it tothesorting officeontime!) my car out of the snow so we could make dig to having Hamersley Richard volved in- (which time last than straightforward more is newsletter this of distribution the that hope also and MBC, from latest the with up catching enjoy you hope I certainly due. is thanks of vote big a so on, lets she than work more far involves it sure I’m and together, all it job bringing stunning in Once a done has newsletter! Robyn again, revamped heavily of edition second the to Welcome Dear Friends, W1 -Up4inLents2010.Photo:E.Tennant-Brown Ready for Mays2010 Newsletter Easter 2010 our FoMBC Coordinator Chris Laws hs ers as aqe nx week: next you’ll findareminderon page7. marquee Mays year’s this shy insendingthemtoRobyn. be don’t please then submit to like you’d articles other or reminiscences in pictures, members any got our you’ve if so issues, forthcoming from content more Finally, I hope to see many of you at you of many see to hope I Finally, and more include to hoping We’re

Friends of Magdalene Boat Club From the Captain

ow time does kit order arrived. If anyone has made it to the river Hfly when you’re recently, you’ll have undoubtedly seen us stashed having fun! I can’t out in the tops and caps all with the BNY Mellon believe that we’re logos, marking their ample support this year, both already more than at the boat house and at the first of we hope many two thirds of the way graduate opportunities meetings with them. through the year, where Training with our six boats in Lent term flew has it all gone? past with races nearly every week, on and off the In Michaelmas Cam. M2 in particular did us proud by winning term we undertook their category in both Newnham Short Course the annual daunting and Head to Head. Before we knew challenge of teaching it were upon us and work was put 30+ novices how to to one side whilst we spent the week on the river, row. Lead by our expert team of enthusiastic be it , coxing, coaching, umpiring or Lower Boats Captains, they soon became familiar simply yelling support. not only with the technique of rowing, but the By the time you read this, we’ll have completed twists and turns of the Cam and all of MBC’s our second, larger and more exciting training quirky traditions. Meanwhile the first boat senior camp at Henley on Thames, supported generously, rowers were training hard all term in IVs, entering as every year, by the Friends. In inspiring them not only in Uni IVs but in Fairbairns too. surroundings, we’ll prepare for May term which To accommodate this, in Michaelmas term we will bring with it trips to Peterborough and Henley, enlarged our fleet with the addition of a new bow as well as our main focus of the term, . loader IV+, George Mallory. In its very first race, Next term will probably go as quickly as the last our new boat saw success by finishing in third two, and I can only hope that it is as successful! place with W1 in Fairbairns. To get us back into the swing of things after the Christmas break, Lent term began with a small training camp in Cambridge, to which the Deborah Smith majority of the boat club attended. Soon after, our Captain of Boats 09-10

Brief Encounter

here can surely be very few of us who were we that we failed to notice the gathering Thave not enjoyed this wonderful movie celebrities, until “Dolly Messiter” intervened and with Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in their ushered us into the new exhibition. chance meeting in the station café at Ketchworth As we eventually departed, driving past Henley Station to the background of Rachmaninov’s station, the “Ketchworth train” was setting off. second Piano Concerto. In days gone by it used to be steam. I pointed it The Café in the River and Rowing Museum by out to “my friend”. It was at this point that she the Thames at Henley has its own nuance. She told me that she was partially sighted and that she was blond; she was beautiful, she was young and only saw objects in black and white for no more vivacious and over several café latte – served than a few yards in front of her. She had inherited by a Tunisian waitress from Casablanca no less cone dystrophy since a child and had learned to – we discussed the world of rowing and even live with it ever since - now she was rowing as a photography. She excelled at both. So engrossed paralympian for Great Britain!

2 www.magdaleneboatclub.com I drove her to the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing squeeze past some Olympians on the stairs. Lake at Caversham where she was due for a Here size matters, but Lightweight rowing is an training session. With her coach’s consent, she Olympic class too. And GB excels. showed me the Clubhouse and rowing lake. All this may be beyond public gaze, but The brainchild of David Sherriff, who owned Lottery money makes a huge contribution to this neighbouring Thames and Kennet Marina, he Olympic rowing effort. Every man and woman had, over 25 years bought up plot after plot of this has contributed to this cause. Book your tickets gravel-rich valley bottom until he had enough for for Dorney Lake because this Olympic Regatta in a 2000m rowing lake. It is now the home of the 2012 will be like no other in your lifetime. GB Olympic squad. As for my friend, she rows in the paralympian From the photographs on the walls, you could mixed LTA (legs, trunk, arms) IV+. The woman be in no doubt that the focus was on medals and at bow has suffered a leg amputation due to cancer shaving fractions of seconds off finish times. The and the two men in front of her are disabled too. ergo room, equipped to perfection, was humming Only the cox is able-bodied. This, my friend with exertion. When we opened the boathouse said, was a great relief to her because the rules door, the colour of bright Empacher yellow was require her to wear blacked out goggles for the overwhelming – wall to wall; floor to ceiling – 1000m race, no doubt a traumatic experience for with racks of white GB blades. an already partially sighted person. But they won Outside, on the boathouse hard, the benevolent Bronze at Beijing and more recently a Gold at boatman was brushing away the last leaves of Varese in Italy. No disability will hold them back. winter, quietly purring over his fleet. The most So to those in Magdalene Boat Club, whether exclusive boat trestles were dressed in bright blue you are large or cox-sized, male or female, able- with a Union flag in the centre – unfortunately bodied or disabled, consider the rowing option. too large to fit in my pocket! You could sell Consider rowing for your country. Join the millions of these. rowing scheme after you graduate There wasn’t a sound. Even nature knew that or during a gap year and learn to row with the elite, this was a very special “reserve”. Out on the whether you are a heavyweight or lightweight. course a lone sculler made his way down the Move onwards and upwards. course. With the World Championships down in Yes, your country needs you. It’s Rio in 2016 New Zealand this August, was this a case of “the and it’s your turn to perform. Campbells are coming”? By now the smell of bacon was everywhere, for it was lunchtime. Bacon is protein. Protein Richard Hamersley is muscle. Muscle is strength. I could only just President, MBC

The GB LTA IV+ in training. Photo: P. Cole, Getty Images.

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 3 BNY Mellon Wishes Magdalene Boat Club every success in the May Bumps

The focus of specialist boutiques backed by the strength of a global leader

BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4LA. Registered in England No. 1118580. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited is ultimately owned by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. 18557 03-10

4 www.magdaleneboatclub.com Lents 2010 ent Bumps of course always starts with the On the men’s side, M2 kept climbing onwards Lexcitement of Getting On. Magdalene only and upwards. Due to an above-average number had three boats with permanent positions in Lents of senior men this year, our mens’ boats have which meant that M3, W2 and W3 all had to depth in experience and M2 had proved itself compete in the Getting on Race. For the second faster than the all of the surrounding boats in year in a row, W2 were successful in their efforts the races before bumps. As they continued their which gave them an advantage in the start order, climb upwards, “blades” began to be mentioned, and another step towards a permanent place. W3 but alas! The determination of Churchill to not had a gutsy row but unfortunately didn’t make the get their spoons on the final day must have been cut, whilst M3 had the most heartbreaking result huge because they held our M2 off by a canvas as as the fastest non-qualifiers. they all crossed the finishing line. Despite their Magdalene got off to a flying start on the first understandable disappointment, three bumps was day of bumping. Whilst M1 rested, W1, W2 and a great achievement. M2 all bumped up a slot! It looked like it was Meanwhile W1 continued their recent steady going to be a good week. Unfortunately the run up the bumps charts. Starting the week at third success was short-lived. Kings, knowing that their in Division 2, they rowed at the bottom of the first only chance of escaping a very quick Queens was division for the first time in years on Wednesday. to throw caution to the wind, bumped our M1 just Peterhouse caught a slow Selwyn ahead of them, around First Post Corner. M1 fought to the end, preventing them from immediately cementing and entered their second day out for revenge. their place in Division 1, yet Peterhouse’s card In the meantime, W2 were also fighting hard was marked. W1 successfully bumped Selwyn on for their bump, chasing a Downing crew who Friday, and Peterhouse on Saturday, moving up a had overbumped the day before. Unfortunately, fantastic total of four places and truly establishing Downing soon bumped out, and despite a themselves back in the first division. determined attempt at an overbump, W2 set their The outstanding row of Lents however must trend for the week with two more rowovers. go, as with their Fairbairns row, to M1 on their

W2 once more got on to the Lents. Photo: E. Tennant-Brown.

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 5 Lent Bumps Charts 2010, courtesy of CUCBC.org. Left: Men’s chart, Right:Women’s chart.

thought that they had it in the bag. Three whistles and Peterhouse started to push for the end. But so did our M1. Again and again M1 pushed off Peterhouse who sometimes even managed overlap. But Peterhouse could not finish the job that day and, absolutely exhausted, our M1 managed to fight every stroke to the line, staying third day. Once bumped, a normal crew is usually just enough ahead to deny them their blades. on its way down, but not in MBC! M1 were ready Although they were finally caught on the last to stand their ground. On their second day they day, M1 showed themselves to have nerves and rowed over. This however landed them in the determination of steel, and will no doubt be ready path of a powerful Peterhouse boat who’d already for redemption in the Mays. gained four places. The ensuing battle was simply incredible. Within no time at all, Peterhouse had Deborah Smith one, then two whistles on our boys, and must have Captain of Boats 09-10

6 www.magdaleneboatclub.com The Stewards of Magdalene Boat Club warmly invite you and your guests to the

Magdalene Marquee in Caius Meadow

to watch the last day of the May Races in the company of other vocal MBC supporters

Saturday 12th June 2010

Racing starts 11am. Last division at 5:45pm

Buffet lunch and tea kindly provided by The Master and Mrs Robinson Pimm’s and soft drinks available. Punt crossing for members and their guests to the towpath side. Access via Fen Ditton.

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 7 Mays 1996 - MBC 3rd on the River

1st Men’s VIII, May Bumps 1996. Photo: H. Mackworth-Praed. uring my interview to do a PGCE I was When term started we got our full crew (Seb Dasked whether I intended to row: of course I D-B and Andy Probert were excused training said no. In the Michaelmas term of 1995, wanting camp as they were both Blues, Seb rowing at 4 to be involved with the boat club, I coached the in that year’s winning crew). I don’t remember rugby 8. On one morning outing I asked one of much of selection. Training on the water was in the crew to adjust his feet. The next thing I saw the evenings (Dave Griffiths and myself were was him stand up and then a few seconds later both doing PGCEs and so at school everyday), his feet went through the bottom of the boat and though we did have the odd early morning the boat started to sink. Luckily we were only by weights session. We did very few ergos. It seemed Fitzwilliam boathouse so managed to get the boat for weeks we rowed up and down and were never back relatively easily. allowed to take the rate above 28 until the day Having not rowed for the first two terms, my before Bedford Regatta, though it seemed to tutors allowed me to row in the summer term, work for us as we won. There was also a lot of so training camp at Shrewsbury was my first discussion as to which crew we would invite over rowing as MBC. Two events stick in my mind: to Hall each week. firstly, being attacked by swans (or rather the cox In the run up to the bumps we seemed to practice being attacked by swans and the crew laughing the corners endlessly, but it paid off. Andy could and refusing to row on) and secondly, helping out steer us round with our blades a couple of feet the local constabulary. We had an afternoon off so from the bank and so we would gain up to half a were wandering around Shrewsbury. I was asked length on each corner. Andy West and Seb had a if I wanted to take part in an ID parade and so all few wagers with the crews we were chasing and so the rest of the crew saw was me getting into the we had a ‘Veuve Clicquot’ push one day and one back of a police car. I turned up four hours later for port another day (the bottles were presented having been in three parades but 60 quid up (I was at the dinner on the Saturday). I don’t remember also picked in two of the parades). much of what Andy P was saying, just the noise

8 www.magdaleneboatclub.com of fog-horns telling us where we were. During the week we bumped Caius, Lady Margaret and Magdalene Boat Club Jesus, rowing over on the last day behind Trinity M1 Mays 1996 Hall to finishing 3rd on the river, the highest MBC has ever been in the Mays. Bow Malcolm Binns The following year most of us came back for 2 Dave Griffiths the dinner and I happened to be at the boat club when one of the MBC crews was about to boat 3 Hugh Mackworth-Praed but missing one person so I got a row. Andy West 4 Dave Branch was poling out the crew at the start and looked a 5 Seb Dawson-Bowling little surprised to see me sitting at 6; we rowed 6 Andy West over. For a few years four of us raced at a few regattas as ‘Friends of MBC’. 7 Tim Sampson Since then I have based myself in the Thames Str John Williams Valley, teaching Mathematics at Pangbourne and Cox Andy Probert then at Shiplake. After three years at Pangbourne as Director of Rowing I went part-time to allow me to train full-time and race as a lightweight: Bumped: Caius, Lady Margaret, Jesus great except for the dieting. Now, as Shiplake’s Senior Coach, I spend my mornings teaching and afternoons coaching. Hugh Mackworth-Praed MBC 1995-6

MBC 1st Mens VIII, 1996 with their winnings. Back Row l-r: Malcolm Binns, Dave Griffiths, Dave Branch, Hugh Mackworth-Praed. Front row: John Williams, Andy West, Seb Dawson-Bowling, Tim Sampson. Seated with flag:Andy Probert. Photo: H. Mackworth-Praed.

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 9 Mays Gone By With the Mays almost upon us, we asked for your reminiscinces and photos of rowing in the warmest of terms - thankyou to all who replied!

1967 - A Summer to Remember!

The 1967 1st Mays VIII in action on the Cam (top), on their way to four bumps...and onwards Henry Nash (M2 cox, 2002) would to Henley (bottom) where they won their first simply shout “kill!” when we were heat, only to be forced to scratch the VIII within a quarter of a length: a few through illness. The remaining IV+ went on to win the Visitors’ Cup. Photos: F. Rossiter. more strokes, then brace for impact! Chris Laws 00-03

10 www.magdaleneboatclub.com Men’s 1st Mays VIII 2007. Photo: L. Coiffait.

With Paul Bruce out injured after the first day Dave Plumstead admirably filled in but Magd were bumped, a disappointing end to a fantastic year. Louis Coiffait 06-07 If you have any photos or memories of winter training for our Michaelmas issue, please get in touch with Robyn - [email protected]. Graduate opportunities within BNY Mellon Asset Management

Please contact: Colin Cowie, Head of Human Resources [email protected] www.magdaleneboatclub.com

BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4LA. Registered in England No. 1118580. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited is ultimately owned by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. 18557 03-10

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 11 our turn. However once again drama struck when Sarah had to stop rowing, sitting at number 4 we WEHoRR 2010 had no idea what the problem was in the stern. fter an extremely successful bumps we Thankfully about a minute before we were due to Awere all feeling pretty keen for a trip down spin Sarah managed to sort out her footplate and to London for a new challenge on the Thames. all was well – we were ready to race! Unfortunately, with Eliza unable to make it, So going off at position 125 we passed through we were going to need a Super Sub. In the end the centre arch of Chiswick to start the race that our saviour came two days before the race with for most of the crew was their first experience of Maddy completing the VIII. the tideway. Pushing hard off the start we found We loaded up the trailer the night before and a rhythm and settled into the race. A whole new each did our own form of race preparation that coxing experience for me, I did my best to find the ranged from chocolate pudding to bopping. stream whilst trying to keep the girls on a constant Nonetheless at 10am Saturday morning we were split. We lost a bit of the rhythm and timing when all there, tickets in hand ready to jump on the a fast crew from behind came up to overtake, but train. Unlike other races this term everything we stubbornly held on as long as we could. ran smoothly to get to Putney. With only a slight Coming under Hammersmith we heard the delay from the trailer, we rigged up and joined the cheering from above and with the knowledge that queue of boats jostling for position to get the boat we were now “well over half way” the girls once in the water and head up to the start. more began to pick things up for the last section We treated the row up as both a warm up and a of the race. When the Black Buoy finally arrived pre-race training session, our first as a crew. Maddy they put in the most amazing push to finish our fitted in well and we put in some good bursts as we last row of Lent term and the first on the Tideway rowed up. For once we timed it perfectly. Racing for many of us. in the third division of boats we made it to our marshalling spot just in time as they were sending boats on up to the start. With no time to stop and Elissa Tennant-Brown get cold we rowed under Chiswick Bridge to wait Women’s Captain 09-10

M1 take on the Tideway at HoRR 2010. L-r: Oli Darbyshire, Pete O’Brien, Grahame Forrest. Photo L. Levy.

12 www.magdaleneboatclub.com WEHoRR 2010 HoRR 2010 Bow Maddy Scragg Bow Dom White 2 Laura Gallagher 2 Johnny Lui 3 Suzy Martin 3 Oli Darbyshire 4 Sarah Coskeran 4 Pete O’Brien 5 Tora Turton 5 Grahame Forrest 6 Rhiannon Wescott 6 Sam Stratford 7 Deborah Smith 7 Duncan Brisk Str Ciara Drummond Str Ben Tucker Cox Elissa Tennant-Brown Cox Kate Husband Result: 183rd of 289 Result: 252rd of 388

water. Given the Putney chaos, we were running late and the race had started before we could join HoRR 2010 our division. Fortunately, we were able to tag on aving finished an intense Lent Bumps the end of the division, having been marshalled Hcampaign, including a row over of epic by a somewhat frustrated Sir Matthew Pinsent. proportions (see page 5), we had a couple of days Before we knew it, we heard the starter shout off to nurse the hangovers from Bumps dinner, “231... GO!” and we were off. For me, much of before we were back on the river. Two members the race was a blur once the leg pain and burning from the Bumps crew could not make HoRR, so lungs had taken hold, but we settled at about rating we welcomed back Duncan, out most of the term 30, which was slower than intended. At times the with a shoulder injury, and also Johnny, M2 stroke. rowing became very scrappy, not helped by the We had a month to train together before the race choppier water. We were overtaken fairly soon in “Bishop Simon” after “Sir David Calcutt” had into the race, but then overtook a much slower sustained minor damage during Bumps. crew. Another crew approached and eventually Training started well and we were making overtook us, despite our best efforts. For the promising progress with the new crew. Kate was second half of the race not much else happened, new to the Tideway, so took the opportunity to until we approached the finish, by which time cox a Chesterton crew at WeHoRR beforehand. Jesus had slowly caught us up and we sparred Our preparations ended prematurely, however, with them until the line. Exhausted, legs shaking, when Duncan began to have problems with his hands blistered, we proceeded to get the boat out shoulder again ten days before the race. He was and de-rigged, followed by a well-earned pint. advised to rest it until the race, and we had had We finished 252nd, a solid performance, but our last outing before the Tideway. While Sam the lack of crew water time run up to the race and Johnny returned home, the rest of the crew was easily noticeable. I like to think that we became more intimate with the ergo. should have given a better account of ourselves, On the day, half of the crew met at the boathouse but we did our best given the circumstances. to load the trailer for Henry Reynolds to drive Thanks again to the crew who competed, to down. Meeting the others at Putney, we unloaded Henry for driving some of us and the trailer to the boat to - Dom did his best to miss the race and from London, and also to Dom’s dad, who by relying on public transport (there was a fire made sure Dom got to the race on time! Bring on at Cambridge train station). With so many crews the Mays... Huzzah! boating from Putney it was rather chaotic, but we finally managed to get our boat on the water and start the paddle up, which was fairly scrappy Ben Tucker initially, but the crew soon adjusted to the choppy Men’s Captain 09-10

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 13 Could MBC Win Again at Henley? And Would it be Worth the Effort? he last MBC newsletter carried Robert being a small college, we had decided to be fit TCrichton’s account of the races when and well prepared, which put us well ahead of our Magdalene won at Henley in 1967. I was President opponents. The semi-final and final were tough at the time (in those days the rôles of President and and fitness was certainly needed. We equalled the Captain were combined), and Robert’s charming record to the Barrier in conditions that were less self-deprecation always gave the impression that than ideal, which could never have been easy. his place in the crew and the win were two lucky Of course we were not great oarsmen but we accidents. That prompted me to wonder: was it an found that Magdalene can win against universities, accident, could it be done again and would it be and surely that must be true today. Winning starts worth the effort? with committing to maximum effort and believing From my place at 2 in the boat, watching Robert that winning is possible. at 3, his commitment and the series of wins did not But is winning ever really meaningful or feel like accidents. At the start of the year we had worthwhile? Rowing can be dismissed as rather set up a new programme of recruitment, training unimportant but it is fun and it builds cooperation, and top-class coaching, with frequent races in mutual support and steadiness under pressure, and away from Cambridge, to build fitness and which work wonders throughout life. self-belief. By the time we reached Henley we Back in 1967 the enthusiasm and commitment had become quite accustomed to pressure and attracted about half the College to join MBC – to winning races. incidentally with Richard Hamersley playing an Early in the regatta a member of the VIII fell important part – which also felt heart-warming ill, so a recently-formed four became our only and inspiring. Since then there have been many remaining entry. The four was new but we had good years and today’s newsletters suggest that rowed together in the VIII. a strong drive is present in MBC again. I hope it Robert’s report that the first races were easy will bring lots of rewards. might prompt today’s rowers to think despondently that standards are higher now and that little Magdalene cannot hope to compete. A different Michael Davis way of describing the first races is that, despite President of MBC, 1966-1967

A Boathouse Rowmance

he boat club was thrilled to hear of the Tengagement of two of its members, Jenny Burrows and Ben Hanning. Jenny, a first year PhD student in cancer research joined MBC in 2005, quickly rising from novice to W1, and onwards to a CUWBC Blue in 2009, picking up 2 sets of blades (and a set of spoons...) on the way. Ben joined M1 in 2008, as a vet student, and was part of the blade-winning M1 in Mays 2009. Although they are not rowing at the moment, we hope to see them back on the water soon. We wish them all the best for the future, and the very heartiest of congratulations!

14 www.magdaleneboatclub.com Beyond MBC...

Susannah Cass, MBC Captain of Boats 07-08 with her DULBC crew after winning their own boat race against University College Dublin in March. Photo: I.Finn. hen I first pushed off the Magdalene slip Finally, last weekend, we came back to a Wone October day in 2006 I really didn’t familiar stretch of river and finished a respectable appreciate the significance of the occasion.Three 40th in the Womens Eights Head of the River years, two sets of blades and a Cambridge Blue Race on the Thames. The DULBC girls are a later I put away my lavender and indigo blade fabulous bunch, several have represented Ireland for the last time and headed off for pastures at junior level and two are currently trialling for new. Unfortunately, rowing is a rather harder the Irish lightweight squad. It was a pleasure to habit to kick and not long after I found myself show off London rowing to them and as I enjoyed pushing off a new slip and starting the next the atmosphere on the Putney embankment and chapter of my rowing adventure. These days, bumped into a multitude of rowing friends old I’m mostly found wearing black and bright and new, I felt overwhelmingly grateful for the pink, I’ve swapped protein shakes for pints of day I went down to MBC to give rowing a go. Guinness and the rowing is all about the craic! My Trinity crew are not my ‘new crew’ as such I am studying for an MSc at Trinity College but the latest addition to a wonderful bunch of Dublin and have the honour of rowing for Dublin athletes and firm friends I have had the pleasureof University Ladies Boatclub. rowing with from Magdalene onwards. Now I So far this year we have been struck by bad wear my lavender and indigo kit on the Liffey weather with many of the season’s first races through Dublin but who knows where it will cancelled. However, when we finally did make take me next! it across a start line we won the Head of the Lagan in Belfast and our version of against University College Dublin. I now have Susannah Cass pink and black university ‘Colours’ to add to a MBC 06-09, Captain of Boats 07-08 growing rainbow collection.

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 15 Henley Easter Training Camp or three years now Magdalene Boat Club There is time for video analysis between Fhas headed down to Henley on Thames outings, and space for the uninterrupted rowing for a week long training camp after the Easter and technical coaching that is often difficult to weekend. The timing is ideal, as every year the fit in during term on the Cam, due to traffic and start of spring brings with it a week of glorious time restraints. It’s also an ideal chance to learn sunshine and perfect water conditions for the first to scull (and possibly go swimming) for those stage of the MBC assault on the May bumps! who haven’t tried small boats. This year we had around 30 rowers with The camp is not just about hard work, it is also a selection of VIII’s, IV’s and sculls from the great fun. The Parish hall comes with a kitchen MBC fleet, plus a coxed quad that was kindly and the evenings provide a chance for people loaned to us by Janousek. to show off their culinary skills. There was a The luxury accommodation at Remenham curry evening in town, a quiz night, and, not to Parish Hall is second to none, with cold showers be forgotten, on the final evening the traditional available at the rowing club and a comfortable Training Camp Dinner. wooden floor in the Parish Hall. Everyone who came on the camp has made The programme consisted of three sessions a great improvements in their rowing and has a day coached by myself, Karl Reid (Head Coach valuable head start going into the May term. of Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club For the senior crews the camp is becoming an 2006-2007) and John Kyffin (ex-MBC and essential part of the training as we move up into Lightweight Blue). Each crew had two main the top half of the bumps first divisions where outings and an optional third in small boats. the competition gets a lot tougher.

Row hard, work hard! Exam revision in full swing inbetween outings. Photo: I. Drummond.

16 www.magdaleneboatclub.com Left: M1 take an outing around Temple Island. Photo: R. Hamersley.

Below: Duncan Brisk (Captain of Boats 10-11, and Ben Tucker (Men’s Captain 09-10) warm up. Photo R. Hamersley

Below: Bulding sculling confidence in the Janousek quad. Photo: I. Drummond.

I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped with organisation and funding of the camp - it really is appreciated and makes a big difference to our rowing. Thank you to Richard for setting everything up for us in Henley, to Ben, Debs and Elissa for organising the crews and getting everyone down there, to Karl and John for helping with the coaching, to the Friends of MBC for their contributions towards the costs and to Pat Marsh for visiting during the camp and providing the wine for the Training Camp Dinner.

Andy Nield Head Coach, MBC

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 17 A Chilly, But Fruitful Michaelmas

W1 in Fairbairns. L-r:Suzy Martin, Tora Turton, Rhiannon Westcott, Samantha Ardin, Deborah Smith, Elissa Tennant-Brown, Lila Benini, Alice Solieux, Emilie Jouffroy. Photo. E. Tennant-Brown. ichaelmas Term 2009 was summed up by their enthusiastic and competitive captain, Mwith success in Fairbairns. For the novices, Ben. The guys were combining, water sessions, this was the largest event that they had entered land sessions and circuits and on top of that and for some their first ever race! Armed with some of them even found the time to coach the jelly babies galore, the LBCs and other seniors lower boats. And yet it seemed that someone was watched with pride as their novices, who knew working against them. A mere four days before nothing about rowing eight weeks ago, raced the the big day, their captain and stroke, Ben, was 2.7km downstream to the railings on the reach, as struck down by swine flu and had to spend the Duncan reports below! week recovering in isolation. The crew stepped Meanwhile, the senior women were training in up, reorganised themselves and found a sub. But a IV and an VIII at the same time. In the morning, when you lose 20% of your crew at such short the VIII raced and came in at a very respectable notice, and your stroke at that, the race is never 11th. With not much time to recover and warm going to be as good as it could have been. The ourselves up again, four of us and our cox then senior men’s IVs came 9th and 16th, which was raced again in the IV. Despite being already good given the circumstances, but was agonisingly exhausted we managed to fight for and maintain frustrating given their potential. last year’s position of third. The story of the term must however go to the first men’s senior squad who were training and race in two IVs. Throughout the term, it was M1 Deborah Smith who had been training harder than anyone, lead Captain of Boats 09-10

18 www.magdaleneboatclub.com Novices 2009 ichaelmas 09 was a mixed term for novice WN1 benefited from some of the best novice Mrowing; the women’s side was large with coxing lines on record to come 23rd and WN2 three boats and enthusiasm to match. Though and WN3 came 56th and 55th respectively, a only 13 in number, the novice men were not to reflection of WN3’s display of technical beauty be outdone in commitment, and a rotating system and composure which they held for the whole saw some productive water time for everyone course. The men came 42nd; a reasonable with minimal cost to the timing and rhythm. performance given the small number of rowers Training was difficult and frustrating at times and inexperience at high rate. There was a lot of with a busy river and unpredictable conditions, power and good technique individually though, but particular progress was made on technical and which shone through as they joined the seniors low rate work. Land training involved at least a the following term. weekly erg, with some of the top crews putting Both sides enjoyed a lively social side to the in two and some particularly keen men attending term with numerous swaps to other colleges and an extra circuits session. Though there was little a highly competitive approach from the women by way of LBC training, Andy was always ready to the novice challenges in Fairbairns dinner. The with advice and suggestions which had a big atmosphere of fun and enthusiasm that was such positive impact. The first women’s boat benefited a joy to coach in got carried on into the Lent term from a hugely enjoyable trip to Peterborough with novices making a contribution to every boat on Saturday 21st November to train with the in the club both in boat speed and commitment. seniors, inspiration which saw them winning Emma Sprints the following day! Representation was made by both sides in Queen’s ergs, Emma Sprints, and Clare Novices during the term, and Duncan Brisk all four novice crews entered Fairbairns at the Lower Boats Captain 09-10 end of term.

Boram Kim and Maddy Scragg brave novicing in the coldest winter for 31 years.,.Photo E. Tennant-Brown.

www.magdaleneboatclub.com 19 Dates for Your Diary

9th-12th June: May Bumps 11th June: Friends of MBC Reunion Dinner, Magdalene Cripps Court 12th June: MBC Mays Marquee – Ditton Meadow 19th-20th June: Marlow Regatta 18th-20th June: Henley Women’s Regatta 30th June-4th July:

Do we have your e-mail address? If not please send it to Chris: [email protected]. Distributing this newsletter by e-mail ensures it reaches you sooner, and allows us to spend more of your donations on the fine folk of MBC. Thank you!

The Friends of Magdalene Boat Club FoMBC Coordinator: Chris Laws [email protected], 07788 722 877 Alumni Officer: Robyn Inglis: [email protected], 07914 984 212 www.fombc.com

20 www.magdaleneboatclub.com