St Catherine's College Rowing Society
[PWC
Vice Presidents: Don Barton, Richard Peters,
Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, Ben Sylvester.
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Newsletter#2, Trinity Term, 2005 (1st July)

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Contents

Links

St Catherine's College
Oxford University Rowing Clubs
St Catherine's College Boat Club
St Catherine's Rowing Society

In this Issue ...

Time for a little something. Head Coach John Hill with members of the Men's 2nd boat during Eights.

[John Hill]
Summer Eights was, of course, the main event this term, with Saturday a particularly busy day. In the morning there was the formal inauguration of the 'Captains' Rooms' in the new block - part of the RS contribution to the Catz Campaign - and Bruce Mitchell was elected President of the Rowing Society. Those attending the boathouse lunch will also have seen the presentation of this year's much-coveted Ben Sylvester Award. Unfortunately, for our women's crews, Eights was not a great success. Having now been bumped on each of their last 10 starts, the Women's 1st Eight are now holders of the definitely uncoveted award for the longest descending run of any crew in Eights or Torpids. With the World Cup races at Dorney keeping our Blues away for most of the week, our men were just about holding their own until the last day when the timely arrival of three late substitutions via the M40 helped lift the Men's 1st Eight to 9th on the river (sorry, Hertford). It has been this high once before: in 1883. Sixty years ago, almost exactly half way between these 'highs', the Boat Club was officially 'bottom of the river' and failed to muster even a single crew. But that was 1945, and there were more pressing concerns.

Results

Eights, 25th-28th May
Crew Wed Thu Fri Sat Finish
Men's I = = = +1 9th Div I
Women's I -1 -1 -1 -1 3rd Div II
Men's II -1 +1 -1 = 5th Div IV
Women's II -3 -1 -1 -1 9th Div IV
Bumps Charts: Men Women

Rowing World Cup

Round 1: Dorney Lake 26th-28th May

Colin Smith 1x (GBR3) 13th
Chris Liwski 2- (USA) 9th
Andy Hodge 4- (GBR) 1st

Round 2: Munich 27--29th June

Colin Smith 2x (GBR) 11th
Andy Hodge 4- (GBR) 1st

2005 St Catherine's Eights

Men's 1st Eight

Women's 1st Eight

B Oliver Phillips

B Ariana Berengaut

2 Michael Tran

2 Michelle Edye

3 David Mathews

3 Jen Cormano

4 Darren Chadwick

4 Kate Lampe

5 David Royse

5 Lena Matthai

6 Peter Goult

6 Clare Shakespeare

7 Steve Wicks

7 Katharine Curtis Pierce

S Carl Fliescher

S Amy Banham-Hall

C Fleur-Estelle Shaw

C Stephanie Sit

Men's 2nd Eight

Women's 2nd Eight

B Guy Bedford

B Faye Cadman

2 Will Johnson

2 Laurel Redding

3 Phil Holme

3 Nicci Pierce

4 Mathias Rufino

4 Victoria Philpott

5 Jack Gillions

5 Miriam Nemeth

6 Theo Bruening

6 Claire Mathys

7 Ben Ayers

7 Charlotte Aldritt

S Patrick Durkin

S Alice Newton

C Lindsay Huber

C Ying Yi Soh

Men's Boat Club Report

The Men's 1st Eight, Saturday line-up. From left: Carl Fliescher, Oliver Phillips, Andy Hodge, Fleur-Estelle Shaw, Chris Liwski, Steve Wicks, Peter Goult, Colin Smith and Darren Chadwick, who appears to have lost his shirt. Photo from Miriam Nemeth.

[Men
Darren Chadwick, Men's Captain

After Torpids, Summer Eights was not the easy change of gear we had hoped. Training as usual started with our 0th week training camp but injuries, along with exams, were to hamper us all term. We were to lose 11 guys from the original line-ups for the top two boats, including our three Blues, but great progress was made from members of last term's lower boats, especially Phil Holme. His enthusiasm and dedication this term have been an inspiration to us all, and I would like to single him out as an example of what we expect from members of SCCBC.

For the 1st Eight, Coate Water Regatta was the turning point in both rowing and morale. We won our first race by a good length but, whilst waiting for our second, the heavens opened and it rained and rained, and then rained some more! We had to bail out the boat with our socks. The rest of the regatta was cancelled, but we came away with much more of a team spirit and we had tasted a win. David Royse then stepped back into the squad, putting his finals on the line, and the change was complete. With days to go before Eights, we were outwardly confident, but on the inside I think we all knew we had lot to do.

[Having rowed over for the first two days] on Friday Wadham were being chased by a fast Univ crew, and so went off the start like a rocket. They closed quickly but could make no more ground as they were bumped by Univ, whilst only feet behind us. Catz rowed over, level for the week so far.

On Saturday the sun was shining, the birds were singing and Andy Hodge, Chris Liwski and Colin Smith were returning from Dorney lake and the World Cup. In the boathouse at lunchtime we'd watched Andy on TV winning the gold emphatically in the 4- and the scene was set. The boathouses were packed, and Catz men were on fire. The Men's 1st Eight boated among cheers and screams. The atmosphere was electric and you could feel the anticipation in the air. Hertford to catch, three Blues in the boat and a chance to equal the highest place Catz Men's Eight ever. The warm-up was the first time we had rowed together, but it went well. It was great to row past Hertford and watch their faces drop when they saw our line-up. We caught them just after Donny Bridge. We had a bit of a victory paddle past the other boathouses and returned to a pontoon of cheers. Andy was asked, 'Which was better, Gold or bump?' his answer: 'Bump!'.

This year has been a good one for Catz men. The 2nd's have turned their fortunes around and the 1st's have either bumped or rowed over every day, going up 3 in Torpids, and 1 in Eights. Both Peter Goult and I are rowing in the Blues development squad and Peter is hoping to trial next year. But more importantly, the club is going from strength to strength. The club spirit is blossoming and can only get better next year. It is with a great sense of optimism that I hand over to Peter, and wish him and his committee the very best of luck.

Women's Boat Club Report

The Women's 1st Eight racing on Thursday.

[Women
Lydia Hutchinson, Women's Captain

The term started with about half of our first and second Torpids returning for Eights. This crew started training together immediately whilst we set about recruiting a second boat. We found some excellent new and enthusiastic rowers and one of them, Michelle Edye, ended up in the first boat!

In preparation for Eights week, the first boat entered an away regatta at Coate Water. Sadly, the weather was terrible and the regatta was called off, but not before the entire crew had got soaked! The men were luckier as they actually managed to row in one race. Still, it was all good rowing experience.

In Eights, both crews got bumped every day, with the 1st Eight dropping into the second division. The firsts rowed well, but were ultimately up against far more experienced crews and the seconds had some unfortunate experiences with banks and missed starting strokes. Eights was still a good experience for all though and we all watched our men's firsts bump on Saturday with pride.

This term was not as successful as last term in terms of bumps, but we recruited a larger squad of keen rowers who, together with next years intake, should do well in Torpids 2006.

The Benjamin F. Sylvester Jr Award

Steve Wicks, left, receiving this year's Ben Sylvester Award from Kevin Skinner, the RS Chairman.

[BFS Award]
The 2005 Award has been presented to Steve Wicks. Starting as a novice in 2003, Steve has rowed in the 2004 1st Torpid which went down 4 places as well as the 2005 1st Torpid which rose 3, and has been rowing no.7 in this term's 1st Eight. His nominators describe him as

'An absolute legend. His organisation and dedication to College rowing this year has been the major driving force behind our successes, both on and off the water'
and,
'He has given an enormous amount and never uttered a word of request for thanks, he has silently been the backbone of the boathouse and has added a passion to the sport that makes it more than just hard work. Aside to his dedication to novice training, the 110\% he gives in every outing, his skill as an oarsman, it is his personality that keeps the boathouse alive and makes the community fun.'

60 Years Ago ...

From the History of St Catherine's Rowing

The outbreak of war in 1939 had a profound effect on University demographics and the rowing fraternity. With the demands of military service admission of undergraduates was curtailed, and many courses were reduced in length to one or two years, with the promise of re-admission after the war. In consequence of this disruption, Eights and Torpids were held only in modified form, with most college clubs joining forces with others to compensate for the shortage of oarsmen. St Catherine's had such an on-off relationship with Jesus but during much of the war was able to put out its own crews. However, in 1945 the policy of going it alone came unstuck and the Boat Club was unable to muster a crew for either Torpids or Eights despite a promising start to the year. However, the then Captain of Boats, Richard Crofton, was invited to row for an Isis crew which won the London Head of the River Race. R. Crofton writes: 'We were awarded our oars, but were not allowed to keep the actual blades as they were too valuable in those wartime days'.

1945 St Catherine's Association News Sheet

But our sympathies go out in very real measure to St Catherine's Boat Club. In Trinity Term 1944, the VIII dropped three places and ended at the bottom of the River, but we were one of a very few unamalgamated crews. In Michaelmas term a dozen of our men were rowing and our hopes ran high, when the races were cancelled, the O.U.B.C. declaring St Cath's VIII was the only one fit to row in end of term races; two other colleges being classed as 'fair'. In Hilary Term, 1945, work, illness, and an unwillingness to row, are said to explain why St Cath's ceased all rowing on Feb. 20. Six rowing men were all we could muster in Trinity Term, 1945, so for the first time in her long and glorious history St Catherine's Boat Club did not appear in Eights Week. But let us remember that the Captain of Boats had gained his Isis colours.

News from Alumni

Tony Mitchell (M.78)
[who won Vet C (ie ages 43--50) single sculls at the National Veterans Championships] I have to say that the vet C is completely bonkers. This year the first 3 all finished within 2 secs of each other, last year it was probably worse, and then you find that most of the finalists could have medalled at Vet B and probably at Senior 3 as well! Conditions were pretty horrendous with a hurricane cross head which added 30s to all the times but at least there were no standing waves as the cross came from the scoreboard side not the burger stand side.
Whatever. Managed to squeeze out over a length lead twice then you hit rough stuff, screw up, and they all come hurtling back, so just let them rush the last 200m and take up half of the one length slack without getting myself in a major panic. Yeah right. Very hard racing - probably the hardest and closest in my relatively brief vet career.
Tried to put an entry in to the Diamonds for a laugh, but the Stewards rejected me on the basis that I only had one sculling point. In '82 the fact that I had no sculling points and barely any rowing points didn't seem to bother them in the Ladies Plate. So Colin Smith can rest easy as can Marcel Hacker. I mean, come on, £30 just to time me over a head course one evening, how difficult can that be? You'd have thought they'd be pleased for the funds. Oh well, better see if I can get to Senior 1 next year, but where has all the fun gone?

Alan Supple (M.86)
After almost 16 years on the wrong side of the pond, I have made it back, at least as far as Belgium. Maria and I moved to Brussels in May of this year, where I am working for Shurgard Self Storage in Corporate Finance (a far cry from geology, I know). We are settling in well, probably helped by some uncharacteristically dry weather. I hope to find a rowing club soon in these parts to help offset my ingestion of moules frites and strong beer. I would love to catch up with anyone from my era who is passing through Brussels on business or otherwise [see RS web-page for contact details].

Richard Law (M.95)
[In the last newsletter] The timing of Caroline's comment is amusing as she is indeed staying at my apartment at the moment! She's soon to return to the real world after 6 months of traveling. As for me, after 2 years in San Diego I ended up with a job working for the evil US government at the Lawrence Livermore National Labs, near San Francisco, which is where I've been for a few months now. American food and beer doesn't improve the further north you get but fortunately the Mexicans have spread at least this far. Rowing-wise I haven't touched an oar for years but competing as a cyclist is going well and I'm currently racing about twice a week all over California. Oh, and I got engaged in January, to Oksana.

Coming Up ...

In the next newsletter there will reports on summer rowing, including Henley, the World Championships and the '60's reunion paddle, some more details of the Captains Rooms to which many of you have contributed, and a look back at the Boat Club of 5 years ago when Matt Denmark and Laura Goodsir were captains. I'd like those of you who rowed in that year to send in items for the News from Alumni section - yes, you are now officially 'history' - and, as ever, contributions from alumni of other years also welcome. I'd also like to do a round-up of who's still active in rowing or coaching, and which clubs you're with, so let me know.

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