Queens’ College Record 2009 were able to regain composure for a well-executed push for the line at Putney. They had completed the course in 19 minutes 32 seconds, which placed them fourth out of the Cambridge colleges. After that performance, they knew the Mays were going to be special. In the Mays, the 1st VIII under exceptional coaching particularly from Peter Taylor, Chris Dalley and Nick Barsley rose three places from 8th to 5th on the River. The crew had had great fun in training and especially enjoyed their day’s racing in the sunshine at the Poplar Regatta in the London Docklands. On the first day M1 bumped Churchill on entry into Grassy. On day two M1 were cruelly denied the option of bumping St Catharine’s as Trinity Hall caught a boat-stopping crab on First Post Reach and were bumped. Day three saw M1 bumping the plummeting Trinity Hall crew on the exit of Ditton Corner. Day four was an incredible race. Queens’ stayed calm and confidently ground the hard fighting St Catharine’s crew down, implementing their ‘kill’ move at the railway bridge, getting the bump as they left the cover of the bridge. This experienced crew widely regarded the May term of 2008 as being their most enjoyable term of rowing in Cambridge. Queens’ Men will start the 2009 May Bumps within reach of the Headship. M2 had a much more uncomfortable, yet ultimately successful May Bumps. Starting as sandwich boat they passed the four days under a cloud of relentless pain as they had to complete seven consecutive row-overs until they finally bumped St Catharine’s 2 on their second race of the last day. M3 (coxed by M1’s stroke – Charlie Adams) couldn’t have started their Bumps campaign in a better way. On hearing the cannon they simply rowed past St Catharine’s 3 who had not even pushed-off and were awarded the bump. Days two and three were lost in the tedium of row-overs, while day four provided much more excitement. In their first race of the day M3 bumped Emmanuel 3, they then rowed-over as sandwich boat after a hard-fought battle with Darwin. QCBC’s extensive success in 2008 can easily be attributed to the massive effort, dedication, and perseverance of Men’s Captain Max Beverton and President George Disney who created a squad atmosphere of such determination, respect and enjoyment that we could not have failed to succeed. The Michaelmas Term started out very well for the men of QCBC. There were enough novices to put out five boats and the attendance of senior rowers in this part of the year was higher than anyone can remember. The Senior QCBC men’s squad greatly increased their strength-in-depth over the Term, which finished very successfully as both the First and Second men’s novice boats put in storming performances in Fairbairns (the firsts coming in a fantastic 4th position), and the Seniors were able to enter both a IV and an VIII into the senior division. Despite some unfortunate illnesses blighting some rowers, the VIII, under outstanding coxing by Ian Wright, actually overtook an Oxford college VIII on the inside of Grassy! Queens’ women had a good start to 2008 with W1 coming 5th in the Newnham Short Course. The squad continued to improve and W2 made it to the semi-final of Pembroke Regatta. W1 breezed past Fitzwilliam but were beaten by Gonville and Caius. A very motivated W1 started Lent Bumps with
Basketball
Following an impressive return to the League in 2007–2008, the Basketball Club looked to build on its success into the 2008–2009 season. After securing promotion and a strong Cuppers run, Queens’ merged with Christ’s College to field two very strong teams – one in each Division. The Firsts have had mixed success, winning when everyone is available, but suffering a couple of defeats when key players were missing. The Seconds, captained by Tal Grant, are having a great time, but not winning too much as they find their feet in competitive basketball! Both teams are hopeful of securing a good Cuppers result and also challenging for the League titles!
Boat Club
The Lent Term 2008 was less successful for the Men’s Boat Club than it should have been, but it still saw some great performances and was a vital learning experience for the whole squad. The senior squad was bolstered by a generous contingent of ‘new’ seniors, which went on to create the core of a very strong 2nd boat. However, the 1st boat was dogged by illness and injury throughout the Term and was subject to many changes as a result. Come the Bumps, however, both crews were raring to race and in with a fighting chance. M1 was being chased by the quickest crew on the river on day one – Fitzwilliam – while they were chasing King’s. The start was solid, and they immediately started taking ground out of King’s, however the Fitz crew was too much to contend with, and M1 conceded on entry to the Gut. On day 2, in an epic battle, M1 lost ground to Christ’s off the start and they quickly closed to half a length, but, under the excellent guidance of Cox George Disney, Queens’ executed a push to quell Christ’s advance and it worked. From Ditton to the railway bridge, Christ’s were held at a distance ranging from a canvas to half a length. Unfortunately days three and four were less successful. Conditions had worsened with high winds creating difficult going. M1 was bumped by Christ’s and then by Magdalene. M2 produced some great performances. On day one, they rowed over twice as the M2/M3 sandwich, then on day two they were unfortunately bumped. The third day culminated in a row-over for M2 who came very close to bumping CCAT ahead. On the final day they succeeded in bumping CCAT after some fantastic coxing by Emma Williams. M3 had a very successful start bumping Downing III, but spent the rest of Bumps completing consecutive sets of double row-overs as the sandwich boat. The term was rounded off in style when M1 travelled to the tideway to compete in the Head Of the River Race. Arriving in London the night before and staying with some old Boars the crew arrived at Putney bright eyed and bushy tailed with nothing to lose and a line to draw under the term’s rowing. After negotiating the classic carnage of the row-up to the start M1 span and calmly took the rating up, the first half of the course being some of the best rowing the crew had ever experienced. They quickly overtook a weak University of Nottingham crew and become locked in a battle with UCL II. Thanks to the knowledge and experience of Ian Wright, the crew reacted and
JET Photographic, The Cambridge Studio, by kind permission
The First Boat about to bump – the Mays 2008.
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