Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2013 The Three of Harts Newsletter of the Jesus College Boat Club

The blades rush continues for the girls. In a year wrought with such heavy rainfall that OURCs had to initiate the “Doom Flag”, Record breaking rainfall in Michelmas. JCBC has once again been proud to raise another group of surprisingly keen novices, Novices brimming with enthusiasm. manage some respectable men’s , and of course provide the regular women’s blades.

2013 AT A GLANCE Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Torpids M1 -1

W1 2 +5

M2 2 -2

W2 +4 Summer Eights M1 -1 No, it’s more blades! W1 +2 The women of JCBC have JCBC have begun to take for M2 0 continued their staggering run of granted. Despite not being W2 +1 form to bring two new sets of able to convert their Summer blades to the walls of the VIIIs performance into blades, M3 +1 boathouse. Despite the lack of they are now at their highest river time during Michaelmas and position since the year 2000 W3 +5 Hilary, the girls were able to and unbumped since 2009, 3 produce the kind of rowing we at congratulations ladies! JCBC total: +16 JCBC have begun to take for granted. Despite not being able to …And 2 blades! convert their Summer VIIIs performance into blades, they are now at their highest position since the year 2000 and unbumped since 2009, congratulations ladies! Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2013 @jesusboatclub

Men’s Captain Jon I realise I’ve been making it all sounds A new coach going into Hilary doom and gloom. However, we did get meant a refreshing new style of Carter Reports on some superb weather towards the end coaching. With his new drills came of the year, which allowed those still such brilliant motivational phrases the Year around to take up sculling (which I’d such as ‘cock on lads’ and recommend to anyone and everyone) ‘SMASH THEM!’. Sadly, the With Christchurch meadow and have a lovely time at Henley. weather from Michaelmas flooding twice and a staggering Overall a frustrating but entertaining continued into Hilary and after a eighty five days of red flag between year for JCBC. week of rowable water, the start of Michaelmas and the end By Jon Carter went red again. The crew for of Hilary, its safe to say that the Hilary contained 6 of last years 8s past year has been a wet one. crew. This continuity became OURCs even implemented a especially important because the “Doom Flag”. Luckily, this years poor river conditions continued new crop of freshers has been until 4 days before Torpids began. exceptionally keen. A very hectic 4 days, as you’d imagine from a crew that was Throughout the first two terms eager to get off the ergs. water time was unbelievably scarce, so any opportunity to get out was grabbed with both hands. M1 makes full use of Organisation of some sessions the ergs and shocks became very last minute. On occasion, I remember making Univ phone calls at 11pm at night before to tell the crew whether or not we Hilary terms training kicked off with were going ahead with the 6am both the men and women going to the start. Tideway for a training camp. In a

winter of freezing, wet conditions, we All of the Jesus crews were up The ditions on the Isis meant that fortunately (because no one likes against it going into Torpids the help of Tom Saunders in pulling yourself out of bed to get into because of the extra water time organizing Winter and Easter soggy lycra, unless your name is Oli that crews training off the Isis training camps became even more Bentley) managed to find a dry week gained. Some fantastic coxing invaluable. Following last year, the between the cold snaps. The camp was from fresher Tom Coles to men went to Thames Rowing Club Tom Springbett’s last week with us (he escape Univ (practically the same in January and Wallingford RC in has now moved on to coach at crew that is 4th in division one in April. In both cases the camps were Headington school) and with help of summer eights) and ruin their fantastically enjoyable and couldn’t Thames RC head coach Tony Larkman chances of blades, meant that have been run without the kind help was extremely informative and overall M1 finished on -1. ofThe alumni conditions putting onus up the for Isis the meant challenging. week.that the help of Tom Saunders in organizing Winter and Easter Itraining realise I’vecamps been became making even it all more soundsinvaluable. doom Following and gloom. last However, year, the wemen did went get someto Thames superb Rowing weather Club towardsin January the andend Wallingfordof the year, which RC in allowedApril. Inthose both still casesaround the to take camps up scullingwere fantastically (which I’d recommend enjoyable to and anyonecouldn’t and have everyone) been and run have without a lovelythe kind time help at Henley. of alumni putting us Overallup for thea frustrating week. but entertainingI realise I’ve year been for making JCBC. it all Bysounds Jon Carterdoom and gloom. However, we did get some superb weather towards the end of the year, which allowed those still Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2013 @jesusboatclub W1’s Extensive the weather during Hilary, and it was touch and go as to whether Land Training Pays Torpids 2013 would go ahead. We persevered with our land training,

Off and were fortunate enough to have The women of JCBC returned to 8 experienced rowers in W1 along Oxford filled with enthusiasm after with our cox, Lucy Harris, having last year's Summer Eights success. just returned from a term with the I'm happy to say that this OUBC women's squad. We were enthusiasm remained with us delighted to go up +5, win blades, throughout the year, despite one and are now the highest placed major setback; the weather. JCBC women's crew since 2001. finishing the race before Continuous rain throughout Longbridges! Michaelmas resulted in what seemed Our second race consisted of about like everlasting Red Flag, hence not 2 strokes after St Anne's crashed nearly enough rowing and FAR too magnificently into the bank. The many ergs. Luckily, we were able to third day was the race to watch join the men in London this year for though; after having overlap on the winter training camp, where we New College for too long, Holly were finally able to get some real Edwards at bow decided that she'd rowing in - many thanks to Tom had enough and took a hand off the As was expected, Trinity saw us and Will Saunders for all their help. blade, reached across and slapped lose a few rowers to work pressure, the stern of the New boat, resulting There was no great improvement in but we had some strong rowers in the bump we were all craving. from the Hilary W2 to choose The final day of Summer Eights from and we put together a very gave us another row over. We came decent 1st VIII. The rain also close to St Catherine's at the start of subsided, so we were finally able to the race which was frustrating, but form a few satisfactory blisters on such is the nature of bumps racing. our hands. Summer Eights came At least the crowd of supporters at around, and we rowed over on the the Jesus boathouse were able to see first day; an interesting experience us row past at race pace! for W1, who in recent years have become somewhat accustomed to By Isobel Ormiston

M2 got blades. Alas, it was not to be, M2 Seizes Exeter in as a disastrous start on the first day saw Merton M2 catch us before the Summer VIIIs gut. Our performance on the second We started the term knowing that this day was similar, and we watched in year was going to be a challenge. Not horror as Brasenose M2 stormed only had the previous year’s crew towards us. Fortunately for us, managed to climb up six places, but however, this horror turned to relief we started the term with seven novice as the Brasenose cox decided that freshers. However, under the expert this was a good time to get guidance of Tom Coles and the acquainted with a nearby tree. By day After the best start of the week we legendary Mike Parry, we were still three the beautiful sunshine of the gradually closed down the gap to confident we could do well. first two days had turned to wind Exeter on our way towards the gut, and rain, but having learnt from our Come race day we were all a little and with a final Herculean burst of apprehensive, but spurred on by our mistakes on the first two days, we strength we caught them going into managed to pull away from Lincoln victory over the Vikings in a race a Greenbanks, confirming Jesus as few days prior, we nevertheless for a row over, leaving us chasing the best of the Turl street colleges. Exeter for a gloriously sunny Eights thought this could be the year that Saturday. By Tom Coles

Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2013 @jesusboatclub

W2 Builds Towards the Fixed Divisions Things looked a little shaky at the start of Trinity term for W2. Only three crew members were left from the Torpids blades winning crew. With only four weeks of training A strong racing start on Friday gave available, and there having been a us overlap on Univ by just after Novices Get Wet! staggering 12 weeks of red flag since , and despite With six novice boats, 12 coaches, an the start of Michaelmas term, it was some desperate avoiding action from a combined expected 900+ hours of going to be difficult to pull anything the opposition and extremely strong training time Jesus’s novice rowers together. winds Jesus completed a textbook looked set for a fantastic season. Fortunately, several club members bump mid-way through the gut. This Alas. Red flag, red flag, red flag. returned after a few terms off, and a left us as sandwich boat for the Through the wind, rain and flooding crew with a good level of experience division above, facing our old enemy everyone showed incredible was formed. Training began in GTC II, who we once again failed to dedication, enthusiasm and earnest, and the newer members of catch. motivation of which we are all very the crew quickly began to pick up Saturday dawned, with the prospect proud. Almost every session over a the technical skills from the previous of an easy row over at the top of five week period was cancelled, members, whilst all round fitness division VI followed by a final crack leaving coxes and coaches improved. Outings at the same time at GTC II in the division above. We everywhere fearful of the impending as W1 were productive, and the crew completed the row over without any chaos. started to do some longer pieces and difficulty, and decided to really gun Somehow the freshers endured their find their rhythm. it off the start at Green Templeton, many early morning ergos and got on We were the fifth fastest crew in without going too crazy and with being told to “just imagine” rowing on, and filled with wrenching. After a horrible three what it feels like to be in a boat. Our confidence by our performance, we boat sandwich in which GTC six crews developed dramatically as were disappointed to discover that managed to get their opposition athletes throughout the six weeks of the crew placed in front of us in the despite Jesus getting very close to training, and got the basics of boat draw, who had been atrocious during them, W2 wound down and rowed technique despite having had such rowing on, had scratched, and that over with a very respectable +1 limited practice. result overall, despite what might we now faced the prospect of So the day of Christchurch came. chasing Green Templeton II (one of have been if we’d been dealt some better cards with the draw. And despite such limited water the four crews who were actually training the crews got ready to race. quicker than us) from bung line two By Jonathon Woodward After the chaos of the first few races, on Wednesday. Whilst we gave it our the ferocity of the wind and rain best shot, GTC held us level all the meant that even the Christchurch way over the course. regatta was cancelled. What a term; Frustratingly, GTC failed to bump most crews hadn’t even got the anyone else as sandwich boat at the chance to row! Despite all this the bottom of the division above, and Boat Club was thrilled to see so we were forced to repeat the many people wanting to get involved scenario on Thursday. Crucially and impressed by everyone’s though, GTC managed to bump as enthusiasm and the commitment. We the sandwich crew, leaving us Univ are sure it should have been a term II as prey for Friday. of great victory! By Charlie Smart

Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2013 @jesusboatclub

Women’s Captain to forgo snowy outings and instead stay in the boathouse with rowing Isobel Ormiston machines and fitness DVDs. The week of Torpids was sunny, as was Reports on the Year the majority of Trinity term, so both The first two terms this year proved Torpids and Summer Eights went difficult as we stayed firmly on dry ahead and we were reminded of how We started Torpids in fourth division land and awaited the day the flag exciting bumps races are. right behind Lincoln II and despite would drop. The novice crews in In general, the women have had a increasingly high spirits, steadily particular lost out due to even wonderful year. The total of all securing bumps, and lots of cake, our stricter rules for novice rowers and crews' bumps in Torpids and Eights way through Torpids was not without coxes, but we all hoped Christ combined have given us +16 worries; due to academic th Church Regatta might go ahead in 7 without any crews being bumped commitments we needed to find a week despite this. For safety reasons, which is a great achievement. More sub for two of our races at very short OURCs decided to change the importantly, however, we've notice. format to a head race instead of the welcomed some brilliant new rowers On the first day, Sophia Clark usual side-by-side excitement, which into the squad, kept up the fantastic stepped in and helped us get our very was understandable considering the JCBC attitude, and had one more first bump. average crew had probably had two year of enjoyable moments on the outings all term. Unfortunately, they river. The second day saw Exeter II get cancelled the event half an hour in bumped thoroughly by their Turl after the drizzling rain suddenly By Isobel Ormiston Street rivals -- first by Lincoln II and became torrential, and only one Jesus then by us -- before tumbling their boat rowed the course. I happened way down div 4 and well into div 5. to sub into this boat at the last On the third day of Torpids we had a minute when they needed an extra guest-appearance by Louise Privett, rower - the stream was dangerously who to our huge relief was granted strong, and it was very cold. I’m permission to join our crew only a happy to say that feeling has recently few minutes before we had to push returned to my fingertips. off. During the final push for the bump on Trinity II, the collar on Bow’s blade came loose, resulting in Bow being knocked down flat. W2 Overbump 4 Luckily we were able to pick up speed again quickly and secure the Times for Blades! bump with only seven rowers and a With the river being closed just valiant effort on Bow’s part to sit the after the Hilary crew had been set, boat. we were having only a few coached The bump on the final day on sessions and a hard time keeping up Torpids was on Herford II, who had Amazingly, this experience of rowing the motivation. Most of the caused a claxon depriving Jesus W2 and regattas didn’t quash the members in W2 were novices and of blades in Summer Eights 2011, enthusiasm of our novices, and on had only ever had a few sessions on and so this final bump for blades was the women’s side we were delighted the water due to the bad weather in our little revenge. In contrast to the to welcome the novices into the Michaelmas term. Our training weather through the term, Torpids senior squad and put together a mainly consisted of erg-sessions, ended on a sunny and beautiful day, formidable Hilary W2 and W3. but a mid-term test revealed that and we could celebrate a fresh set of Again, the weather was problematic, the hard and consistent work had blades for JCBC. meaning we were sometimes forced indeed paid off. By Therese Graversen

Jesus College Oxford jcbc.jesus.ox.ac.uk Summer 2013 @jesusboatclub

On Saturday we rowed with a fluency that we hadn’t yet achieved. We quickly gained on Christchurch and bumped them before the gut. After a difficult week it was a relief to have finally got the bump that we deserved. The celebrations in front of the packed and noisy boathouse made the term’s hard work all worthwhile and made the Pimm’s taste all the sweeter. Our final result Charles Nelson IV the water and two land training of -1 is disappointing; however sessions a week. In the week before considering the calibre of some of is No Match for M1 Summer Eights there was a strong the crews around us we can be sense among the crew that we were proud of our performances, Trinity term began with a squad of particularly on the Friday and the keen beans taking the short bus peaking at the right time. The senior members of the crew even felt that Saturday. All in all it’s been a very journey to Wallingford for a four day enjoyable term for M1 and one pre-season training camp on one of this was the quickest M1 that they’d been a part of. Spirits were high and which we can definitely build on the most beautiful stretches of river next year. It’s been a pleasure to be in the country. The first day began we were optimistic for the week ahead. a member of JCBC, the most fun inauspiciously. Whilst preparing ‘The boat club in the university. Bring on Colonel’ we realised that one of the We began Summer Eights in front of next year! riggers had a large crack in it. Alex a Brasenose crew rumoured to be Hannington came to our rescue with quick, and behind Christchurch M2 By Hugo Manson a selection of replacement riggers who we knew little about, but who which left us time to do a half hour seemed to have names more suited Thank You! erg. Once we’d fixed the boat we set to a crew date (Charles Nelson IV All this would not have been out for our first outing of the week. was our favourite). Unfortunately we possible without the support of the Fuelled by Gregg’s sausage rolls we were bumped by Brasenose, however ever-generous Cadwallader Club, quickly made good progress. Two having been a canvas off our omniscient and patient senior long, uninterrupted outings a day Christchurch at the time we had coaches James Marsden and Hamish was a welcome relief from our usual cause for optimism. This optimism Miller, or our various keen amateur outings on the short and busy Isis was somewhat dampened the next coaches. and meant that we could row for day when we were slowly reeled in hours on end without having to spin and bumped by a surprisingly quick We remain thankful for the support the boat. Not even a vomiting bug Mansfield crew who finished the of our long-suffering senior could stop us from spending three to week on +3. Suddenly we were member Peter Mirfield, the four hours a day on the water. looking the prospect of spoons in insatiable Tom Saunders for all his the eyes. advice, and our boatman, Woody, for keeping us afloat staunchly On Friday we finally got the luck throughout the year. Thank you to that we were due: a mess in the gut the JCBC committee, whose time meant that we were given a technical and efforts have proved invaluable. row over after being in a scrap with Once first week was upon us we St Peter’s and Somerville. This all And finally thank you to all our began training as a finalised M1 meant that we’d begin the final day wonderful rowers and coxes, may crew. We gradually improved our behind the Christchurch crew who success continue for JCBC for many technique and built up our fitness we’d so nearly bumped. years to come! through increasingly long pieces on By Oliver Bentley