COLTS EIGHT

As Junior Colts, this group of boys had rowed well and had fought through to several finals, but had never won any event. This nearly happened again this year, as the crew had to wait until the end of the summer term before a regatta win could beachieved. During the early part of the Lent Term the crew worked hard getting in a great deal of mileage and fulfilling their promise as Junior Colts. At Worcester Head they came 2nd to Shrewsbury Colts and were only 2 seconds away from winning the Novice pennant. On this performance we had high hopes of doing well in the Schools Head, but unfortunately our performance was well below our best.

Our first regatta was at Wallingford, where we entered Novice VIIIs, and started well by beating Trinity College, Oxford, 1st VIII (Captain of Boats, J. Manson (OM)). Our next race was against a very strong Exeter College crew: we held our own for the first 1000 metres but their strength enabled them to pass us in the last part of the race. At Hereford we had two good wins against Cheltenham and Radley B, but were beaten in the final by a very good Abingdon crew. Instead of going to the National Schools, the crew chose to go to Reading and were pleased with the calm and sheltered conditions which were found there. In our first race we were very tense and never really got into our stride and were beaten easily by Canford and Westminster. Fortunately we had the repechage to redress the situation and from the start we showed agreatimrpovement, leading Canford A and Winchester A, and we showed what we could do if we set our minds on rowing. Disaster occured, however, a length from the finish we caught a boat-stopping crab which enabled Winchester to catch up, and we both crossed the line together. Winchester were given the verdict but on an appeal by the crew this was reversed and we were able to to row in the final where we were beaten by Bryanston and Westminster. At Tewkesbury the crew showed much more confidence and less tension in their rowing, and this relaxed approach led to the crew's first victory. They had to wait a long time before this first success, but this made victory more satisfying when it came. With one win under their belt the crew gained in confidences and went on to further success at Kingston Regatta by winning Novice Eights. These victories made a suitable climax to a very satisfying season. The crew had shown considerable patience and resilience in defeat and their success owes much to the determination of A. Chiller as stroke and the skill of J. Haughan as cox.