Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2012 The Three of Harts Newsletter of Jesus College Boat Club
Last year’s newsletter saw cox Tom Baker predicting that More blades for the girls of JCBC 2011/12 ‘promises to be a year where gains are cemented and Novices full of enthusiasm and success the club continues to grow’, and JCBC certainly did not disap- point. From success in novice regattas to considerable gains The highs and lows of being a blue made in the men’s competitions, to the women’s boat club’s remarkable three sets of blades, it’s certainly been an eventful year!
2012 AT A GLANCE W1 Bump to Blades... Torpids M1 +2 M2 -3 M3 0 W1 -2 W2 +6 W3 +5 Summer Eights M1 -2 This year’s Second Quad demonstrated the commitment S u m m e r and resilience of the crew, which was to come M2 +6 ...Again! Eights saw in useful once Eights kicked off! JCBC’s W1 continue their stunning record of M3 -4 After a dramatic first day, in which we only a bump every single day in the competition just managed to bump St Hilda’s before the since 2009 and finishing the week in style by M4 +2 race was klaxoned, the second day brought bumping Exeter to win blades. Having lost with it what was described by President W1 +4 five of the Torpids crew to finals or injury, David McMullan as ‘the most epic race I’ve we knew this was to be a difficult term, made seen’. After successfully pushing off Hilda’s, W2 -4 harder by the 17 miserable days of red flag we found ourselves slowly closing on which ruled out river outings. However, Mansfield down the entire length of the JCBC total: +10 spurred on by the success of the lower boats course, finally achieving a bump just before in Torpids and the determination to continue & 3 blades! their bow crossed the line – evidence that all our excellent Eights record, the crew rallied together and got stuck into land training. 6am (Continued on page 2) jogs in University Parks and yoga sessions in
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break, both made possible by the hard work Oxford rowing history this has ever of Tom Saunders, meant that when we did occurred. M1 meanwhile narrowly missed eventually make it out onto the water our out on going up three at Torpids after crews were really able to hit the ground holding a quarter length of overlap on running. The continued support of the Queen’s College for much of the course, but Cadwallader Trust meanwhile has proved nonetheless managed to make short work of invaluable, especially during a period of Exeter to end the week at plus two. The intense financial pressure for the Club. From Vikings finally continued their unstoppable a more rowing-oriented perspective in turn, rise up the bumps charts to secure a third some solid IWL results meant that the crews men’s fixed division slot at Summer Eights. were able to enter into Hilary Term with Despite some challenges along the way (Continued from page 1) some optimism. The prospect of chasing old therefore, 2012 undoubtedly goes down as rivals Exeter at both Torpids and Eights another successful year for JCBC – the those extra runs and ergs had been worth it! finally made every minute of training that biggest, noisiest, and (at least I like to think) Friday’s bump on Linacre was a little more little bit more worthwhile and really spurred most fun rowing club in Oxford! straightforward, with the crew done and the squad on! dusted just after Donnington Bridge. Alex Hannington With this in mind, heading into Torpids and Saturday dawned, and the nerves gradually Eights our crews faced stiff challenges ahead built throughout the day, with all members but also had a great deal to be confident Novice Success slightly on edge as we cheered on the other Michaelmas’ novice rowing got off to a promising JCBC boats. With the roars from the start, with enough new recruits to fill two boats boathouse emphasising that Jesus was on for each sex. For the women, novice coxes Lucy our side, we set off for the start line past the and Beth took to coxing like a boat to water, enormous crowds on the riverbank. Exeter quickly shouting their crews into shape, whilst the kindly spared us the bother of a hard race by oddest addition to the men’s squad was 6’3” ex- rower Jonny Woodward (below) in the coxing conveniently steering into the bank off the seat. As the deadline for Christ Church regatta start, making our final bump of the week the loomed and crews were fixed, gentle paddles and easiest by far! Without having had to break a balancing exercises gave way to racing starts and sweat, we were able to enjoy every moment fierce sprints. of the row back to the boathouse, with huge The regatta itself brought huge improvements on grins on all nine faces. about. This is something which was largely last year’s results, with Men’s Novice B beating reflected in the results that the crews went Lowri Ifor Univ to progress to the second round, and on to achieve - some of which were very Women’s Novice A reaching well into the final Men’s Captain Alex pleasing, others which highlighted areas for day of competition, finally being knocked out in improvement. On the whole however there the quarter finals. A truly fantastic effort and the Hannington reports are a number of results that deserve special best novice result in memory, despite cox Lucy mention. Our first days of Torpids and losing her voice and depending on Lemsip! on the Year Eights in particular were some of the most The term’s rowing was made a pleasure by the successful that we’ve ever had as a club, with dedication of all the novices, and the high number Looking back over the past two terms, 2012 collective tallies for all crews of plus six of keen, fit young rowers bodes well for future has undoubtedly been a challenging year for being recorded both times. M2 achieved the years. Oxford rowing. Be it as a result of flooding, incredible feat of scoring a triple over-bump Oli Bentley & Ellie Kaminski ice, or a certain man in a wetsuit, it would be on Lincoln M2 – only the second time in fair to say that very little has in fact gone to plan. Against this backdrop of chaos all around however we have continued to be very lucky as a club in terms of having a tremendous amount of support on our side and other factors weighing in our favour. A highly successful -1st week training camp at Thames Rowing Club in January followed by another at Wallingford RC over the Easter
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W2 bump into Torpids fixed divisions in style After weeks of unpredictable weather, the week of Rowing On came, and after our last outing before the race, we braved the cold to give the lovely Lady North a good scrub. Rowing On: The day of Rowing On we felt confident, and this feeling was not unfounded: we had a good row and were pleased to qualify 2nd fastest out of the 34 crews, only 4.5 seconds off of Lincoln II and comfortably ahead of the Jesus finalists’ boat. Day 1: After our pre-Torpids dinner was ‘klaxoned’ (evacuated due to fire alarm) and W2 en route to victory, accompanied by the W3 finalists’ crew, who also won Blades the wet, windy weather seemed to not be in our favour, we had a rough, nervous start. Day 3: When LMH II, who we were back to the boathouse where there were Nevertheless, we still bumped Teddy Hall II chasing, caught Balliol III, Beth’s quick cheers and a bit of food awaiting us. But not before the Gut! One day down! thinking saw us steering wide to avoid too much, as we had another race to prepare hitting them, causing Charlie to catch a for – breaking into the fixed divisions! Day 2: Nicer weather! We set off to bump spectacular rigger-bending crab and It was, as Mr. Mirfield said, “icing on the Green Templeton II, a crew in many ways Jeannique to fall off her seat. Thankfully, we cake”. For the first time all Torpids, we got it all back together and absolutely rowed past the first few bunglines, starting beasted it under the bridge, steering toward past the Isis Tavern. Two hard pushes saw Balliol III, who conceded before the Gut. us bumping LMH II well before the bridge; Three days down! they immediately went on to bump Christ Church II. It was time for a triumphant row Day 4: Bright, shining sun. We were on for back to the boathouse for drinks, cake, and blades, and very nervous! But we were photos! chasing Balliol II, who had already been bumped out of the fixed divisions by LMH We ended the week up 6, at 11th in Division II. Despite the fact that Therese was already 4, with a perfect Torpids record. It was a similar to our own, and only 1 second slower bleeding at the start, it was another fantastic term, a fantastic bunch of girls, and in Rowing On. But we had learned from the “textbook” bump, catching Balliol just past an absolute pleasure to have been a part of! previous day, catching them just past Donny Donny Bridge, where members of W1 were Bridge in a “textbook” bump and quickly watching. Having secured our blades -- Jeannique Darby & Therese Graversen, clearing the racing line. Two days down! along with W3’s finalists boat -- we rowed W2 Captains
M2 make a valiant Torpids effort
Every M2 crew in the long history of rowing at less lucky and were bumped by Lincoln, and on Jesus College has at some point, with days three and four we were bumped again. On determination and belief in their eyes, whispered all days though we put in our all - on the final the words, ‘blades; this year might just be our days were simply being chased by bigger crews. year’. And we were no exception. We dared to Despite the disruption to the crew, with a dream that this might be the Torpids where it all different sub on each day of racing, we came together for a Jesus M2 crew. After a performed the best we could. We didn’t get the promising start, it turned out that we were no Torpids we had hoped for given all the training exception, finishing with the words ‘Ah well! We we put in, but it’s great for JCBC that we have a tried’ as we put the QE2 back onto the rack. new cohort of committed and keen rowers After overcoming the problem of last-minute coming through. Thanks must go to all crew injuries, M2 were ready to race in the freshly members for their superb dedication, Tom our washed QE2. We managed a spectacular bump coach, and also to Chris, Luke and Sam for against Hertford M2 (the first for many members subbing-in during Torpids week. As we return of the crew) leading to cries of joy the men’s for a new year of rowing at Jesus, I can only boat club rarely hears. Thanks must go here to hope that next Hilary’s M2 too will be Christian Shepherd, our sub, who pretty much whispering: ‘this year might just be our year’. strolled up, got a bump, and strolled home in Guy Pearson, Men’s VC textbook fashion. On the second day we were 3 Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2012 @jesusboatclub
what counted. This was the only thing that Trialling for the Blues counted, the only thing that Anna Rowbotham shares her mattered. I had given unforgettable experience everything to this crew, not only my time - but quite literally my blood, sweat and tears – and now there was nothing more for me to do but will them on with every stroke as I followed them in the umpire’s launch, sitting meters away from Olympic legend Matthew Pinsent. What next for It was immediately clear who had taken the lead off the start JCBC? and after a burst the Oxford girls The first big project on the managed to pull ahead of Cambridge horizon sees 10 rowers aim to row so that by around the 1000m mark they had from Jesus Oxford to Jesus Cambridge in Trialling for the Oxford women’s Blue Boat: gained clear water. Cambridge no longer September, in order to raise money for brain without a doubt, the best (if not hardest) stood a chance, and after 6mins and 48 injury charity Headway, a never-before experience of my life. 11 sessions a week - seconds we crossed the finish line victorious. attempted feat that covers 165 miles. including 16k rows (5am starts!), 10k runs, For me, blue or no blue, in the boat or not, Come termtime, we will attempt to capitalize 20k ergs, and 90 minute spinning sessions. as the official named reserve, at that moment on recent success by attracting numerous Against all odds, and thanks to a few right then, nothing could stop me being new novices and improving on last year’s successful seat races, I was told the news I happier than I had ever been. excellent Christ Church Regatta. never thought I’d hear: I had made it. The We will continue to improve through our I’d like to say a special thank you to all those final Eight. The Oxford Blue Boat. I had work at training camps on the Tideway, at Wallingford, and on the Isis, and we hope to never wanted something more in my life, so at Jesus College and JCBC that have believed enter both men’s and women’s crews in it came as quite a blow to find out three in me – I could not have done it without several external regattas, including the Head weeks before the big day that I had been your support. And for anyone thinking of trialling: just do it – sheer perseverance and of the River races in London. dropped and replaced, beaten by only a Following the success of recent years, we positive attitude can get you a long way. My matter of seconds. After 6 long, hard can only endeavour to train hard to continue only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner and months of sacrifices and dedication, the this trend, all the while retaining the fun and dream had been shattered. However, it it’s an experience that I will carry with me enthusiastic environment that drew us all to turned out, as the one official reserve for the for the rest of my life. JCBC in the first place. Here’s to 2012/13! boat I was needed more than ever! With Anna Rowbotham recurrent illness affecting a few crew members, I was called on to sub for most outings even up until the final weekend. I even rowed in what will be written into the club’s history books as the first ever official lightweight reserve race. Finally, the day of the Henley Boat Races arrived. Whatever had come before, this was
JCBC at Henley Royal Regatta 2012
Thank you! The Cadwallader Trust and Jesus College for your continued support; Peter Mirfield, Amanda Jones and Tom Saunders, for always being on hand with advice; James Marsden, Tom Springbett and all our other coaches for your time and patience; Woody, the best boatman on the Isis; the outgoing and incoming committees; and last but not least, all the rowers and coxes, for your dedication and commit- ment – it is you that make JCBC what it is today. Lowri Ifor, JCBC President 4