Having listened to Adieamus and some Negro Spirituals to motivate me, I made my way to the boathouse yesterday, carbed up, and with non-porkine wine-gums in pocket, and Lucazade in hand. It was the first day of Lent Bumps 2006. It was cold, and snowing at times. We had to remember the tears, blood and toil of this term, which had brought us to this moment.
After the canons, the urination in bushes, the focused stairs, and last minute advice, we got off to a great start. First whistle, meaning that we had gained on Fitz, who we were chasing, soon came. This continued for a further two minutes. Yet after two sets of continuous whistles against Fitz, and the great start which pushed us well away from Queens behind who got the row over in the end, we were forced to hold it up, with alleged carnage in front of us. We came within a canvas of Fitz after two and a half minutes, and then settled to within 3/4 length, only for them to stop rowing, claiming that ‘they had been told to do so from the bank’.
We had to have a re-row, just between our two boats. This meant going all the way back to the start, and waiting, in the freezing snow and wind, for other divisions to go by. This was now a battle of minds, with clear water in front of them (makes it easier) and just us chasing. They had a better start than their first attempt (though we still gained in first 2 minutes), but held us at length or so for most of the row-over. It was painful, but at least we were not bumped.
I went on my way to supervise on the American constitution, rejoicing.
Today, we rowed over again. Weather was sunny, but Fitz, a strong boat like us, chugged it out against us, as we were the last gladiators standing. We should both be higher in the division, where, paradoxically, there are potentially worse boats who we could both bump. But such is life.
On Friday, we try and get them again. Yet this time we have a fast Trinity boat ready to ram us into oblivion. We will have to prevent this. Perhaps, in the prevention, we will finally take our perennial bugbears, Fitz.
The Sabra is cooking me fish tonight, as a reward for my efforts.
Today
March 5th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
just thought i’d let you know - fitz 6 man broke his seat, that’s why you gained on us so much on the first day. you also never actually got canvas cover..
March 5th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
Yes- but the reason he broke his seat, is because he crabbed/ fell off, owing to the fact we scared you into less than tidy rowing, by coming up on you. Your crew was probably stronger overall, than us, in the end. Well done on going up one! Thank goodness we are not going to have to annoy each other (more you being too good..) come Mays..
March 6th, 2006 at 4:03 am
Nice blog. Where/what are the promised Windband Spectaculars etc.?
March 6th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
See the post for December 8th.