Cantabs Women set new records for the club at the 75th Women’s Eights Head of the River Race on Saturday 14th March.
The annual 4.25 mile (6.8 km) race on the Championship Course on the River Thames, was raced as usual from Mortlake to Putney. Despite the 9:30 start making it the earliest starting race since 2001, 300 crews were entered. Conditions on the day were noticeably slower than last year, with the wind chopping up the water for the first half of the course.
Until 2013, the highest Cantabs finish in the event was 104th, but in both 2013 and 2014, the first VIII finished 65th. Determined to further improve on that result, the Senior Women’s Squad had been training hard under the direction of Tom Copeland, and their two eights had made the most of Hammersmith Head two weeks earlier, to get some Tideway experience.
Cantabrigian A – Photo by Chris Revell
Cantabrigian A (IM1) set off 45th, and rowed strongly off the start, overtaking six crews to finish 25th overall – a new club record! They were second in the competition for Provincial Club pennant, behind Nottingham RC who won the pennant for the ninth year in succession. Apart from the CUWBC crews, they were the fastest Cambridge crews, beating City rivals by 0.9 seconds.
Cantabrigian B – JET Photographic
Cantabrigian B (IM2) set off 90th, and despite racing with a non-functioning cox-box, managed to finish at 90th – easily the best Cantabs finish for a 2nd VIII! They beat City of Cambridge’s B & C crews, and all the Cambridge college crews except for Christs.
Cantabrigian C – JET Photographic
Cantabrigian C (IM3), from Dev Squad, were less happy with their row, having boated later than intended, but finished in 252nd place. This is only the second time that Cantabs has entered three VIIIs at WEHORR, and all participants gained useful Tideway experience.
Friendly and helpful marshals were a very welcome feature of the race, and the Cantabs crews even managed to keep their cool when they realised that it really was Matthew Pinsent telling them when it was safe to cross the course!
Well done to all who took part, including coaches Tom Copeland, Jonathan Winch and David Oldham, with extra thanks to David who towed the trailer with a 5am start!
Crews
A: Robert Nimmo (cox), Myriam Goudet, Eleanor Darlington, Rachael Crockford, Claire Nichols, Abbie Lawrence, Molly Hindhaugh, Amelia Perrin, Rebecca Pound. Coach: Tom Copeland
B: Beth Collett (cox), Elinor Wombwell, Judith Weik, Gillian Cooper, Lindsey Tate, Susan Waterhouse, Krystyna Waterhouse, Leanne Young, Susanne Hakenbeck. Main coach: Jon Winch
C: Barbara Blacklaws (cox), Rachel Hesketh, Katherine Mcleod, Eleanor Priestnall, Etienne Creasey Keeler, Jennfer Daffron, Emma Siragher, Sarah Weaver, Jessica Santos. Coach: David Oldham
