On Sunday 22 July, 2 days after the finale of Town Bumps, 8 Cantabs athletes were back in action racing eights once again but this time in Bristol at the Power8 Sprints.
Guy Fiddian races in the Cambridge M8+ Photo credit: Al Craigie
Bristol Harbour Festival was the setting for the first Power8 Sprints event take place, billed by British Rowing as an exciting new racing format which would see crews representing each region of England racing against each other over 350m in a series of knock-out races. The event was televised on BT Sport, Facebook Live and the BBC Red Button.
The Cambridge W8+ Photo credit: Al Craigie
Men’s 8+
After selection days earlier in the season, Guy Fiddian had been selected to race in the bow seat of the men’s 8+ representing the Eastern Region at the Power8 Sprints along with athletes from Norwich RC and Lea RC. In their first round against Newcastle, the Cambridge M8+ had a comfortable race to win by over half a length.
In the semi-final, they raced well against faced a formidable crew from Manchester who went on to win the event.
The Cambridge men’s 8+ had such a good time that they will be racing again at Sudbury Regatta this coming weekend.
Women’s 8+
The Cambridge W8+ comprised Andrea de Bruin, Ellie Darlington, Jessie Spivey, Eve Beere, Ann Laube, Harriet Cross and Bailee Stratton, all of whom were in the crew which rowed over as Head of the River in Town Bumps. They were joined by Amanda Benson-Skailes and cox Jess Brown from Lea RC.
In the first round they had a scrappy row but were victorious over a crew representing Exeter.
In the semi-final they faced a strong Bristol crew, who enjoyed the support of thousands of local spectators. After a much better start than the heat against Exeter, Bristol managed to pip Cambridge to the win, racing in the final against the crew representing Oxford.
You can hear some of the crew’s reactions to the races here:
Thank you to Nigel Weare, Helen Middleton, Jon Winch and Tom Copeland for coaching and organising the crews and the weekend.
Join us!
If you’d be interested in joining the Cantabs Senior Men’s or Senior Women’s Squads, there is more information on our squads on our website, or you can contact the Men’s Captain or Women’s Captain directly.
