In this Issue ...

During a particularly wintry Torpids, several race officials required a little thawing out at the end of their duties.

Results

Darren Chadwick, Men's Captain

The men's 1st Torpid putting the boat away after Thursday's race (Did anyone mention it was a bit wintry this year?)

This term has been basically a warm up to Torpids - which were freezing by the way! The training has been hard: at one point on the training camp we were doing 7 hours a day in the gym, on the water and in the tank. That commitment showed through into some very respectable performances in Torpids, at Burway Head (where we finished fourth overall and third in S3), in the Isis Winter League (two second places and a third in various categories) and recently at the Head of the River, where Catz rowers teamed up with Balliol and Wadham to produce a composite crew that came 240th.

I've been reliably informed by Steve Wicks that the Men's 1st Torpid is the tallest and heaviest crew Catz have fielded for 6 or 7 years. I am pleased to say it was also one of the fastest and most successful. Up three, and inches away from blades (I know, I have asked the Wadham cox who had a pretty good view from her seat!). After the problems of last year, I think we can safely say that we have turned things around.

The 2nd Torpid did not fair so well. They over-bumped on the first day but narrowly missed out on a bump on Merton on the Thursday, which left them vulnerable to the fast crews ascending from the division below. Overall, they dropped four places, but they rowed well and partied harder afterwards, spraying monks, parents and video cameras alike with beer and champagne as they celebrated the end of racing on the Saturday!

Lydia Hutchinson, Women's Captain

The Women's 1st Torpid warming up (OK, so there were also some sunny bits during the week)

Hilary term has been a successful one for the women. We got off to an excellent start with the pre-term training camp in 0th week. We had two boats training for Torpids, although sadly the second eight did not manage to row on. The first boat entered Burway which took place the Saturday before Torpids, managed to come 25th/30 overall and 2nd in the S4 class. We were very pleased with this result. As well as this we entered a number of the Isis Winter League races this term, not only in eights but also in fours and a double.

PDF Files

40 Years Ago ...

We have few surviving records from the early 60's (of course, if someone does discover a Boat Club minute book in that trunk in the attic, buried under those seriously out of fashion clothes ...), so for the History we had to rely on the memories of those who rowed at the time. This is from John Haden's contribution.

The 1965 1st Torpid, viewed from Donnington Bridge.

John Haden, Captain of Boats 1965-66

Having coxed briefly at St Paul's School, I arrived at St Catherine's Society in 1961 with at least a rough idea of what to do with an oar, and decided to try to convert myself into a very lightweight bow. It took me three years to persuade the other Boat Club members that this was a good idea!

Throughout the early 1960's, St Cath's 1st VIII remained at the foot of Div. 2, in the company of St Peter's, Pembroke, Wadham and the 2nd VIII's of Christ Church and St Edmund Hall. These engaged in a private annual battle, while the trio of Keble, Christ Church and St Edmund Hall fought it out at the top of Div. 1

I eventually made it to the bow seat of the Schools Eight in 1964, when John Walker was Captain and Reg Butler stroked the first VIII. In 1965, I succeeded John as Captain and was sufficiently competent to row at bow in the 1966 1st VIII. Meanwhile, I had two very enjoyable years with the O.U. Coxswains' Society and our annual race of the pygmies against C.U.C.S.

The 1965 St Catherine's 1st Eight, photographed on the upper deck of the Barge. From left to right, back row: A. Rumbold (4), Craig Shelton (bow), John Haden (Capt.), Peter Chandler (6), James Holroyd (5), Will Pavry (7), Chris Talbot (3), Mike Day (2), front row: Anthony Hull (str), P. A. Coleridge (S.E.H., coach), John Rousseau (cox).

Boat Naming

The Women's Captain, Lydia Hutchinson, the Master, Roger Ainsworth and Lady Bullock christening the women's new VIII.

The week after Torpids the women brought their new eight up to College to have Lady Bullock pour a glass of champagne over the bows for its formal christening (a procedure viewed with some alarm by those of us worried about the potential solvent effects of the alcohol on the recently-repainted name). In return, the Women's Captain presented Lady Bullock with a salver inscribed with the words:

'To Nibby, with affection from St Catherine's College Boat Club and Rowing Society, for naming Alan Bullock on March 2nd 2005'.

In the next newsletter there will be news of the Boat Races, arrangements for the Eights boathouse buffet and a piece on the the Boat Club of 50 years ago when Stewart Fraser was Captain (I have already received something from Nicholas Chubb, M.51). News from alumni of other years also welcome. There were no Catz entries in the Women's or Men's Tideway Head of the River Races this year, but if any of our alumni were participating let me know how you got on.

26 Mar 2005	Henley Boat Races
27 Mar 2005	The Boat Race
25-28 May 2005	Eights
28 May 2005	Boathouse Buffet Lunch