In this Issue ...

Sunrise over the Isis. One of the joys of summer rowing is how ridiculously early in the morning it is possible to find yourself down at the boathouse. Photo from Theo Bruening (but I was coaching that outing).

Results

Of the two Catz men, Chris Liwski, rowing at 5, becomes our first winning American Blue and stroke Andrew Triggs Hodge went on to win the GB pairs trials and now finds himself in the top boat: the coxless four. Colin Smith, who just missed out on the last seat in the Blue Boat, had a less happy time in the Isis-Goldie race; an outstanding Goldie crew just rowed away from Isis off the start and that was that. However, Colin has subsequently been selected as the GB single sculler for the first World Cup race at Dorney Lake.

Oxford's total domination in the Women's Boat Races for the past 3 years was finally broken when CUWBC beat OUWBC at Henley. Osiris and the Women's Lightweights continued to win though, as did both the Men's Lightweight crews.

Our two Blues bring Catz up to equal third in number of OUBC representatives (7) in the past 10 years, behind Keble (14) and Oriel (10). We're also third for Men's Lightweight Blues.

With new Boat Race sponsors and new TV coverage (I thought ITV made a decent job of it, by the way) there's once again talk of whether the Women's Boat Race should be moved to the Tideway as a curtain raiser to the 'main' event.

Finally a word on the Veterans' Boat Race (24th March) from Tony Mitchell (M.78):

'Just for the record, I was invited to step into a pretty scratch vets boat on Wednesday for 2 outings and a race against the filth. Sadly the tabs had been practising and so we were fairly well thrashed. I hope Oxford old boys will learn their lesson from this and not make it so easy for them in future.'

50 Years Ago ...

I've received a couple of letters regarding the boat naming debate which relate to the summer of '54, so included these as well extracts from the Minute Book as reproduced in the Boat Club History. In 1955 the 1st Eight finished 15th on the river, the highest it had reached that century and not bettered until 1971.

From Charles Hunt (M.52)

May I nail the Winnie the Pooh debate? This was the name of the shell the 1st VIII rowed up from Sims at Hammersmith when Tom Horne was captain - summer VIIIs 1954 [Footnote: He actually wrote '1953', but I think he means 1954]. The wish-bones of the chickens from the famous Inn at Bray adorned the bows! Why the Milne connection I don't know - just a break from the St Catherine of Alexandria series. We had to do a real break - the year before in Torpids we'd had fixed pins! This term Conybear [style] and barrel blades, and it did work to some extent: 3 bumps and a pot-hunting sortie afterwards.

Minute Book, Wednesday, 9th June, 1954

Following damage to their Barge on the last night of Eights, Pembroke had sent in a bill for nearly £30. £5 of this had been paid by the people who removed trays, and a further £5 would be paid by those who had tied rafts across the river. The balance would have to be raised by a levy on members. A sum of 2s 6d was agreed upon, the balance to be paid by the offenders.

From the Rev. Joseph Bell (M.53)

Thanks for the March newsletter. The Boat Naming allusion to 'the start of naming our boats along the A A Milne theme' in 1959 continues a lapse of memory by Stewart Fraser, or possibly a misprint in A History of St Catherine's Rowing p106 [footnote: which claims it was 1955, but see preceding footnote!]. It was the 1st VIII which 'pushed' for the new shell to be named Winnie the Pooh in April 1954, collected the boat in Putney and started training for Eights by rowing up to Oxford during the Easter vac. The tow-path 'convoy' was, at least until the final day, Biddie Horne, the Captain's sister, in a tiny MG. The entire VIII 'surrendered' to the Proctors and the four of us were fined 16s 8d as graduate scholars after the Censor spoke up for us and pleaded provocation over the taking away of Pembroke's barge and punting it round into the Cherwell and mooring it by the Iffley Rd Sports ground. We collected the £25 to repay the Pemmy boatman.

The 1st VIII won pots for the Junior VIIIs at Wallingford and Tom Horne and I took the pair out in the Oxford Town Regatta and rowed over. I could only steer when the pair's rudder entered the water as I reached front stops!

Winnie the Pooh was a real mover. The 'new style' using spades and sliding them through the work meant that the crew had to bind together very early in the term and abandon any thoughts of 'pretty paddling'. Coached by Neville Mullamy (Balliol) and Chris Davidge (Trinity/RAF Benson), we bumped Merton II , St John's and Wadham. Neville Mullamy used us as a pacemaker for Balliol and we boated from RAF Benson c/o Christopher Davidge. 'The Beetle and Wedge' became a familiar discipline on the lower river. Ergs were unknown; river mileage was the recipe for success - added to a burning conviction that Conybear would win races.

Minute Book, Friday, 19th November, 1954

The Captain and two members of the Club had visited Stuttgart Rowing Club at their invitation, and presented them with a trophy in behalf of the Boat Club, the JCR and OUBC. [For the History, Stewart Fraser wrote from Australia with his recollection of the event: 'We 'organised' an invitation from Stuttgart and had OUBC pay our expenses as we were also representing the University. I purchased for a few bob a huge and ornate EPNS cup, vintage circa 1900; the previous inscription was erased and a new one engraved to commemorate our forthcoming visit, on behalf of SCBC and, of course, the OUBC. In the event our hosts were most appreciative and extended lavish hospitality, with visits to nearby camera and car factories as well as a mayoral reception. I think some Stuttgart RC folk visited Oxford at a later date and were entertained by the Master et al.'.]

Minute Book, Wednesday, 2nd March, 1955

The Club passed nem. con. a motion that new members would contribute a sum of 5s to a fund against the day when we had a Boathouse; this would demonstrate interest, and a willingness to help.

Minute Book, Friday, 10th June, 1955

2005 St Catherine's Eights

The Men's 1st Eight

Hopes of reinforcing the successful Men's 1st Torpid with our Blues and Isis rowers for the summer took an early nosedive when someone realised that the first round of the Rowing World Cup, at Dorney Lake, was the same week as Eights. Further depredations due to injuries and examinations have meant our 1st Eights are now combinations of the 1st/2nd Torpids and it's been a struggle to get even 2nd Eights together to fill our 'fixed' places. These are the crews that were officially entered, although judging by the photos from this morning's training there have been a few changes since then.

The Women's 1st Eight

Eights Week

Eights will run from 25th-28th May. On Wednesday-Friday racing starts at noon with the last division at 6.45pm, however, as in previous years, racing on the Saturday will be one hour earlier.

Eights 2005: Wednesday Start Times
Crew	Division	Bungline	Time
Men's 1st Eight	I	10	6.45pm
Women's 1st Eight	I	11	6:15pm
Women's 2nd Eight	IV	4	3.30pm
Men's 2nd Eight	IV	4	2.55pm
NB: on Saturday all divisions race 1 hour earlier

On the Saturday there will be a buffet lunch in the boathouse for members of the Rowing Society and their guests, for which you will need to buy tickets in advance (see attached information). However, strawberry teas and drinks will be available for all throughout the afternoon.

Coming Up ...

In the next newsletter there will be report on Eights, details for the Rowing Society Paddle (timed to coincide with the Gaudy) and a piece on the Boat Club of 60 years ago. I doubt if we have many alumni who rowed in 1945, but news from alumni of other years also welcome.

25-28 May 2005	Eights
28 May 2005	Boathouse Buffet Lunch
2 Jul 2005	Rowing Society Paddle, followed by the College Gaudy