Bumps, Blades, and Bowballs- Cambridge Boatie Chat

haha practice makes perfect. i didnt think i could cox either. then i did it a bit more and its actually not too bad! and you didn't hit the Duck!

Hi guys - was wondering, our college started up a third men's boat this term (we're diddy so we normally only have two) which I'm coxing. It's made up of a couple of promising novices, a few experienced rowers who want a lighter load on the 'banter barge' and a few who've only done a bit of rowing before.

It's shaping up to be a pretty good crew; ok, balance sometimes a bit crap and don't get me started on blade heights, but we have some sporty people and there's a lot of power in the boat. We've done loads of pieces and some of them have been really good.

I was wondering what our chances are for getting onto bumps. The guys are talking about it like it's just a given that we'll get on and get blades (it's not a crew lacking in confidence). Despite having some experienced rowers, it is essentially a novice crew; but are most of the crews in the getting on race novice crews? How competitive is the Mays GoR?

Hey all,

I am a lightweight rower heading to cambridge next year (fingers crossed conditional offer XD). I am wondering the sorts of Ergometer times required for both college boats and University Lightweight boats. I am quite technically proficient (rowed for five years), so I think the main question is fitness. Any input would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

Hey all,

I am a lightweight rower heading to cambridge next year (fingers crossed conditional offer XD). I am wondering the sorts of Ergometer times required for both college boats and University Lightweight boats. I am quite technically proficient (rowed for five years), so I think the main question is fitness. Any input would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

Hey all,

I am a lightweight rower heading to cambridge next year (fingers crossed conditional offer XD). I am wondering the sorts of Ergometer times required for both college boats and University Lightweight boats. I am quite technically proficient (rowed for five years), so I think the main question is fitness. Any input would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

Hey all,

I am a lightweight rower heading to cambridge next year (fingers crossed conditional offer XD). I am wondering the sorts of Ergometer times required for both college boats and University Lightweight boats. I am quite technically proficient (rowed for five years), so I think the main question is fitness. Any input would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

So the college I'm heading to is St. Catharines. Last 2k was in march. went 6:52. Definitely gotten fitter/faster since then. Do most people tend to shave a lot off 2ks during the trialing/training period?

In view of how Catz have been doing, you'll definitely make their first boat in that case. Not the greatest of picks college-wise, though I'm sure they're lovely people, they aren't particularly renowned for being fast on the river - fairly low in the Lents bumps charts atm and they spoon-barged during Mays last year (got bumped on every night). In fairness, their first boat is pretty high in Mays at the moment. They'd be lucky to have you.

Re: lightweights, if you've definitely improved on that 6.52, you're in a pretty decent position to shoot it into CULBC - you might even make the actual boat in your first year if you're lucky. Regardless, it'll give you some time with quality rowers, so you'll get a good experience either way.

HAHAHAHAHA. You're from Christ's, right? That really says it all...(you may want to look at footage from this year's Lents, results from last weekend, and this century's May charts for a comparison of how "prestigious" the two clubs are in comparison).
On the CULRC note, the coach tends not to pick people on their first year of trialling unless they're exceptional. All the more reason to trial the first year though, to get the experience for a run at the boat in your second year.

In view of how Catz have been doing, you'll definitely make their first boat in that case. Not the greatest of picks college-wise, though I'm sure they're lovely people, they aren't particularly renowned for being fast on the river - fairly low in the Lents bumps charts atm and they spoon-barged during Mays last year (got bumped on every night). In fairness, their first boat is pretty high in Mays at the moment. They'd be lucky to have you.

Re: lightweights, if you've definitely improved on that 6.52, you're in a pretty decent position to shoot it into CULBC - you might even make the actual boat in your first year if you're lucky. Regardless, it'll give you some time with quality rowers, so you'll get a good experience either way.

Regarding improving 2ks, I'm in my first year of rowing myself so can't really offer any perspective. I would imagine so - I know a few people who dev-squadded with CUWBC and they got a massive boost out of it, both technique and fitness wise.

Catz 1st boat are quite decent this year though. There not up there with Downing, Queens', Caius, FaT and Pembroke but they are probably in the next tier of crews

Certainly so, but judging from previous results they aren't nearly always that good - this year they had a blue (George Nash) and at least one lightweight returning. But that runty little specimen was staking his reputation on a boat he does not row in.

You're not coming across well here...

Certainly so, but judging from previous results they aren't nearly always that good - this year they had a blue (George Nash) and at least one lightweight returning. But that runty little specimen was staking his reputation on a boat he does not row in.