May Bumps 2013 – Reports

Pembroke College Boat Club

proudly sponsored by:

May Bumps 2013
Results

Pembroke’s Race Reports

M1

Wednesday: 8th in Division 1 – Bumped by Queens’

After a slightly nervy warm up we found ourselves stationed under the bridge right next to a very loud cannon! A fast start saw us pull away from Queen’s and hold station with a strong Catz boat in front. However coming out of The Gut, a loss of composure cost us dearly, and unnecessary energy wasted past the Plough caught up with us into the Long Reach where Queen’s pushed and bumped.

Arav Gupta, M1 cox

Thursday: 9th in Division 1 – Bumped by Clare

Confident in our fast start, our aim was to nab Queen’s as soon as possible, as we knew Clare was of similar speed to us. We held rhythm for longer today, and this paid off in our overlap with Queen’s down the reach. Alas, we couldn’t bump as we were on the other side of the river from them, trying to hold of a hungry Clare, who gave one final push under the railway bridge and made the bump.

Arav Gupta, M1 cox

Friday: 8th in Division 1 – Bumped Clare

We weren’t so worried about Christ’s behind us, and especially back to our full strength line up, we knew we could get Clare. And get Clare we did. We hit a strong rhythm and reeled them in with cries of “Yeah Pem-Broke” from the 6 seat. Once we got steaming, we weren’t gonna stop. In my opinion the week’s tidiest and most lethal row.

Arav Gupta, M1 cox

Saturday: 7th in Division 1 – Bumped Queens’

Buoyant from the previous day, and with knowledge we had already nearly caught Queen’s on the 2nd day, we set out to bump quick. Again, a solid start and Clare were dropped promptly. A quick gut and onto Plough Reach we were on many whistles. Ideally should have got them before Ditton, but some eager coxing from both boats and Queen’s controversially held off until the spinning posts. However the bump was inevitable, and Pem1 finished level.

Arav Gupta, M1 cox

W1

Wednesday: 5th in Division 1 – Bumped By Clare

W1 have trained hard throughout the term. The start of our Easter training was to focus on rowing as a crew . We were grateful for the return of one of our CUW representatives, Clare Hall, and other experienced members from Pembroke; for a few, it was the first time they had rowed for W1.

Our start was strong and committed. We were chased by Clare, tipped for greatness (David Attenborough, 2013). Ahead of us were Newnham who’ve been climbing the divisions steadily for a few years. We followed our race plan, going off high, rowing over at 37. Clare Hall and Eleanor Metcalfe set a strong rhythm in the stern but the yellow blades of Clare came at us hard. We pushed into First Post corner, gaining a quarter of a length on Newnham but unfortunately it was not enough. Clare pushed hard through the apex and steered a good line, taking us on our exit.

A disappointing start to the W1 May Bumps 2013 campaign. However our post outing debrief was overall positive, with the girls excited for tomorrow.

Kat Suddaby, W1 6-seat and Women’s Captain

Thursday: 6th in Division 1 – Bumped by Emmanuel

W1 attacked day 2 with the same commitment and venom we’d approached the previous day with. Kevin gave us a fantastic set up leading to our strongest start of the term and a gain of a quarter of a length on Clare. We hit a maximum rate of 42 before lengthening to 36. Within a minute we had come to First post corner, Emma hot on our heels and Caius chasing them hard. Emma took a tight line, catching our inside. On pushing out of the corner into the gut, Emma had the favourable line allowing them to bump, just as Caius were pushing for their own bump.

It was extremely disappointing. The crew have trained incredibly hard and we couldn’t have given anything more. As a captain I can’t ask for more than that.

Tomorrow was have Emma ahead and Caius behind. We will go out and row proud for Pembroke. We’ll look to achieve the same strong start and throw everything at it. Row on PCBC.

Kat Suddaby, W1 6-seat and Women’s Captain

Friday: 7th in Division 1 – Bumped by Caius

Saturday:8th in Division 1 – Bumped by First and Third

M2

Wednesday: 13th in Division 2 – Bumped by Christ’s II

After some solid outings in the buildup to bumps, M2 were feeling positive despite the lack of experience in the boat, with the goal of catching a Sidney Sussex M1 crew that had held us off by half a length last year.

The row down to the start felt good, with plenty of power coming from the boat and a feeling of cohesiveness that we had worked on in the outings leading up to bumps. As the cannons fired our oars drove through the water, although we struggled to deal with the headwind off the start. Despite this scrappy start, we held station with Sidney, but a rapid Christs M2 crew with four CULRC trialists closed down on us and we never looked like pulling away, leading to being pretty comprehensively bumped.

There was not much that could be done apart from say ‘chapeau’ to a much more experienced and powerful crew, and give it absolutely everything for the following days.

Arun Lobo, M2 2-seat and Men’s Vice Captain

Thursday: 14th in Division 2 – Bumped by Queens’ II

Not having to deal with the trepidation that comes with the first day of bumps, M2 had a much better start than the previous day, building to rate 43 and holding station with both Queens II behind us and Christs II in front of us.

Unfortunately, after this point the greater power and experience in the Queens boat began to show, as they settled to a longer stroke than us and began closing. This caused a bit of panic and, in an attempt to maintain a high rate, we shortened up more leading to a bump by Queens.

Having trained extremely hard this term, M2 are determined to finish bumps fighting. For the martlet.

Arun Lobo, M2 2-seat and Men’s Vice Captain

Friday: 14th in Division 2 – Rowed Over

Saturday:15th in Division 2 – Bumped by Hughes Hall

W2

Wednesday: 6th in Division 2 – Bumped by Fitzwilliam

Having trained hard throughout the term, W2 started off Bumps with the goal of remaining the top W2 crew on the river. W2’s boat this term is a mixture of experienced rowers and newcomers, all excited to row for Pembroke.

The start of the race was good, as we managed to hold station, which was encouraging given the hard work we have put into our starts in the last week with Paul Meadows, our coach. Once off the start we went for a period of high rating rowing, sitting at about 38, however Fitzwilliam came at us strong from behind and despite valiant efforts from W2 we were bumped just after First Post Corner.

Although being bumped on Day 1 is perhaps not the best way to start Bumps, W2 came out of the experience feeling overall positive – ready to row again tomorrow, and knowing that we rowed well and lost to a simply much faster (W1) crew.

Mairi Innes, W2 cox

Thursday: 6th in Division 2 – Rowed Over

W2 came into Day 2 with a clear goal – not to get bumped by Emmanuel W2, who would be rowing a station behind us. Given the strength of Fitzwilliam, the aim was for a strong row over.

Again, W2 had a good, clean start, with everyone remaining in time, which was encouraging. However, Emmanuel began to gain on us, and once past First Post Corner the dreaded three whistles were blown. This was, however, not the end of the campaign for W2, who managed to push away out of Grassy Corner. Credit must be given to the girls for not panicking or losing focus despite Emmanuel getting so close, and managing to keep the crew behind off in the corners. By the end of the row over, Emmanuel were about 3 lengths behind us.

Therefore Day 2 felt like a real achievement for W2, who managed to keep their W2 headship.

Mairi Innes, W2 cox

Friday: 6th in Division 2 – Rowed Over

Saturday: 5th in Division 2 – Bumped Sidney Sussex

W3

Wednesday: 6th in Division 3 – Rowed Over

Thursday: 10th in Division 3- 1.5 Overbumped by Magdalene II

Friday: 11th in Division 3 – Bumped by Murray Edwards II

Saturday: 12th in Division 3 – Bumped by Emmanuel III

Emma drew up to us off the start, and while we pulled away from them, a bump was inevitable, and came a short way through the race.

I think we’re all proud of how we rowed today, and despite the quick bump, we’re pleased with our commitment to pull away from a much faster crew.