W1 Lent Bumps Report

Day One: Rowed Over (Head of Division 2)

With the choice of pain or pain and depression and with nothing to bump this was never going to be a pleasant race for the first women. We were fairly confident we could hold off New Hall for the duration of the course, and were just aiming for a good, tidy row. The start went to plan, with us pushing away from New Hall who were being gained on by Robinson, and we settled into a good rythmn. Jesus II caught Robinson fairly early so by Plough Reach it was just us holding off New Hall, who were over 2 lengths behind. We cornered Ditton well but were flagging slightly on the reach, still in no danger from behind. When we were about 300m down the reach it became clear that Kings were going to get the over-bump on New Hall so we relaxed (possibly slightly too much!) and once they had bumped out we took the rating down and rowed, somewhat untidly, to the finish. Good first half of the race, slightly dodgy row down the reach, but hopefully tomorrow we wont have to go that far! :-)

Day Two: Rowed Over (Bottom of Division 1)

Off to a good start and closed slightly on Catz ahead of us but unfortunately not as fast as they closed on Selwyn, who they bumped before the plough. As The two crews ahead had also bumped out this left us, sadly, with nothing to chase. Rowed over slowly and philosophically.

Day Three: Bumped by Kings (arrrrgh!)

We knew Kings were fast, but were hoping to hold them off for long enough to allow Jesus II to get them. Unfortunately Jesus were slower than we'd anticipated (and Kings were faster) and having held them off at under a canvas for most of the gut, with Jesus (finally!) closing on them fast we caught a crap just before Ditton and they hit us. Sad but a seriously good row, especially down plough reach, and impressively good under pressure.

Day Four: Bumped by Jesus II

We knew Jesus II were very fast after their start and they had gained about 3 lengths on us by Ditton the previous day, so the plan was to give it everything off the start and hope to get Selwyn before Jesus got us! We got a whistle off our start, and were encouragingly up from Jesus, and then 2 whistles before the gut. Unfortunately we stayed on 2 whistles all the way through the gut and Jesus by this point had pulled themselves together and we closing like an express train (or something very fast!). Held them off as long as we could but were caught on plough reach (again!). Caught fair and square by Jesus but should probably have got Selwyn.

Amy Lindley - Women's Officer and Six-Woman