Wadham College Boat Club Society

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A NEWSLETTER for current and former members of Wadham College Boat Club issue 44, 2014-15 WELCOME TO THE SOCIETY’S NEWSLETTER. Many (from the BCs the excellent and over-achiev- Many minor miracles have resulted in a few bigger ing Steph Hall and Tom Johnes and from the Society ones this year. Diana Mountain and Lucy Ventress) have invested precious spare time to achieve true financial visibility Going one level beyond the fabulous headline that for College, the Boat Club and the Society, and over- is “Wadham Women Head of the River in Torpids sight is now as it should always have been. and Eights”, Wadham Men are now up to 11th in Division 1 and are 6th in Torpids, up from 11th. Where next? That so many have enjoyed the sport to Wadham Women’s 2nd VIII is now up in Division such an extent at Wadham, yet only 140 alumni now 2 of Torpids. That is ahead of ten college first boats. support the Boat Club through membership of the The women came 41st in their Tideway Head and the Society; that is wrong and a real failing. This is start- men 151st. Maddy Badcott represented the Universi- ing to change. Alumni can now sign up online and ty, rowing at five in the winning Boat Race Crew. The we have hundreds of past rowers to contact. Do say if achievements have been great, so too has the depth you would like to be part of this effort. The Boat Club and breadth of involvement in our sport. Many boats uses approximately £19,000 a year: roughly split 7 have raced on the Isis and on the Thames elsewhere, from College, 7 from subscriptions and sponsorship supported not just by Rod Andrews’ meagre 40 hour and 5 from the Society. Racking at Godstow, now a a week contribution, but by many others including prerequisite for consistent training, costs £5K all on Paul Bowen, Julian Fox, Hannah Stratford, Yon-Hee its own. A wider supporting base of alumni could Kim and Diana Mountain. Different help has come make a very big difference to the sustainability of this in the form of donations of a tub pair, a screen for the high level of rowing achievement. We know we need gym and contributions towards new small boats. This to up our game as the Boat Club has upped theirs, has all meant a rapid rate of learning and improve- and we are at length doing so. Please do join us to ment in speed and pleasure. help - even if you could just spare a couple of hours to call and mail some former crewmates. And yet the miracles were needed to a far greater extent than is apparent. Despite great continuing sup- Enjoy what follows, both because port from College, particularly from our President you have played at least a small the Warden, from the Domestic and Finance Bursars part in the continued flourishing and from the Development Office, a lot went wrong. of an excellent Boat Club, and At one stage, racking fees and Torpids dinner bills because hard work and wise guid- had been paid by individuals due to BC cash flow ance has produced excellence and issues. On our side, we had disparate accounts and happiness. equipment plans and an inadequate database, not BEN WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN. reconciled with College. Much has since changed.

WHAT IS THE BOAT CLUB SOCIETY?

For those of you who may not have heard of it, the Society is for former members of Wadham College Boat Club and their supporters. It exists to:

HELP THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BOAT CLUB so that all crews are as successful as possible. The Society pays 50% of the Boat Club’s equipment costs and so plays a vital role in supporting the success of Wadham on the river.

DEVELOP A SOCIETY WHICH INCREASES THE ENJOYMENT OF ROWING for former and current Wadham oarspeople. The Society aims to hold a number of social events during the year, the main event being the annual regatta and dinner usually held in September.

If you have left Wadham and are not already a member please join the Society. Go on, it’s only 25 quid a year. Do your bit to allow others to continue the sport as you did when you were at College.

Visit www.wcbcs.org.uk to sign up. Men’s squad by JOE EMSLEY

THIS YEAR, THE MEN OF WCBC HAVE ENJOYED to a strong Balliol MA (the eventual runners-up). ROARING SUCCESS. The Godstow tides have Wadham MA beat Teddy Hall MB by 1L, rowing behaved, the squad is vast in numbers, and M1 has in sixes when the 3-man’s seat flew off! Then lost to reached new heights. Alongside Rod, Hannah Strat- LMH MA thanks to a devastating near-ejector crab. ford and Julian Fox, we were fortunate to welcome back Society legend Paul Bowen, who swiftly inte- Our seniors started off strong. Training being attend- grated himself in the coaching of the novice squad. ed consistently by most, not all. We had 12 staying on from the previous year, and real potential for a Our adventures began with the notorious Oriel racing VIII. Regrettably, commitment tailed off, with Regatta. An M1/M2 composite VIII was entered, time-demanding blues sport and injuries stealing feeling pretty unstoppable from a division climbing, away much of our crew. Despite this, a Henley-wor- blade-winning Summer 2014 campaign. Defeating St thy “core four” managed to get to work, comprising John’s, then Balliol in the final, the elusive hip-flasks of M1 rowers Tom, James Evry, and Joe Blackmore, were ours. We won the men’s VIII category! Keen to joined by fresher Will, an experienced Westminster keep up the good work: a formidable coxless pair of rower. incoming Captain and his comrade. Wisely reserv- ing 20 minutes prior to our race time, for Jordan to A frequent concern is retaining novices into Hilary learn how to steer, and well, the intricacies of rowing term. This was simply not an issue this year! All but stroke-side altogether, we surprising lost (though did a couple returned, hungrier than ever to get out on succeed in avoiding either river bank). the river - boosting the men’s squad to a sizeable 30. Some returned in full-stash parade, while oth- After a long and restful summer, the focus of early ers - the crowd I’d cajoled into rowing “at least until Michaelmas was simple. Light the beacons; recruit ChristChurch” - sheepishly admitted they’d too from far and wide! The bulk of our novice intake caught “the bug”. came from graduates, our brothers in Harris Man- chester, and thirdly, a contingent of my dear friends. Rod and Paul were itching to get started, and im- A couple of sessions at Iffley tank and a boat club plored me to settle crews quickly. So, after a well-at- curry later, our novice squad looked promising. tended winter training camp back in Oxford, the 1st ChristChurch was on the horizon - Wadham easily Torpid was formed. The Michaelmas four; Scott - filled two strong novice VIIIs. Regatta verdict, as who we’d skilfully baited away from coaching Trinity follows: girls, and three ex-M2s. We would row four, sometimes five times a week as this complement, without Wadham MB beat Pembroke MB by 2L, then lost fail - a commitment that would pay dividends come 7th week. to bump St John’s - robbing us of the chance, and sending us up two to 9th. Rod was confident we’d 2nd and 3rd Torpid took frustratingly longer to catch Trinity on the next day. But with a weaker St shape. M2 comprised primarily of technically-sound, Catz in Trinity’s sights, we knew it would be an over- but gym-reluctant old timers. Contrastingly, M3 - bump if anything. “Patience - the bump will come”. entirely ex-novice - couldn’t have been keener! And so it did. M1 also caught St Catz on Greenbanks sending us up to 8th. We went into Friday expecting Henley Head fell on 14th Feb, so would be a telling a harder row, but bumped out on Trinity by Don- trial run for Torpids. The crew were really excited nington Bridge. With Balliol crashing into the gut, - though whether this was for the rowing, or to be and plummeting down the division, we were 6th on spending Valentine’s Day with W1, I’m still not sure. the river! After a warm-up downstream, we started the time trial at a confident rate of 34. During the second Saturday of Torpids will not be forgotten anytime 500m it became clear we were faster than the crew soon. M1 were faced with the daunting task of chas- ahead, closing down the 15-second gap with every ing Wolfson for blades. If the time came, Rod told us push. Pembroke, Oxford were on our tail but did not to prepare “to go somewhere you haven’t been be- make the advances we expected - reassuring, con- fore”, and on promising each other to rise to the chal- sidering their current hold on Torpids headship. We lenge, we boated. Cannon-fire and without an ounce finished the 3000m course in 10:50. 2nd in IM3, and of self-preservation, M1 tore after Wolfson. Passing 15th overall. A solid row. Boathouse Island, most other crews had bumped out, yet Wadham, Wolfson and Christ Church were grav- M3 had shaped up to be a highly motivated and itating towards each other every stroke. Joe’s cox box effective crew under Paul’s watchful eye. Despite clearly couldn’t handle the pressure, so after a final self-identifying with the mantra “Petens Medias Res” command to “wind”, it cut out. We found ourselves (loosely translated as “striving for mediocrity”!), plunged into silence, and subsequent abyss of pain. M3 started off the Torpids campaign with a ruth- Apparently we came within a canvas. Needless to say, less bump on St Hugh’s II, flying up into division 4 we were absolutely gutted. as sandwich boat. Regent’s Park were now the prey. Coup de grâce was swiftly delivered at the start of An hour passed and a few beers later, things didn’t Boathouse Island. I caught up with their wide-eyed seem so bad. Those tending to an exhausted Jevvers bowman Dan in the aftermath. “What’s up Dan?” confirmed he had, in fact, survived the ordeal. We “That was so much fun” he admitted, almost man- had risen to 6th on the river - Wadham’s highest ically. The “imperturbable calm” Paul had instilled placement in living memory. as a key thought, had created quite the ice-cold task force. Worcester II and Catz II were too left in M3’s On 29th March, we finally got to row the 6.8km Head wake - an impressive overall +4. of the River Race (after two successive years of can- cellations)! Joined by the brilliant ex-W1 cox James M2 were not so lucky, with a spoons-worthy descent Packer, and vice-captain Rich Appleby in the 4 seat, of -5. The vultures of Keble, Oriel II, Linacre, New II we boated from Vesta RC in torrential rain. However, and St Antony’s swept down for pickings throughout our inexperience over the sheer distance and Tide- the week. Undoubtedly, the boys improved each day. way course was telling - coming in at 19:36s and so Though, the lateness of crew settlement and decreas- 151st. Still - top 50%, and a technically sound row. A ing availabilities close to racing had been hugely det- couple of weeks later, Wadham returned to watch the rimental and was something I had to rectify before dark blues bring home all the wins in the Boat Races. summer. Others have quietly suggested M2 locate the college gym sometime soon! Our blinding success in Torpids had clearly reso- nated through the club. Returning to Oxford for The men’s major success story of Torpids lies with the summer, we had several ex-boaties come out of M1, and our surge through the top division. We had hibernation and rejoin the squad - including five-seat been race-ready since Henley, so the couple of weeks veterans Steavo and Hector. Despite a valiant attempt prior became a nervy waiting game - odds backed us, to drop out and pursue finals, President Tom Johnes but the word “blades” remained taboo. On Wednes- finally realised that his rowing was of greater impor- day, M1 bumped a startled Worcester, who went on tance, and stayed firmly put in his stroke seat. Dreaming of rows under the Tuscan Sun, I’d tried On Thurdsay, New sprinted with desperation off the arduously to take training camp abroad. However, start knowing that if we bumped out, they’d be again it was not to be, with obstacles including availability rowing over at the top of Div II come Friday. An ex- and financing. No matter - Godstow in the Summer perience all too familiar for last year’s Wadham M1. was bliss. Outings resumed for all three men’s crews, Tragically for them, we started well and bumped and the boats really started to take off. In particular, Worcester before Donnington Bridge. Lucky, as the to my delight, the 2nd VIII. Bolstered by a revamped frenzied waters had somehow broken Will’s blade stern four containing three of a 2014 blade-winning at the collar. We would have crippled long-distance. crew (Rich, Adam, Hector), the crew melded togeth- Friday saw another bump - this time on St Catz. er like I’d never seen before. Returning from her year With their cox’s insane refusal to concede, I watched abroad in the nick of time, Marianna Hunt would in horror as Scott’s blade shaved the back of his head, cox her beloved M2; with WCBCS enigma Lucy before smacking down on the stern canvas. Up two - Ventress taking the helm for M3. As usual, Summer we were 11th. VIIIs came around impossibly fast. The showdown on Saturday was gratification. With M3 paved the way for a dramatic Eights week on no pressure from behind, and Teddy Hall bumping Wednesday, as we’d come to expect from this crew. out ahead, M1 could perform an exhibition row-over Starting 11th in Division V, the boys started after past the boathouse. A pleasing overall + 2. We landed Pembroke III. A pile-up before Donnington Bridge without the torment of Torpids, and elated. quickly arose, owing to an incompetent Anne’s II spearing a barge on being bumped. Sensibly, Pem- It’s been an extraordinary year for the men of WCBC, broke conceded - both crews awarded a Technical and there are several individuals to whom we owe Row Over. The rest of the week didn’t fare much bet- enormous thanks. Namely Rod, who puts so much ter - with Queen’s II, a vengeful St Benet’s, then Univ into the coaching of both 1st VIIIs. Our ascension III catching the boys over the next few days (overall up Division I is testament to his excellent coaching -3). Amidst a medley of 1st, 2nd and Beer VIIIs, the - M1 undoubtedly motivated by “doing Rod proud”. boys didn’t let any bump come easy - a performance Also to Paul Bowen: his welcome return inspired earning their crew great respect on the river. a generation of novices, most of whom went on to form Wadham M3. To Julian Fox, for continuing to With crews bumping out either side, M2 warmed make Saturday mornings a delight - always providing up for the week with a very comfortable Wednesday valuable insight, alongside his trademark humour. row-over. It was the second day of racing that they To Hannah Stratford, for going above and beyond to could celebrate their first bump of the year. Magda- provide technical coaching - a real asset to the squad, len II were simply no match. M2 clattered into their and loved by all. stern, ascending to 9th in Division III - a record! Luck was not on M2’s side on Friday - a fierce St The 2014-15 Committee has worked tirelessly - thank Antony’s scourged the Isis, managing an impressive you all! In particular, to Tom and Steph, for provid- over-bump on M2 coming into Boathouse Island. To ing a much needed leg-up at times; but also to cox Magdalen’s misery, this placed our boys back behind Joe Reason, vice-captains Richard Appleby and James them. In a suitable finale, M2 bumped Magdalen Evry, for all their support. James will be assuming II for a second time, sending them to spoons. M2: captaincy for the incoming year, under whom the overall -1. future for WCBC looks very bright indeed. I’d like to thank my fellow captain Lia Orlando, who has been M1 were determined to maintain their upward climb. a delight to work with, and deserves every success of We started from the bottom of Division I, chasing this special year for the women. Teddy Hall. Expecting to be pushing off rival college Hertford, we actually found a formidable New The Society has been instrumental, as ever - thank sandwich boat behind, who would remind us of their you for your ever generous financial support, which presence regularly throughout VIIIs. Teddy Hall keeps rowing at Wadham possible and so very excit- bumped out pretty quickly, requiring us to row over, ing. JOE EMSLEY, MEN’S CAPTAIN. holding New at an uncomfortable, but consistent, distance of 1L. 1ST TORPID: Joe Reason (cox), Tom Johnes (s), Will Ripley, Joe Blackmore, Jordan Docker, Adam Roberts, James Evry, Scott Houghton, Joe Emsley (b)

2ND TORPID: Scott Houghton (cox), Joe Rea- son (s), Ross McDonach, Richard Appleby, Tom Malpas, Kyle Grant, Cam Higgins, Jakob Lutz, Alberto Carella (b)

3RD TORPID: Jakob Lutz (cox), Ollie Braddy (s), Max McGenity, Brian Adams, Edoardo Pirovano, Dan Kibbey, Jack Spira, Adithya Kale, Dan McNaughton (b)

1ST EIGHT: Joe Reason (cox), Tom Johnes (s), James Evry, Joe Blackmore, Tom Steavenson, Will Ripley, Jordan Docker, Scott Houghton, Joe Emsley (b)

2ND EIGHT: Marianna Hunt (cox), Richard Appleby (s), Adam Roberts, Brian Adams, Hec- tor Manly, Kyle Grant, Alberto Carella, Ollie Braddy, Ross McDonach (b)

3RD EIGHT: Lucy Ventress (cox), Dan Kibbey (s), Tom Malpas, Nick Basty, Edoardo Pirovano, Aakash Desai, Jack Spira, Adithya Kale, Dan McNaughton (b) Women’s squad by LIA ORLANDO

MICHAELMAS TERM by a canvas. Wadham NW2 won against Mansfield After an incredibly successful 2013/14 season for the NW1 by 1 length showing how, once again, the wom- women’s side of the boat club last year, those of us en’s second crews are able to compete against first still in Oxford from last year’s crews threw ourselves boats and still come out on top. into training early on, looking to maintain the high standards that had been set. Those in Oxford over the On the Thursday Wadham NW1 again started off summer did a lot of sculling in small boats, with the the day, easing past St Hilda’s who caught a crab in most confident of us, Rachel Anderson, racing in a their first 30 strokes, and then, confident from their single at the City of Oxford Royal Regatta in August, previous win, gave it their all to win the race by a only a couple of months after first sitting in a single. huge margin. Wadham NW2 followed, again rowing With some surprisingly nice weather for October, we well but unfortunately lost against Somerville NW2. brought an eight and a four up to Godstow so that However, Somerville was racing as a “friendly boat” the seniors could focus on some technical rowing in with a few seniors in their crew, meaning that our small boats. girls advanced to the next day despite losing.

The focus of Michaelmas term is always on the nov- With the novice men eliminated on Thursday, all ices. An incredible recruitment drive led to over 30 the support on Friday was for the women. Wadham women signing up, leaving us with the problem of NW1 were drawn against St Anne’s NW1, who had coaching all of them! Thankfully, led by Rod, a strong raced very well throughout the week and were one contingent of current W1 and past W1 helped out, of the favourites to win, and had to row their hard- with great help from Yon-Hee Kim, Lucy Ventress est for the whole course, putting in a final push at and Hannah Stratford. the end to win the race by a few feet. Wadham NW2 were against Lincoln NW2 and, although they rowed CHRIST CHURCH REGATTA: The novices culmi- well, were unfortunately beaten. On Saturday the first nated their training for the term, as always, in Christ race of the day for Wadham NW1 was the quarter Church Regatta in 7th week. Wadham entered two final against Brasenose NW1. The few days of racing women’s boats, both very successful. had improved their rowing considerably, and after going off with a very good start they managed to On Wednesday they both beat their opponents, hold Brasenose and win by a comfortable 3 lengths. showing the strength of this year’s novice intake and And so they were through to the semi-finals against how hard they had worked all term. Wadham NW1 Jesus NW1. With another strong start, they had an were first up against Linacre NW1 and pushed hard early advantage and took a confident lead a third of all the way to the finish in a very close race, winning the way down the course, winning by 1½ lengths. And so, to the rowers’ surprise they were through to the final! The last time Wadham women won Christ Church was in 2011, could they repeat this? The girls fought well against Regent’s Park NW1, with another strong start many of the crew thought they’d won the race there and then, but this was not to be. Both crews pushed hard all the way to the finish and gave it their all, but alas Regent’s Park won by just 1 foot in the most exciting race of the week. A special mention goes to Ségolène Lapeyre, whose tendon in her knee first half of the course. Although missing one of our popped during the race, and still kept rowing to the W1 Torpid crew due to injury, we managed to race end! The girls were still elated with how far they’d thanks to the last-minute addition of WCBC alum- gotten and Rod ‘I don’t like to lose’ Andrews still nus and rowing legend, Hannah Stratford. Thanks happy with the progress they’d made throughout the to the Rod technique of coaching us all to row in the week, and consoled us all by saying that this was the same way, she slipped smoothly into the crew during only time that Regent’s Park would win anything. the 3km warm-up downstream to the start line.

Despite being great experience for the rowers, Christ After cheering on the Wadham men along the begin- Church was run on blue flag, meaning that unfor- ning of their race, it was our turn. We were unexpect- tunately the budding novice coxes were not able to edly sent off at the end of the men’s division instead race. Thus, a big thank you goes to the X-status coxes of at the top of the women’s division, which is what who stepped in, especially Joe Reason who raced al- we were expecting. This made both for an unsteady most back-to-back the whole day on Wednesday and start and a difficult race in the strong current, as the Thursday. With only Joe available, a massive thank men in front of us powered ahead and we did not you to Gavin (St. Hugh’s) and Harriet (Hertford) who have anyone behind us to push off. We did manage to kindly helped us out with coxing. pick it up over the second half of the course, finding and sustaining a strong and relaxed rhythm. We did HILARY TERM not place as well as we had hoped, but we still fin- Wallingford Regatta filled up extremely quickly ished as the fastest of the Oxford colleges racing, an meaning we were not able to secure a place to race, encouraging result in the run-up to Torpids. so the seniors did not race in Michaelmas, and a very rainy pre-Hilary training camp, alongside a ISIS WINTER LEAGUE: With W2 working hard lack of coxes meant that outings were scarce. So it and coming along nicely as a crew, they also had the was back to what we do best, working hard in the opportunity to race before Torpids at the IWL. This gym! Despite this slow start to the term, the weather would’ve been ideal for both the rowers and coxes improved slightly meaning we could get a decent to get familiar with the racing line, but again, the number of outings in, although a week of amber flag weather was against us, and the racing went ahead and no Wadham S-status coxes meant we desperately on blue flag again, meaning novice coxes were not called in James Packer to cox us one weekend; we’re allowed to race. The conditions were pretty horrific extremely thankful to all the alumni that help us out with powerful gusts of wind throughout the day, but with all aspects of our rowing! Despite an incredible the women braved the weather and used this oppor- novice intake at the beginning of the year, retention tunity for a solid, rate controlled row. proved more difficult, leaving us with just about enough rowers for two boats. This is something we TORPIDS: And so with a solid term’s training under need to focus on for next year! our belt we were ready for Torpids, or so we thought. About a week before racing, Maddy Butler’s injured HENLEY FOURS AND EIGHTS HEAD: On 14th wrist was still getting worse and so it was clear W1’s February, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend bow seat needed filling. For this, we unfortunately Valentine’s Day than with our eight significant others, compromised W2, by taking their power-house, so the first VIII’s headed out for Henley Head. It was Stephanie St-Jean, and leaving W2 one seat short. a cold and windy day, and of course the only rain Thankfully, Canna Whyte, ex-W1 extraordinaire, shower happened whilst we were racing down the was coming down to Oxford to watch the racing, and leaped at the opportunity to do some racing herself WOMEN’S EIGHTS HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE: as an Associate Member– thanks Canna! After the disappointment of losing the HBR time trial, we arrived on the Thames for WeHORR ready On the Wednesday, W2 started off in second place in to race, and to race well. Again, more unexpected Division 3, and chased down Merton to secure their unavailabilities meant we had to ask Canna to race first bump, despite pressure from a quick Brasenose with us, again, so we were again racing with a scratch crew. They went on to race as sandwich boat at the crew. Although most of the crew had never set boat bottom of division 2, to catch Exeter W1 and secure on the Tideway before race day, it was a great racing their position in division 2. On Thursday and Friday experience, good to leave the Oxford bubble and now they showed why they are the best second boat on we can say we’ve raced against the GB squad! De- the river, exceeding all expectations by bumping both spite a tough race in a headwind, and what for us felt St Anne’s W1 and Queen’s W1. Despite narrowly like a horrific race, we placed 41st out of just under missing the final bump on Saturday, W2 were award- 300 crews, ahead of many university crews, the top ed constitutional blades to recognize their incredi- Oxbridge college crew, comfortably beating Green ble achievement this year, not only in retaining the Templeton College that had, earlier that week, beaten ‘W2 headship’, but in continuing to hold their own us in the HBR trial! This is the highest Wadham have amongst 1st VIIIs at 10th in division 2. ever placed and Rod even almost told us we’d rowed well! Last year, Torpids was rained off following the 80 days of Red Flag on the Isis, and W1 were deprived TRINITY TERM of their chance to chase down the headship. This Trinity term rowing is always plagued by univer- year our chance finally arrived. Confident that we’d sity exams, and since I had my finals in 5th week worked hard all term, but still apprehensive that the I stepped back from my Captaincy duties. Katia crew we were racing with had only been together (very reluctantly) stepped up to the job, and excel- about a week, we went off extremely hard on the lently handled everything that came her way. Due Wednesday, and were shocked as we bumped Magda- to injuries and many people reluctant to race with len in the gut, after only a minute and a half of row- exams looming, we didn’t race any external regattas ing! Despite having a fresher in our boat, who didn’t this term, focusing on keeping afloat and training for even really understand what bumps racing was, this Summer Eights. We again struggled with numbers was the 4th year of Wadham W1 chasing Magdalen on the women’s side of the boat club, and illness and for the headship, and for Rod and some of the crew injury in W1 meant that W2 rowers were brought racing who’d been in those previous Torpid crews, up which severely compromised W2 and meant W1 this bump felt good (and long overdue)!! Three row only rowed as a full crew together for a couple of overs on the subsequent days, with only a minor outings before Eights. hiccup on the Friday (a crab caught as we got a bit complacent towards the finish line), meant a strong SUMMER EIGHTS: W2 started off Eights week 13th hold of the Torpid headship to complement our 2014 in Division 2, and rowed extremely well, despite the Summer Eights Headship! The fact that W1 bumped fact that they had a different crew every day, and that up to 1st in Division 1 and that W2 are better than one of their members had only had a few outings many other 1st VIII’s, with 8/9 of each crew having ever in a boat. They faced some tough competition learnt to row at Wadham is a great testament to Rod’s from the surrounding 1st VIIIs and were bumped by coaching. Linacre, Brasenose and Corpus Christi and finished 3rd in Division 3. They did however maintain the HENLEY BOAT RACES: Following on from last year’s W2 headship and are still in amongst other college’s success at Henley Boat Races, we raced Green Tem- 1st boats. A note of thanks needs to be given to Jess, pleton College in a time trial for the honour of rep- who coxed W1, but also rowed in W2 on three of the resenting Oxford this year as the best college crew. four days! Unfortunately they beat us and went on to race at HBR. However disappointed we were with losing, we W1 started the week as 1st in Divison 1 and retained did only lose by a margin of 1 second, and we were the Headship. The week started off easily, with two racing as a scratch crew, since the late organization of confident and comfortable row overs on the Wednes- the time trial meant we had problems of availability. day and Thursday, especially on Thursday, crossing the finish minutes before the next boat to row over Trinity, a difficult term for a lot of us, full of unex- as there were so many bumps behind us and the next pected hurdles to clamber over, but we made it out boat to row over was 10th in Division 1! On Friday the other side with the headship still in our grasp, and Saturday we faced a tougher opposition: Pem- and your dedication to the boat club is incredible broke had bumped their way up to second on the riv- – thank you so much for stepping in when exams got er and were determined to take the Headship. Their the better of me! stacked and determined crew, with many returning Blues, chased us hard, and closed on us on the Friday, Thank you also to College, especially our Domestic right up to the finish line, but with some exciting Bursar, Frances Lloyd and our Senior Member, Dr racing we retained the Headship for another year! Caroline Mawson, who are invaluable in helping us To add to the college rivalry between us rowers, the run the boat club and are always on the river bank Pembroke coach was taught by none other than our cheering for us during racing! Thank you also to our very own Rod Andrews, so there was lots of competi- amazing boatman, Kevin McWilliams, who has fixed tion between coaches too! boats and trailered us around at very short notice!

Again due to exams clashing with the time trials of And it’s with this that I leave the women’s captain- Henley Women’s, we didn’t race which was a huge cy to our trusted cox, Joseph Reason, who will be a shame, but this shows there is room to improve and fourth year medic from September, and carry on in develop the squad further where such unavailabilities the WCBC committee as Women’s President along- do not affect the squad as a whole. To top off the year, side Joe Blackmore. Our success would not be pos- many of us worked behind the bar at Remenham sible without the mountain of support we receive in Club and enjoyed watching some extremely high a million different ways from college, coaches and standard racing at Henley Royal Regatta, inspiring us alumni! LIA ORLANDO, WOMEN’S CAPTAIN. for summer training and next year.

And so I’ve come to the end of my captaincy. It’s been a bumpy ride for sure, with wrist injuries somehow becoming the new fashion amongst Wadham women and plaguing many of us in various forms throughout the year. We’ve managed to follow up the most successful 2013/14 year in the women’s boat club history, with an equally successful group of girls now holding all four women’s headships – both W1 and W2 for Torpids and Summer Eights!

Thank you to my squad for motivating me to be not only a better rower and give everything to my training, but to be a better person too. I know I’ve made mistakes along the way, but it’s been amazing knowing you’re on my side the whole time, whatever came our way. It’s with a heavy heart that we have to say goodbye to many rowers this year, in no particular order – Soleil Groh, Hannah Nugent, Ségolène Lap- eyre, Stephanie St-Jean, Kate Brooks, Molly McPar- land, Steph Hall, Diana Greenwald, Espe Semrau. You have all been integral to the squad and it will be hard to not see you around every day!

I’d like to thank the committee this year, my co-captain Joe, Katia, Jess and Steph, who were there for me every step of the way, even when I asked a bit much from them. A special mention needs to go to Katia again, who put an incredible effort into captaincy in 1ST TORPID: Jess Gillard (cox), Stephanie Hall (s), Katia Mandaltsi, Rachel Anderson, Lia Orlando, Eloise Stark, Hannah Nugent, Sophia Edwards, Stephanie St-Jean (b)

2ND TORPID: Espe Semrau (cox), Emma Rockall (s), Soleil Groh, Ségolène Lapeyre, Canna Whyte, Sophie Aldred, Lara Sarrionan- dia-Thomas, Diana Greenwald, Dani Chatten- ton (b)

1ST EIGHT: Jess Gillard (cox), Stephanie Hall (s), Katia Mandaltsi, Maddy Badcott, Lia Or- lando, Sophia Edwards, Stephanie St-Jean, Ségolène Lapeyre, Diana Greenwald (b)

2ND EIGHT: Espe Semrau (cox), Emma Rockall (s), Soleil Groh, Sophie Aldred / Kate Brooks, Canna Whyte, Zuzana Vikarska / Lara Sarrion- andia-Thomas, Lore Madec / Gabrielle Hughes, Molly McParland, Jess Gillard / Dani Chatten- ton (b) 2016 Reunion

2016 IS A SPECIAL YEAR for Wadham rowing as Casting our minds back to 1986, an M1 crew com- it marks the 40th anniversary of the first Wadham prising several philosophers (and more mathemati- women’s crew to go Head of the River and it is cians) won their blades by claiming their favourite also the 30th anniversary of a very special blade-win- position as sandwich boat in Division 1. In W1 we ning M1! took another year to get our act together to win blades, in 1987, but when Simon Evans suggested a Will we see W1 win the trophy for 1976, 1978, 2014, crew date in 2011 we were more than happy to join 2015 and 2016? in the 25th anniversary celebrations! Although we Will M1 continue their upward trajectory, challeng- couldn’t quite recreate the two original crews we did ing the big boys in Division 1? persuade five dedicated rowers to fly in from the US The @WadhamBoatie tweets say it all: #inrodwetrust! and one from Cambodia for a weekend of reminisc- Rod Andrews: more than 30 years of dedication; a ing and a little bit of competitive paddling on the legend of our time. Sunday afternoon. (By the way, we weren’t cheating, we just heard the “go” a little earlier than the hard-of- With Wadham once again challenging in both first hearing old boys...) It was strange to think that some Divisions we couldn’t think of a better way to show of us hadn’t seen each other for 25 years but we were our support and celebrate past achievements than by even better friends after 48 hours than at the end of turning up in force at the river for the late May Bank that long-distant summer... (there are lots more fond Holiday weekend. If we can amass sufficient num- memories in the 2011 newsletter!) bers we hope to persuade College to put on a special dinner on the Friday, join the Boat Club festivities on So are you up for some fun in the Saturday night and maybe do some paddling on Oxford next summer? We do hope the Sunday afternoon? We will be in touch nearer the so! time but please start spreading the word as we want to make sure that 2016 will be a year to remember! Eights week will be Wed 25th - Sat 28th May 2016. DIANA MOUNTAIN.

In 1984 Diana (Mathematics, 1984-87), rowing at seven, above, was told by the Rev. Vere Ducker that she had potential as a novice oarswoman but that she was rather weedy and should eat more! Surviving a sinking in Torpids 1985 she went on to row for the Oxford University Lightweights in 1986 & 1987 (President) and Wadham 1st VIII 1985-87. She is now the Society Treasurer. The will to

row

by IAN COX

“…. a circular movement of absolutely identical series is thus demonstrated: the world as a circular movement that has already repeated itself infinitely often and plays its game ad infinitum.” FRIEDRICH NIETZCHE

Have you ever thought about what the great philoso- yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the phers would say if transported through time to coach demon who spoke thus?” an outing? Socrates would presumably make us discuss things in great detail (what is a good outing? One can see obvious parallels with the sport of etc.), Plato would theorise about the ideal form of rowing. The attractions of a pastime which involves rowing and Aristotle would tell us to develop virtu- doing the exact same things over and over again with ous habits. However, Friedrich Nietzche might be as little variation as possible may not seem obvious. one of the most challenging guest coaches. Even so, the ultimate solution in the film, and ac- cording to Nietzsche, seems to be using the repeat- Anyone who has seen the film Groundhog Day will ing sequence as an opportunity to focus on every understand Nietzsche’s doctrine of the eternal recur- aspect of your actions in the present and continually rence. The main character’s initial reaction to having strive towards perfection for its own sake. This also to do the same stuff over and over again is bewilder- seems to be the essence of rowing. However elusive ment and then despair. Nietzsche imagined a similar the goal of ideal form may be, one strives and hopes response to this situation. “Would you not throw that one is approaching asymptotically towards it. If nothing else, the problem is well defined. rience feels a bit like boarding an airplane where you are confined to your seat and duty bound to conform The original source of Nietzche’s thinking on the to the instructions of the cabin crew. Not surprising- eternal recurrence is thought to have been the ly, it is easy to slip into galley slave mode under these pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus. Heraclitus circumstances. himself gave an alternative view on rowing when he said “You cannot step into the same river twice.” However, contrary to the images portrayed in the This aphorism relates to the concept of everything in film Ben Hur, galleys in ancient times were rarely the Universe being in a state of endless flux. In this manned by slaves or condemned criminals. It was sense, rowing holds similar frustrations to the sport deemed preferable to have skilled and well motivated of golf. You try to do the same thing at each stroke free men powering the boat to avoid the engine stall- and yet, due to the vagaries of the chaos inside and ing at an unfortunate moment. If Nietzsche were outside the boat, often seem to end up with radically stood on the bank, he would certainly be exhorting different results. us to become masters or mistresses of our own desti- ny. What that actually means is up to the individual One can just curse the flux or blame the fact that a übermensch. butterfly landed on your blade. However, Nietzche would probably advise us to shift the focus from the Finally, perhaps the hardest part of Nietzsche’s teach- river to ourselves. Like the river, we are all changing to get a handle on is his most specific comment ing at every moment in that the component parts of on the sport: “When one rows, it is not the rowing our bodies are being repaired and replaced, and our which moves the ship; rowing is only a magical experiences are moulding the structures of our brain. ceremony by means of which one compels a demon This sense of owning the flux may certainly offer a to move the ship.” I guess what didn’t kill him made better existential vision of reality than just suffering him bonkers. It also killed him, eventually. the side effects of the randomness. Anyhow, next week’s guest coach will be Diogenes. Nietzche’s aversion to a slave mentality is also rele- Bring waterproofs. IAN COX. vant. It is generally understood that the prime direc- tive in the boat is to follow orders. To do otherwise would create chaos. To this extent, the rowing expe-

A former WCBC President, Ian (1983-89, Medicine), seated at stroke, above, rowed with Gavin Stewart in the 1st VIII in 1987. He says he was “behind [Gavin] in terms of being behind him in the boat and not being able to keep up with him at firm pressure.” He is now a consultant cardiologist in Plymouth and his daughter is a keen rower. Townsend Swayze

Townsend captained the 1959 Harvard Undefeat- ed Heavyweight Crew, which won Henley’s Grand Challenge Cup. The following year, 1960, he read English at Wadham graduating in 1962. He rowed 3 in the victorious 1960 Oxford Crew. Subsequently, he coached Wadham crews. Since then, for almost 50 years, he has continued to train and compete in eights, fours, doubles and singles, rowing for the Po- tomac Boat Club in Washington, DC and for the last 16 years for the Upper Valley Rowing Foundation in Hanover, New Hampshire. In addition to overseas victories at the World’s Masters Regatta, he has won at numerous US regatta’s, including the famous Head of the Charles in Boston, Massachusetts. This Sep- tember he will be competing in Belgium at this year’s World’s Masters Regatta.

A FEW REFLECTIONS AND MEMORIES OF A WADHAM ROWER OF MANY YEARS AGO

There are two rather curious anecdotes about my lar, whether the orthodox style then “de rigueur” at rowing and Wadham. Oxford was responsible for the long series of defeats in the annual Boat Race. Could we learn from the Shortly after Dunkirk a group from Oxford, fearing Cambridge crews? My wife’s father also told me why an invasion, sent their children off to North America. the rowing blazers were in Light Blue. The legend is My wife and her twin brother and mother landed in that in the 1840’s Wadham beat a Cambridge crew Canada after a somewhat perilous Atlantic crossing. at Henley and won the right to wear the Cambridge Her father remained in Oxford. He had virtually colors. And the Maltese Cross? The college boat was no contact with his two children for almost twenty called the “St John of Malta.” years. Meanwhile, I met his daughter at Harvard and we were married in the late summer of 1959. Tom Vaughan appeared at our Henley boat tent during our practices, whilst my wife was in the States I was a member of the Harvard 1959 Undefeated preparing for our wedding. She had not seen or Heavyweight Crew that had earned a trip to Henley. communicated with him for almost 20 years. We Also, with the recommendation of Harvard Elliot moved to England after our summer wedding when House’s master, a fellow classicist of Sir Maurice she met her father for virtually the first time. And Bowra, I was starting graduate work at Wadham that there was this extraordinary bond for us of Wadham Fall. Harvard’s toughest Grand Challenge Cup race and rowing. at Henley was against an Isis Crew that was virtually the 1959 Oxford Boat Race Crew. Thus, in the 1960 My second curious anecdote occurred in the Carib- Blue Boat I was soon to join several oarsmen that I bean several years ago. For some reason my goog- had raced against at Henley the previous summer. led name featured my coaching of John Ducker’s Wadham four which I worked with after the boat My wife’s father, totally coincidentally, graduat- race. We called the crew, for some reason, the River ed from Wadham in the 1930’s. And he rowed at Rats. A big mystery, what bizarre association did Wadham during his three years in various college the digital world suddenly make to highlight my boats. He spent many hours at the Wadham barge Wadham River Rats rowing experience of over 50 learning, discussing, and philosophizing about the years ago! TOWNSEND SWAYZE. aesthetics and techniques then prevalent. In particu- View from the launch

ROD ANDREWS tries to make the worst of a very successful year. Following on from last year this has been another were due to the amount of weight training – some- successful year for the Boat Club, with the women thing I need to address this coming Michaelmas. going Head of the River in Torpids, retaining the There were also availability issues with the squad Summer Eights headship and finishing an incredible making it very difficult to boat two crews on a regu- 41st at the Women’s Head of the River race on the lar basis. A week or so before race day we lost Maddy Tideway and the women’s second crew again retain- Butler, whose wrist was so painful it was preventing ing the Head of 2nd boats in both events. But prob- her from writing, not good with finals looming! ably the most outstanding performance of the year Stephanie from the successful novice crew was pro- was the men’s firsts climbing five places in Torpids, moted to bow in W1, this compromised W2 but we finishing 6th in division 1. ‘Up with the big boys’ as were fortunate to have Canna willing to come back Joe put it! and row (which she also did for the Women’s Head and W2 in Eights!) All this sounds very positive but we cannot always assume this level of success. Both 1st eights were Day one saw W1 claim the headship with an aggres- made up of mainly experienced rowers – this com- sive bump on Magdalen, then three very comfortable ing year may not be the same so it will involve a row overs to follow. W2 increased their stronghold fair amount of rebuilding for the future. The termly on the 2nd boats Headship with a blade winning WCBC newsletters and Captains’ reports contain all week’s work rowing in division 2, bumping other the results and racing details – added below is my College 1st eights! brief review of the year’s activities. The Women’s Head of the River saw W1 finish 41st WOMEN’S YEAR out of 320 plus crews and into the top division of 50 We started with a good number of fresher novices crews – so we will have a very high starting position in Michaelmas and it was clear we had a promising next year. squad with some outstanding athletes. Crews were formed early but due to a number dropping out it EIGHTS was difficult to maintain consistent crews. However a We made two changes to W1 for Eights, with Maddy week before Christchurch Regatta we had two crews Badcott from the Blue Boat joining us and Segolene ready to race, taking them up to Godstow for final stepping up from W2. Initially progress was slow, preparation. plagued with more injuries and balance issues, then a week before racing we lost Eloise to illness. Diana, Both crews performed well with the A crew losing with only a handful of bowside outings beforehand, the final by a dubious 1 foot decision, later changed came in at bow in a much reshuffled crew. Two com- to a canvas, despite Segolene racing with a painful fortable row overs were followed by two tough races knee injury, requiring paramedic attention after- against a strong Pembroke crew – matching them wards. stroke for stroke over the course, although we lost some of the rhythm towards the end, some powerful With a strong senior squad made up of five of the pushes saw us retain the Headship in the 200th year! 2014 Head crew, three returning with previous W1 W2, rowing with a different combination each day, experience and some from the 2nd crew – a success- struggled against other 1st eights but still retained ful Torpids was looking likely. Using an eight and the Headship. We now have all four! four at Godstow for most of Michaelmas, rotating crews and combinations to ensure the whole squad MEN’S YEAR developed our ‘trademark’ technique. This has been We started with a larger than normal novice intake the foundation of our success over recent years. River - we had high expectations for the squad and things time was supplemented (for the whole BC) with a were looking promising as term progressed. However robust land training programme consisting of 3 – 4 we were hampered by availability issues and short erg sessions of up to 90 minute duration, plus weight notice cancelations making it very difficult for Joe training and core circuits. to provide consistent crews for the coaches to work with. Hannah, Paul & Julian eventually made good TORPIDS progress and two crews did get some invaluable rac- The build up to Torpids was compromised by inju- ing experience during Christchurch regatta although ries and illness; mainly wrist problems which I think perhaps not the results we were looking for. Apart them on a regular basis; I know they found it very frustrating at times!

A re-jigged M1 raced the Tideway Head but the conditions on the day were far from ideal - rough, wet and windy. Prior to boating Scott and I taped over the riggers with gaffer tape to try and reduce the amount of water getting into the boat as sinking looked a possibility. Unfortunately a couple of ‘boat stoppers’ midway down the course affected the result. However a day out with the boys is always good val- ue, never straightforward!

EIGHTS Trinity term started with one change to M1 but this required a complete reshuffle of crew order, I think this never really gelled as well as it could have – plus the land training dropped off considerably. I sometimes got the feeling the whole crew were not fully from the tank sessions I only spent a few outings behind the direction we were taking - but compro- with them but the highlight for me had to be Kibbey mises were made in order to sustain boat speed as answering his mobile phone in the middle of a work long as possible as the crew found it difficult to hold piece, I think it was his mum, priceless! the rating. Both Julian and I agree, maybe it should have gone faster, however we still maintained an Throughout Michaelmas the senior squad followed upward trend in Div 1! the same river and land training programme as the women, plus with only one or two options for M1 Rowing has changed whereby physical strength and we were able to boat with minimal changes between fitness is put above the technical aspect of the indi- outings – this resulted in some good technical im- vidual, it is now commonplace to see crews race at provements leading to a very competent crew. This higher rates usually with a more upright style – but if produced a good solid row at Henley Head to round you haven’t got the level of fitness, in my opinion, it is off a productive term. better to row a longer more relaxed style. I remember making a point about the ‘stacked’, powerful Keble TORPIDS crew, high rate, lots of aggression but uneconomical As we progressed through Hilary M1 continued to – something easily improved on. improve, producing some good economic paddling as well as good boat speed when asked to do so – Some mixed results for M2 and 3, but encouraging some of this came from well attended land sessions. signs for the development of future crews for next The Torpid results were above expectations and year. This is mainly down to Paul, despite all the set- although the crew climbed 5 places they were very backs, missed outings and so on, he always showed unlucky not to get blades. I remember the pre-race tremendous enthusiasm and I know he is well re- talk on the Saturday – where I said, ‘to catch Wolf- spected by all the ex-novice squad and he’s back for son, they would need to go somewhere they hadn’t more next term! been before’. They did and it almost worked – requiring medical treatment afterwards! COACHING AND SUPPORT Thanks to Hannah, Yon-Hee, Lucy, Paul, Julian and M2 and 3 were made up of mainly those new to row- anyone else who has given up their time to coach this ing this year and ended up with mixed results, which year. We still have a way to go to make this system could have been easier with more commitment and work more efficiently and before Michaelmas we will availability. This pattern followed on through Trinity meet up to discuss our individual ideas and find a but does show good promise for the future. I have to more common direction to move forward in the fu- add in here, none of what they did would have been ture. Hopefully, I will be adding a couple more names possible without the work of those who coached to the coaching team soon – watch this space! THIS 1930’S ILLUSTRATION IS OF THE OLD OUBC BOATHOUSE sadly destroyed by fire in 1999. This was not only my family home for over twenty five years, but also where WCBC boated from up to the building of our current boathouse. Wadham boats were stored in the third bay from the right shared with St Catherines - the right facing roofline on the upper floor was the clubroom.

I wonder how many of you rowed in or can remember the following Wadham boats from the pre-plastic era. Nicholas Wadham, Admiral Blake, Snoopy, The Red Dean, Earl of Rochester, St John of Malta, Lady Hampshire (the first boat in Oxford built specifically for women) and Rod (also built for women – the last er year, starting with a new intake of novices and racing eight built in Oxford and the last racing boat encouraging the seniors to train harder and focus built by Salter’s on Folly Bridge.) Maybe you also on more small boat rowing. Some have continued to rowed in the Wren (a very fine coxless four), Maurice scull on and off throughout the summer – sometimes Bowra (coxed four), one of the three clinker sculls or twice a day leading up to racing at Oxford Regatta. perhaps the shell scull (nicknamed the ‘banana boat’ But, is it right athletes of this standard have to race in due to the colour and it’s ever changing shape – curl- twenty year old sculling boats? We have work to do! ing up at the bows and stern!) Unfortunately, for the first time in many years, I will not be joining you all at the 2015 Regatta and Dinner The Catz boats have always been named after due to a miss-timed pre - term low altitude Peroni A.A.Milne characters or sayings – ‘How Cold My training camp on the Italian coastline not far from Toes’ was my favourite! Pisa. Interestingly, after all the balance problems W1 struggled with during the build up to Eights – the FINALLY tower will probably look perfectly normal! After this short break I will be ready for yet anoth- ROD ANDREWS, HEAD COACH.

ABOVE: a very rare photograph of the blades winning 1987 Eights week crew racing in “Rod” BOAT CLUB COMMITTEE 2014-15 Men’s President: Tom Johnes Women’s President: Stephanie Hall Men’s Captain: Joe Emsley Men’s Vice Captains: James Evry, Richard Appleby Women’s Captain: Lia Orlando Women’s Vice Captains: Katia Mandaltsi, Emma Rockall Secretary: Rachel Anderson Treasurer: Maddy Butler Captain of Coxes: Jess Gillard Bargee: Tom Steavenson

BOAT CLUB COMMITTEE 2015-16 Men’s President: Joe Blackmore Women’s President: Lia Orlando Men’s Captain: James Evry Men’s Vice Captain: Ollie Braddy Women’s Captain: Joe Reason Women’s Vice Captain: Lara Sarrionan- dia-Thomas Secretary: Adithya Kale Treasurer: Maddy Butler Captain of Coxes: Jess Gillard Bargee: Dan Kibbey

BOAT CLUB SOCIETY COMMITTEE President: The Warden Chairman: Ben Williams (1988) Treasurer: Diana Mountain (1984) Membership Secretary: Stephanie Hall (2012) Social Secretary: Lucy Ventress (2005) Boat Club Liason: Diana Mountain 3rd Torpid 1982 Rep: Gavin Stewart (1981) Coaching Coordinator: Rod Andrews Newsletter Editor: Simon Evans (1978) Committee Members: Darron Cullen (2002), Conor O’Neill (2000), Paul Bowen (1962)

EDITORS Stephanie Hall, Tom Johnes

PHOTOS Kate Wensley, Paul Appleby, Hilary Z-W, Ollie Braddy, Katy McCay, Edoardo Pirovano, James Evry, Simon Evans, Dennis West, Diana Greenwald, Zu Zi

WITH THANKS TO Source: Anu Dudhia, Ben Williams, Joe Emsley, Lia Orlando, Diana http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/rowing/ Mountain, Ian Cox, Townsend Swayze, Rod bumps/e2015/ Andrews, Simon Evans. Anu Dudhia [email protected] www.wcbcs.org.uk