The Neptunes May 2011 Volume 3 Issue 3

The Neptunes

WING YING CHOW

May 201 1 Volume 3, Issue 3

Where did Easter go?

Wing Ying Chow, Vice Captain 2010 – 2011

THERE HAS BEEN SO much rowing-related excitement over the holiday, it feels as if I have gone straight into Easter term without a break in between. The main event was of course the Henley Boat Races, in which Izzi and Tamara competed in the Blue Boat. Izzi will regale us with her tales of trialling in this issue of Neptunes.

The weekend before the HBR, MECBC travelled down to London for the Women's Eights Head of the River Race (WEHoRR), and had a lovely dinner with alumnae. Clare Briegal (1 981 ) in particular told us much about rowing on the Cam in the 80s, and has also written an article for this issue.

Having no excuse to get out of Cambridge as a grad student, I made the most of it by running sculling sessions for beginners.

We now have nine members with some inkling of how to make a boat move with two blades, two of whom are practising regularly. Of course, all this would not be possible without the generous donation of Two Fat Ladies by Florence Butler (2006). It is a great piece of equipment to have, so I would like to say thanks once again!

Do email us any ideas at boatclubcommittee@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk for an upcoming issue. Nothing is too short or too long!

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Report from

I T' S BEEN ANOTHER GREAT TERM FOR MECBC! An odd start to Lent term in the form of a delayed Fairbairns race for a scratch W1 crew, but it got everyone focussed and in the racing mood for the run up to Bumps.

Pembroke regatta provided the first chance for W1 to really show what they were made of, seeing off Selwyn W1 and Corpus W1 both with a 2 length lead. W1 put up a strong fight against Emma W1, but unfortunately were a canvas behind as Emma glided over the finish line. Well done W1, a round further than last year. Next year, into the semi-finals!

Next it was the turn of the lower boats to represent us in the 'Getting On' race. W3 had an excellent race, keeping focus even after watching the boat chasing them crash into a tree. Whilst they didn't make it into one of the 7 places available in the Lents, they should be very proud. W2 spent most of the race with a vast amount of open water behind them and slowly pushing onto Magdalene in front, earning them one of those precious 7 spaces.

On to the main event; Lent bumps. W2 began the week with an unfortunate day. Off the start they were clearly closing on Tit Hall ahead, before Peterhouse crashed allowing Tit Hall to bump out early, and Lucy Cavendish to bump us down.

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PLOY RADFORD

EVE BONNER

Eve Bonner Captain of Boats

In pulling in from this bump, Harald was badly damaged and has now lost his bows. This led to W2 needing to row the next 3 days in Winston, which they never really got used to, and although they improved every day, they ended the week with spoons. In light of this event, MECBC is now short of a boat, and we are currently looking for donations and corporate sponsorship in order to buy a replacement.

W1 had an entirely different week, bumping up before grassy for the first 3 days, and walking away with blades despite a close call on Saturday chasing Emma . Excellent work girls, well done!

The post-bumps weeks of Lent term were spent using the small boats to improve technique and experimenting with sculling and switching sides. W1, however, were busy making final preparations for WEHoRR, another successful race day, finishing 1 41 of over 300 boats. On to bigger and better next term everyone!

ALAN HENDRICK

Murray Edwards College Boat Club is proudly sponsored by Cambridge Consultants

Easter Term Races MECBC IS PLANNING ON entering these races for Easter 2011 . The most up-to-date events listing and race results can be found on our website.

30 April 2011 - City Head to Head (W1 ) 22 May 2011 - Champs Head (W1, W2) 1 0 June 2011 - Getting On Race (W3) 1 5–1 8 June 2011 - May Bumps (W1 , W2)

MARINA STEKETEE

ALEX MASSEY

MARINA STEKETEE

Pembroke Regatta W1 : beat Sidney Sussex W1 (round 1 ), beat Corpus W1 (round 2), knocked out by Emmanuel W1 (round 3) Lent Getting on Race W2 got on: starting at 1 5th in W3 Div W3: 5th 3rd VIII in GoR Lent Bumps W1 up 4 - blades W2 down 3 WEHoRR W1 1 41 /299 Detailed times and rankings can be found on the website http://www.srcf.ucam.org/mecbc/

HOLLY SMITH

Results Lent 2011

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Rowing in the 80s

Clare Briegal

CLARE BRIEGAL

O NE THING I DON ’T miss is those dreadful black towelling rowing shorts – although they did help you stay on your seat! Ah yes – rowing in the early 80’s – all Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Maggie in the Falklands - the days before lycra and 2k ergos. (I remember that CUBC had two ergos that we had a go on once!) Those were the days!

27 years ago (ahem!) we were training for the Mays in NHBC 1 st IV. (Yes we raced the May’s in fours up until and including 1 989.) 4 of the crew (3 rowers and cox) had narrowly missed going Head on the last day of the Mays in 1 983 so we were determined to catch Trinity Hall that year.

Our coaches, a hand picked team including New Hall’s own Nerys Hughes (NHBC/Blondie late 70’s) and other top coaches from around the university, had put together their cunning plan. I seem to remember a lot of 2 minute pieces in the long reach. ‘OK, racing start, 2 minutes then turn round and do it again’ 6 times – that was a favourite.

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CLARE BRIEGAL

Clare Briegal (nee Munford) Social Secretary 1 982-3 (and Head of the Mays 1 984)

Our training schedule for the 8 weeks of the summer term included 6 outings and 4 land training sessions per week. We used the gym at Fenners for a heavy weights and body weights circuit, then running for other sessions (not a favourite). Sprints along the river I seem to remember in the summer. We used to train on the river each afternoon, Monday to Saturday, much to the chagrin of my Biochemistry supervisor.

There we were all psyched up on the first night. We caught Trinity Hall at first post and rowed over head 3 nights. The Bumps Supper and boat burning was a great night – although I don’t think we were too popular with Valerie Pearl at the time and especially when she saw the damage to the Fellows Garden the following day.I still cherish the brass foot stretcher from the clinker 8 we burnt. Ah happy times!

NHBC I 1 984 Stroke Clare Munford 3 Caroline Ramsay 2 Anne Hodgson Bow Jo Busvine Cox Libbie Walker Coaches: Nerys Hughes, Mark Briegal, Richard Clayton & Ian Bernstein Bumped Trinity Hall 1, Won Fairbairns 1 983 and Novice Pennant at Fours Head 1 983.

Tales from Trialling

Izzi Boana-Evans Blue Boat 2011

EVE BONNER

JAMES APPLETON

I T HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY impressive year for Murray Edwards Boat Club; not only did the College’s first boat achieve its second consecutive set of blades during Lent Bumps, but 2011 also saw both myself and former Murray Edwards rower, Tamara Hornik, competing in that little known race against a certain rival university... the Oxford Cambridge Blues Boat Race.

I am so proud to have flown the flag for Murray Edwards at CUWBC, it has been an absolutely amazing experience. It was without doubt a tough challenge to gain that seat in the Blue Boat, a challenge consisting of 5.55am trips to train at Ely, bitterly cold training sessions and many, many 2km erg tests. Yet it was a challenge I relished and enjoyed thoroughly.

The defeat that we suffered at the hands of the Oxford Boat may have been disappointing, but we will not let it spoil our season. I look forward to the Easter Term ahead with both CUWBC and MECBC, and will put my best efforts into making sure both achieve the success they deserve.

EVE BONNER

FAYE SANDFORD

2nd year engineer Noviced in Michaelmas 2009

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MARINA STEKETEE

Socials

Eleanor Dickinson

LENT B UMPS D INNER WAS HELD in the Long Room on the evening of Sunday 6 March. The turnout was very impressive, with over 50 boaties filling two long tables—well done social secretaries!

Half the seats were occupied by Peterhouse and Selwyn men. In addition, we have our recent alumnae returning again to join us in celebrating blades for W1 (and sadly, 'footship' for W2).

The dinner provided a great opportunity to get to know our fellow boat dwellers, and of course make ample opportunity to reap vengeance for any of the pent-up rivalry between boats during bumps.

After the Dinner we proceeded to fill up the bar. There was an attempt to show the " RIP Harald" video, though sadly many technological challenges prevented a satisfactory playback.

Never mind, as the video is now on our website (under 'general' category) http://www.srcf.ucam.org/mecbc/2011 /03/ripharald-video/. Hopefully it will allow some of you to relive some fond memories of a boat who meant a great deal to us as a club, as both Gina and Reana’s heartfelt messages should convey.

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After much more socialising in the bar, the night ended in one Cambridge’s most popular club venues (though that isn’t saying much considering there are only four). For many people this wasn’t just a chance to socialise, it was also the first chance since the lead up to Lent Bumps to finally let their hair down again. This is probably most applicable to the MECBC girls, and the W2 coach Watson.

Overall, it was an extremely fun and welldeserved evening of much merriment, which aptly celebrated our continuing success as a boat club. W1 also had the opportunity to meet and dine with some alumnae and former members of NHBC while in London for WEHoRR, which proved to be a fun filled evening of journeying down memory lane Looking ahead for this term: all alumnae, their friends and family are warmly invited to our Bumps Breakfast which will be held on Sunday 1 9 June this year. While we do take entries on the door, it will be great if you can let us know you are likely to attend by Tuesday 7 June. Email the social secretaries on boatclub-socials@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk.

EVE BONNER

In case you can't tell, they're attempting to spell MECBC. Ola, in the front row, is supposed to represent the blades.

EVE BONNER

A trip to London for WEHoRR was topped off by a dinner with some our former rowers.

EVE BONNER

Reana's amazing culinary skills were amongst the highlights of bumps. The pie to the right was particulary delicious!

The Neptunes May 2011 by Murray Edwards College Boat Club is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Some rights reserved.

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