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Captains' Reports
Men’s Captain Report: Hilary Term 2009
The men’s boat club has had a very enjoyable and successful term of rowing during Michaelmas term 2008. The novice boats began training in earnest following the 0th week trial sessions and crews were selected by the end of 1st week. The club as a whole has been very impressed by the commitment shown by the novices and the hard work showed in the results of Christ Church Regatta:
1st round:
Merton A beat Christ Church A
Merton B beat LMH A
2nd round:
Merton A beat Balliol A
Lincoln B beat Merton B
3rd round:
St Peter's A beat Merton A (St. Peter’s A were the eventual winners of CHCH regatta 2008).
(Full race reports for all races can be found on the website at www.mertoncollegeboatclub.com)
Prior to CHCH regatta, the men’s development squad and 1st VIII novices had the opportunity to race in Cambridge Winter Head where we entered two crews and Peterhouse were very kind to lend us an VIII. This was followed by a very successful boat club dinner in Peterhouse old dining hall and hopefully this relationship with our sister college can be maintained for many years to come. The president and I exchanged BC ties as a gesture of our good will and Peterhouse hope to join us again, this time in Oxford, for IWL D on the 8th of February.
The novices were given further opportunity to gain valuable race experience in the run up to CHCH regatta in Nepthys head and also post the regatta where the 1st VIII novices challenged the previous year’s Summer Eights 1st VIII to a head race in IWL B. This was a fun event and built up a healthy competitive relationship between the novice rowers and some of the more senior rowers in college. On the day, the weather was clement for a mid December afternoon and sunglasses were mandatory for all crews involved. The 1st novices had a good race considering that they were one of only a handful of entirely novice crews and the 1st seniors came 2nd overall coming in just behind Magdalen 1st Eight who are Head of the River in Torpids. More importantly, the crew was faster than many of the other crews around us in Summer Eights and although we will lose a number of people for Torpids, it was good for the club morale and the novices learned the importance of rowing as a crew.
Looking ahead to Torpids, the men’s boat club had a 0th week training camp and intensive crew selection as all of the novice rowers and coxes, except one whom will be available to sub in, has chosen to continue to row this term. As a result there was significant competition for the two top boats and the men’s boat club has four boats lined up for Torpids. In terms of fitness, the club is the strongest I’ve ever seen it and there is a lot of potential for the years’ to come once the novices gain more technical experience.
Obviously, the club is results driven and given our position on the river, (just ahead of Keble and chasing University (both top div 1 crews in Eights), we may have to reshuffle the crews if water time is at a premium. I am determined that the lack of experience in our Torpids crew won’t count against us and with a very strong focus on fitness this term we can hold off the competition in Torpids and be very well placed for Summer Eights.
Please check our website to keep up to date with the current news and events. www.mertoncollegeboatclub.com
John Lee Allen,
Men’s Captain of Boats
Men’s Captain Report: Trinity 2008
The men’s boat club has had a very demanding term of rowing this year but most of all during Trinity. Although we lost three of our most experienced rowers due to finals, the men’s boats began training in earnest during 0th week and this commitment carried on all the way through until the last day of Eights.
Summer Eights was everything to be expected; there were huge ups and downs. The men’s 1st VIII got off to a very promising start given the experience in the boat and rowed over convincingly on the first two days. Unfortunately, the third day brought with it some disaster as we failed to be properly pushed off from the bank and were unable to start. Saturday was tough as the sandwich boat and in the end we were unable to hold off what was a very strong LMH crew that year. This was a disappointing way to finish the most celebrated Oxford rowing event of the year but our young crew gave it their all and can only be optimistic about the future with all but two members of the crew continuing to row next year.
Our men’s 2nd VIII were unlucky not to bump on the first day and rowed over cleanly. However, Summer Eights ended on a high for them and indeed for the men’s boat club as they bumped St. Anne’s on the final day!
In all, Summer Eights was a highly enjoyable and successful event for the men’s boat club. We were able to easily put out two full crews, which seemed unlikely after Torpids. Furthermore, many members expressed a keen interest in continuing to row next year, which is essential for strength to build within the crews.
Please check our website to keep up to date with the current news and events.
John Lee Allen
Men’s Captain of Boats
The men’s boat club has had a very enjoyable and successful term of rowing during Michaelmas term 2008. The novice boats began training in earnest following the 0th week trial sessions and crews were selected by the end of 1st week. The club as a whole has been very impressed by the commitment shown by the novices and the hard work showed in the results of Christ Church Regatta:
1st round:
Merton A beat Christ Church A
Merton B beat LMH A
2nd round:
Merton A beat Balliol A
Lincoln B beat Merton B
3rd round:
St Peter's A beat Merton A (St. Peter’s A were the eventual winners of CHCH regatta 2008).
(Full race reports for all races can be found on the website at www.mertoncollegeboatclub.com)
Prior to CHCH regatta, the men’s development squad and 1st VIII novices had the opportunity to race in Cambridge Winter Head where we entered two crews and Peterhouse were very kind to lend us an VIII. This was followed by a very successful boat club dinner in Peterhouse old dining hall and hopefully this relationship with our sister college can be maintained for many years to come. The president and I exchanged BC ties as a gesture of our good will and Peterhouse hope to join us again, this time in Oxford, for IWL D on the 8th of February.
The novices were given further opportunity to gain valuable race experience in the run up to CHCH regatta in Nepthys head and also post the regatta where the 1st VIII novices challenged the previous year’s Summer Eights 1st VIII to a head race in IWL B. This was a fun event and built up a healthy competitive relationship between the novice rowers and some of the more senior rowers in college. On the day, the weather was clement for a mid December afternoon and sunglasses were mandatory for all crews involved. The 1st novices had a good race considering that they were one of only a handful of entirely novice crews and the 1st seniors came 2nd overall coming in just behind Magdalen 1st Eight who are Head of the River in Torpids. More importantly, the crew was faster than many of the other crews around us in Summer Eights and although we will lose a number of people for Torpids, it was good for the club morale and the novices learned the importance of rowing as a crew.
Looking ahead to Torpids, the men’s boat club had a 0th week training camp and intensive crew selection as all of the novice rowers and coxes, except one whom will be available to sub in, has chosen to continue to row this term. As a result there was significant competition for the two top boats and the men’s boat club has four boats lined up for Torpids. In terms of fitness, the club is the strongest I’ve ever seen it and there is a lot of potential for the years’ to come once the novices gain more technical experience.
Obviously, the club is results driven and given our position on the river, (just ahead of Keble and chasing University (both top div 1 crews in Eights), we may have to reshuffle the crews if water time is at a premium. I am determined that the lack of experience in our Torpids crew won’t count against us and with a very strong focus on fitness this term we can hold off the competition in Torpids and be very well placed for Summer Eights.
Please check our website to keep up to date with the current news and events. www.mertoncollegeboatclub.com
John Lee Allen,
Men’s Captain of Boats
Men’s Captain Report: Trinity 2008
The men’s boat club has had a very demanding term of rowing this year but most of all during Trinity. Although we lost three of our most experienced rowers due to finals, the men’s boats began training in earnest during 0th week and this commitment carried on all the way through until the last day of Eights.
Summer Eights was everything to be expected; there were huge ups and downs. The men’s 1st VIII got off to a very promising start given the experience in the boat and rowed over convincingly on the first two days. Unfortunately, the third day brought with it some disaster as we failed to be properly pushed off from the bank and were unable to start. Saturday was tough as the sandwich boat and in the end we were unable to hold off what was a very strong LMH crew that year. This was a disappointing way to finish the most celebrated Oxford rowing event of the year but our young crew gave it their all and can only be optimistic about the future with all but two members of the crew continuing to row next year.
Our men’s 2nd VIII were unlucky not to bump on the first day and rowed over cleanly. However, Summer Eights ended on a high for them and indeed for the men’s boat club as they bumped St. Anne’s on the final day!
In all, Summer Eights was a highly enjoyable and successful event for the men’s boat club. We were able to easily put out two full crews, which seemed unlikely after Torpids. Furthermore, many members expressed a keen interest in continuing to row next year, which is essential for strength to build within the crews.
Please check our website to keep up to date with the current news and events.
John Lee Allen
Men’s Captain of Boats
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