After two row overs, Sidney M1 felt it was finally time to make a mark on the competition. For the 8th time since Chris joined M1, we lined up to start behind Queens’ M2. Having forced Queens’ into a tough row over yesterday we aimed to capitalise by putting pressure on them from the start. On the cannon we instantly committed with powerful draws, winds and lengthens before striding down to a powerful rate 38 and, shortly after, heard our first whistle.
A length quickly became three quarters as we rowed with the same commitment we have had all week, but this time we weren’t going to let Queens’ hold us off. A tight line around First Post brought us the second whistle and a push through The Gut resulted in three whistles into Grassy. Contact was made coming out of the corner in front of the cheering crowds. After celebrating with our supporters, and adorned with greenery, we headed back to marshall again as sandwich boat.
Back on station we took on some sweets, water and advice from the newest addition to our bank party, Hannah Spry. We agreed that this was not a time for holding back and threw everything at Christ’s M2. Our first whistle came during our start sequence, our second shortly after the stride, the bump before the motorway bridge. We then had the pleasure of rowing the full length of the Cam in our greenery.
The “So I am needed after all” award goes to our boatman Tim Rhodes for stepping in at the last minute to push us off for our first race, in the absence of the usual Nicholas Porter.
The “Sprinkle Sprinkle” award goes to Silvia Breu for working some Silvia magic to find us an experienced bank party for our second race.
Finally the “Sidney Buses” award goes to KJ Pollard for waiting 5 years for a bump before two came along at once.
