Cambridge University Boat Club took to the Tideway today for Trial Eights, in what proved to be difficult conditions. With fierce winds, a strong stream and gusts of more than 25mph, athletes were tested to their limits.
Each squad divided into two evenly matched crews for what will be the club’s only chance to race the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake before the main event.
This key marker in the Boat Race calendar is used by coaches to assess how well athletes cope with the pressure and conditions of the Tideway, before facing off against Oxford in March.
Women’s Openweight
The openweight women began the day, heading out in treacherous conditions.
Each crew from the women’s squad – openweight and lightweight – was named after one of the four good lions from The Lion King, an ode to Cambridge’s symbol.
In this opening bout, Mufasa took on Sarabi, coxed by Hannah Murphy and James Trotman respectively.
A bumpy start caused significant problems for both crews with waves billowing over the sides of the hull. Once both crews had passed Craven Cottage and made their way towards Hammersmith Bridge, Team Mufasa began to take the lead and made the most of the better conditions, whilst team Sarabi seemed more lethargic after overworking in the waves.
Mufasa built on this lead gently through the rest of the course with some skilled steering from Hannah Murphy keeping her crew in the clean water and allowing them to row more comfortably.
Mufasa finished victorious with a 2.5 length lead.
President Jenna Armstrong said: “That was a wild ride, for all the athletes involved today. For a lot of us, that’s the worst we’ve ever seen the Tideway.”
But she insisted that, despite not being in the winning crew herself, it was a productive day.
“I think both crews managed to find a nice rhythm once we got out of the bad conditions and it ended up being a pretty fun race.”
Women’s Lightweight
Following on from the tight contest of the openweight women, the mixed lightweight/openweight Nala and Simba crews took to the stage.
Whilst sat on the start line, Simba reported to umpires that the boat had taken on a significant amount of water, but after speaking to officials, the crew elected to start the race without attempting to empty the boat.
After the flag fell, it was Nala that took a decisive lead within the first 800m, opening up clear water over their opposition as they neared Fulham football ground.
It was at this stage, however, that the umpires decided to stop the race, awarding the win to Nala, but electing re-start the race after emptying Simba’s shell in order to ensure both crews could extract value from the day.
After the restart, it was Nala once again that took an early lead which they continued to build on through the race. At the finish line, Nala led by several lengths.
Speaking on the decision to abandon the first race and line the crews up for a second attempt, Maddy Jackson – the lightweight women’s Vice President – told us that the aim of trial eights was to give the crews and coxes the chance to race side-by-side. As such, Nala’s early lead nullified Cambridge’s primary aim, so the decision was made to re-start.
Kate Crowley, Simba cox, said: “We had some of the worst conditions I’ve ever seen on the Tideway off the start.
“I was really impressed by my crew’s ability to power through to the line. I’m really proud of them for getting across the line. It was a tough one.”
Men’s Lightweight
The lightweight men, preparing for the 50th Lightweight Men’s Boat Race, were named after two influential figures in lightweight Cambridge rowing: Richard Gates and Bob Greatorex.
But, in a shocking turn of events, one of the crews began to sink just 300m into the course after taking on too much water.
No-one was injured and both crews made it back safely, but the race was abandoned for safety reasons.
The race may potentially be re-rowed on Thursday.
Men’s Openweight
After the near-sinking of their lightweight counterparts, it was the turn of the openweight men to face off against one another, this time named after Hansel McDonald and Derek Zoolander.
Having seen the fate that befell their lightweight colleagues, the race was started just beyond Craven Cottage, about 800m into the course, meaning the crews avoided the worst condition the Tideway had to offer.
Both crews rowed cleanly through the whole race, but with the help of some precise steering from cox Ed Bracey, Zoolander was able to snatch victory by 2.5 lengths.
Men’s President, Seb Benzecry, was happy with the day’s work, despite being in the losing crew.
He said: “It was a really good taste of what the Tideway can be like on a bad day.
“My crew suffered a bit more – we’re a bit less experienced – but we put together a pretty good piece and one we’re proud of. We’ve made some good steps in the past couple of weeks.”
Summary
All crews had a tough day with tricky conditions, but coxes and athletes alike will draw important lessons from their races and return to Ely to re-focus in time for the new year.
If they use this opportunity well, they will be prepared for similar conditions and familiarity and strategy can make or break a Boat Race, as has been seen countless times.
Oxford take the the water on Friday for their run down the hallowed course.
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