Newsletter#2, Hilary Term, 2000 (18th March)
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The weekend before Torpids it rained an awful lot, consequently all racing was cancelled - the first complete wash-out since 1977.

Picture shows Men's VIII at the OURCs Regatta. Back: Greg Halton, Michael Bull, Paul Halfpenny, Paul Hearn, Raph Schapiro. Front: James Darbyshire, Simon Evans, Matt Denmark, Geoff Bryant.

Report from Simon Evans, Men's Captain: When Anu wrote "Unfortunately, or maybe not, I shall be in Paris for most of Torpids ..." in the last newsletter, perhaps he knew something we didn't. In any case the term has not been entirely devoid of racing activity. At the end of 5th week we finished 17th in a field of 64 VIIIs at Burway Head. 8th week provided the necessary relief for all those rowers I saw grumpily walking around Oxford whilst the river was 'red flag'. We certainly felt our lack of rowing in the previous 1 1/2 weeks when racing in the inaugural College Head Race, but still managed to finish 9th: good enough to qualify for the College Championship on Friday where we knocked out Trinity in the 1st round (much to Anu's surprise - it's good to see he has so much faith in us ...) but were narrowly beaten by Balliol in the next race.

Picture shows the Women's 1st Torpid. Back: Katharine Hodby, Lyndsey Highton, Laura Goodsir, Sarah Boddy, Lauren Groff. Front: Cath Ellicott, Helen Barnes, Clarissa Edwards, Sallie Burrough.

Sarah Boddy, the women's captain, was supposed to write something to go in here, but she seems momentarily lost for words (a bit of a surprise, given her epic performance at the Rowing Society Dinner). Anyway, this term the Women's 1st Torpid made a start on their trophy collection: they won Novice VIIIs at Burway Head and were also the fastest women's crew in the OURCs College Head. Unfortunately, they couldn't quite sustain that form and were eliminated in their first race in the OURCs Regatta, mainly due to an unfortunate attack of appalling rowing. However, on the social side, I gather that this crew's off-water performances amply demonstrated that their talents weren't limited merely to pulling oars.

But at least the 1st Torpids got to race. We had a fairly solid Men's 2nd Torpid, and a rather more fluid Women's 2nd Torpid, who just spent the entire term training without getting the chance to row a stroke in anger (or should that be 'terror'?). The Men's 3rd Torpid, full of familiar faces, distinguished itself as the fastest crew in Rowing On, but the Women's 3rd Torpid will just have to satisfy themselves with being the fastest crew not to row on.

I would especially like to thank Chris Toms, Paul Hearn and Paul Halfpenny, and Catz alumni Jon Haynes (M.91), Tom Wright (M.95) and Ben Brookes (M.95) for their help with this term's coaching.

There were about 90 people at the Rowing Society Dinner, about half of whom were from the current boat club. The loss of Saturday's racing never seems to inhibit the atmosphere at such events; if anything, the boat club members seem to have a bit too much energy to spare. Next year I'll try to remember not to sit with my back towards a table full of women rowers so obviously intent on 'having a bit of a rowdy'. Not that I got much sympathy from the rather more mature diners at my table, one of whom thought them an excellent advertisement for women's rowing, and the other rather wistfully regretting that she had never been allowed to indulge in such behaviour when she was a young lady at Oxford. At least the new Master, Sir Peter Williams, seemed to get though another challenge on his introduction to College life relatively unscathed.

History of St Catherine's Rowing: a reminder that if you order your copy before the official publication date of April 12th, you can pay at a special discounted price of £15 instead of the full, post-publication price of £19.95 (all prices include p&p). Cheques or sterling bankers drafts payable to 'St Catherine's College Rowing Society' should be sent to The Development Office, St Catherine's College, Manor Rd, Oxford OX1 3UJ, together with a delivery address.

Finally, there have never been more than three members of St Catherine's taking part in the Oxford-Cambridge boat races in any one year, but in next weekend's races there should be four. So, on behalf of the entire Rowing Society, good luck to Ed Foster (Isis), Matt Smith (OUBC), Emily Woodeson (OUWBC) and Richard Law (OULRC).

Anu Dudhia (email: dudhia@atm.ox.ac.uk )

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