Ever the team, we have one core rule - nobody ergs alone.
I am incredibly proud of our W2 who have shown great commitment to training, and come on great strides in technique and power. I am reliably informed by Kate that the entire crew completed every erg on their training plan - and filled in the spreadsheet! With exceptionally troublesome conditions at Lent Bumps, and only two rowers with prior bumps experience, they sadly went down two. Given the opportunity (if a full week of racing had happened), I firmly believe they would have got the hang of it and easily reclaimed their original table position. There is some real talent in this boat, and I’m excited to see who might climb the ranks after benchmarking next term. A special mention must go to W2 cox, Mariam, who steered both W1 and W2 the fortnight before bumps (while W1’s Felix was away in India). Mariam took it on with absolute poise and grace, taking every opportunity for improvement - we all hope for great things with this young woman!
While we started out with three full and thriving VIIIs on each side, our W3 also took a hit on numbers and became a IV for the rest of term. Whilst initially disheartening, we were lucky that Kate was their coach. As you’d expect, she made lemonade from lemons, teaching all four ladies to scull this term with a weekly quad outing. It’s this ingenuity and willingness to adapt that so impresses me from our Women’s Side, and in saying this I am reminded of a story shared at the recent Sports Alumni Dinner. When women first joined Christ’s, there was great pressure to uphold the various women’s sports teams, for fear of not being taken seriously or losing college support. When one team was down a player - be it netball, hockey or lacrosse - other women would make up thenumbers to keepthe training going. Indeed, many people may have joined CCBC in this way. If our Women’s side found ourselves in a similar position today, I have no doubt they would rise to the challenge.
Men’s Side
Lent term has been an exciting time for the Men’s side of the club, with us fielding three full crews and lots to be working on with M1 fighting for its spot in Division 1, M2 attempting to continue its success from last Lent Bumps and M3 hoping to qualify for bumps. Despite a somewhat shakyset of results onall three fronts -we’ve worked hard and had a very enjoyable term, with a highlysuccessfultrainingcampandthethreadingofour recent intake into the club.
The club relies on the hard work of not just Georgia, myself and the committee but our hardworking coaches and crew captains. I would like to give a big thanks to the superstars of this term. M2’s Captain, Tom, for whipping a crew full of newly made seniors into shape with his cadet background…
While M2 didn’t end up being the fastest in their division, no other crew can compete with their speedy boat cleaning and putting away talent.
Despite this,M2 did get a taste of victorywith a great win against Selwyn M2 during Pembroke Regatta. M3 unfortunately did not qualify for bumps - bad weather conditions, many yellow flags and at times questionable commitment from individuals (necessitating subs) gave them a difficult time. M3s captain Luke has done a fantastic job of overcoming these challenges and ensuring the crew got out on the water each week.
Finally, we have the crew of my heart - M1. We’ve really gone from strength to strength this term, and despite cold early mornings everyday, it has been such an amazing feeling to be part of a team committedto the mission.Adaptingour trainingto fit thelightweight crew that we are,andthe mental work that we’ve put in with a weekly 2 Km test on top of our usual training - we truly have become a crew that can punch above our weight. Our coach Ed has been fundamental in raising our game and keeping us the talk of the towpath with our technical progression.
Christ’s Armada
Onwards and upwards!
Best Water Wishes,
Georgia (Captain of Boats and Women’s Captain) and Alex (Men’s Captain)
Newnham Head
M2 were excited for their first race of term as they pushed off. Winding up to pace on the approach to Newnham bridge, they settled into a powerful rate.The race itself, although a time trial, was still eventful. While taking corners on a tight line, witnessed Corpus Christi M1 Stern-pair-deep into the reeds near grassy, later learning from their cox that this was caused by the rudder breaking, not due to incompetence (which is what M2 firmly believed as they left them in their wake). M2 pushed through down the reach and passed the finish line with a respectable 7:55, placing them in the middle of the M2 times.This race, being early in the termprovidedagoodbenchmarkfromwhichtheycould improve, on their way to Pembroke Regatta, and later, Lent Bumps.
W2
With a crew composed of 6rowers who hadnovicedthe previous term, Newnham head was an opportunity to assess W2’s progress half way through the term. As a 2k race, it enabled W2 to gauge their ability to tackle the upcoming bumps course. With a rolling start they hit a high pace and settled into their rhythm quickly, closing the gap between them and Cantabs. However as a more experienced and composed crew, they managed to regain their starting gap. In the distance, Lucy Cavendish were being hotly persued by Hughes Hall, but neither were making any progress on W2. A power ten was demanded just at the railway bridge and they pushed through to the finish line. Setting a time of 9:12, Christ’s W2 beat several other W2s and W3s and also took away multiple improvements to work on the following weeks.
M1
Having had a chance to get some pre-term rowing in as a crew during our training camp in Gyor, M1 made steady progress focussing heavily on their rhythm and maintainingahighrateinthefirstweeksoftermleading up to Newnham Head. Spurred on by arguably the BNOC (Biggest Name On the Cam) William Connolley, who very kindly agreed to record the race for us (Check out his recording using this Youtube link: https://youtu.be/6BnLaZRNP0w), M1 had a smooth technical race finishing 11th overall with a time of 07:06. This was a brilliant achievement for their first race back, coming 12 seconds faster than Fitz M1 who would be chasing them in the upcoming Lent Bumps!
W1
WithW1short ofcrewmembers,and their pre-arranged bumps subs unavailable, they faced Newnham Head with a very special guest. They were incredibly fortunate to be joined by Kate’s pair partner, Sarah, in our 3 seat. After a beautiful paddle up to Baitsbite,there was no stopping Fillipe the Filippi, once the claxon sounded under the motorway bridge. They settled into their steady rhythm and made ground on the crew in front, almost due for an overtake down the reach. W1 finished 6th of Women’s First Boats, with a solid 8:04 for the 2km race. In the standings, they finished ahead of some crews they face in Mays - do I smell bumps?
Pembroke Regatta
W2
Just two weeks until bumps, the pressure was on to nail those standing starts and tidy pieces for Pembroke regatta. W2’s first race was against Peterhouse W2. Although they were a bigger crew physically, W2 had beat their time in Newnham head so were somewhat confident. With a clean and powerful start, W2 immediately gained half a length on them. They extended their lead by over a length as they reached the railway bridge, making it to the quarter finals With a quick spin and barely a moment to take a breath, the girls were up against their next opponent: Caius W2. Despite another successful start, Caius were slowing creeping away from them as they progressed along the course. At the railway bridge, stroke almost caught a crab and stern pair momentarily stopped. They then joined back in, determined to make Cauis work for their win. However, there was no blame amongst the crew and they were all proud of what they had achieved (and glad to escape the ominous grey skies and threatening showers).
M3
Despite the early morning start, spirits were high for M3’s first race, facing Girton M2 in the first round. Followinganexcellentstart,whilstGirtonwereunfazed by the harsh headwind sweeping down the Cam, M3 suffered several crabs. Given less than ideal rowing conditions,GirtonstillgreetedM3atthefinishlinewith well-deserved cheers! As one of the M3 rowers said: “All in all, we raced well and made it back to college in time for brunch… a win-win if you ask me!”
M2
The ever-improving M2 crew were also keen to get racing once more at Pemmy Regs, facing Selwyn M2 Despite the inhospitable gusty conditions that troubled both boats, M2 got off to one of their better starts but somepoorcontrol fromSelwynsawthemdriftintotheir racing line within the first few strokes and cause a collision of blades. Unfortunately, a restart was called for and this time Selwyn capitalised on a better start to quickly build a length on M2 However, M2 didn’t let them get away, by building pressure just as the Selwyn stroke fell off his seat near the railway bridge. M2 rowed triumphantly past Selwyn and protected a lead of nearly two boat lengths into the finish.
They were then up against LMBC M2 (positioned above Christ's M1 in the Lent Bumps order). LMBC showed their might right off the start. M2 displayed a resilient effort despitethesizeable margin (5-6 lengths).
Fundraising – support for CCBC
Maintenance of our fleet has been able to continue thanks to the generosity of our alumni. We are aiming to raise over £100,000 over the next 5 years to purchase new replacement boats for CCBC. A new eight and two new fours are needed (these are currently over 25 years old). 30 alumni giving £20 per month for 5 years will enable us to purchase a new eight. CCBC also welcomes more than just current student rowers. Alumni crews compete regularly in the Fairbairns, and also donate to CCBC.
Please consider pledging your support, by donating using the links or QR Codes below.
M1
This time last year, Alex (Captain of M2 at the time) showcased his forward thinking Captain decision making skills when M2 opted to go to the pub rather than Marshal for Bembroke Regatta, 2022. ‘ALL 8 TO THE PUB!). The regatta was eventually cancelled due to the horrific weather caused by storm Eunice. This year, weather for Pembroke Regatta was calm and pleasant and M1 were eager to put their start sequence to the test in the close run up to Lents. They were up against Caius M1 - a crew who came second in Newnham Head and in the running for Head of the River. Whilst they knew their chances of progressing into the Regatta’s second round were slim, M1 still wished to give Caius a run for their money. A fast start up to pace kept their bows parallel for the first 250 metres, Caius began to pull ahead beyond this point. Not deterred, M1 kept the composure and crossed the finish line with only around one and a half boat lengths behind.
Link for one-off card donation: https://bit.ly/CCBCCAF
Link for direct debit donation: https://bit.ly/CCBCdirectdebit
If you would like further information please email ccbcboats@gmail.com