The FIRST EIGHT spent two days during the exeat the following week-end training with Heading University. This didn't work out quite as well as was hoped, what with transport breakdown, illness in the Heading crew and bitterly cold weather. However, it did show the coaches that the crew had some potential - the quality of rowing was excellent for that stage of the year, and all in the boat were attentive andwilling to learn. Good progress was made in the following weeks, during which the crew did some fast head race times. They came within half a second of the 1982 record, which was itself some 8 seconds faster than the old record. There was a certain element of wild enthusiasm which led to this success, and some faults of style held the crew back, as they were to do for the rest of the season. Timing, rhythm, blade work, boat control, speed of attack all lacked something, and, try as coaches and crew would, the faults persisted. One of the best aspects of work done at this stage was fitness training. The 1982 crew had been the fittest seen at Monkton for many years, and this year's crew followed the same sort of training to achieve similar standards. This did not involve hours of extra effort; rather, sensible use of of the run from school to river and back, regular sessions in the gym and on the multi-gym in the lunch hour and just before bedtime, and consistent effort in the boat. The standard of fitness and technique expected of the crew was high: after several years of Senior 'C' aims and successes, the Monkton 1st VIII raised sights to higher levels. The jump from Colts to Senior 'B' and Senior 'A' standards is easy one.

All our head races took place within a fortnight at the end of term. This was not an entirely satisfactory state of affairs, as it is difficult to peak several times over different distances in a short period of time. Bristol was won overall for the second year running against good opposition. We also won at Avon, though there was no competition of any note. (The St. Edward's Colts crew was disappointed not to come closer to us as they have beaten Monkton crews in the past). The Schools Head was raced in flat calm conditions. We started 16th, with Latymer (17) very close behind. The whole race turned out to be a side by side tussle, whichprobably did both crews some good. Latymer gained about four or five seconds over the course, but the first time given by the organisers put us some 15 seconds slower than Latymer. This race was one of three where we knew the timing to be suspect, and Monkton were by no means the only club to complain about incompetence. Timing is a vital aspect of organising head races, and several committees need to go to a lot more trouble to obtain correct results. We had to wait for some days before confirmation of our best position for about ten years (14th). On the first day of the holidays, the crew competed at Kingston. There was plenty of competition, most of which we did not see because of starting low in the order as a new entry. The final result (16th) was excellent, particularly as we achieved a faster time than many good school crews. We sometimes gain ill-founded confidence by winning local events in the west, and it was therefore especially encouraging that our form was confirmed in a race nearer the centre of rowing activity in the country. The Head of the River Race was rowed with a spare man on board after three days training in poor weather conditions which dampened enthusiasm and led to a moderate row only.

After a two week break, the crew assembled at Cambridge for the customary training. This took place in excellent weather, and we enjoyed the new stretch of water as well as the opportunity to see round the city and, for one oarsman, an informal interview at Caius who kindly hosted the crew for the fifteenth successive year. We met fewer crews than usual, but enjoyed a constructive outing with Oundle.

The majority of our racing in the Summer Term was concentrated round the middle weeks of the term. During these events, we met with several of the very best school crews, and put up good performances. At Wallingford we went down to Hadley by a length; at Avon, the Eton trial eights beat us by less than a length. Successes were scored against Pangbourne, Latymer Upper School, and Abingdon and we were in a strong position for later important regattas. At National Schools, our first heat was fast, and we were eliminated despite recording a time faster than any crew in the other heat. (Oh for the days of a full repechage where the final was between the best crews!) In the weeks leading up to Henley, we persevered with trying to improve the stride of the boat. Our starts, together with the first minute or two, were consistently good, but the crew never learnt to row the later parts of 1500 metre races effectively. As earlier in the season, we were looking for success at a high classification, and criticisms should be read in this light; the crew remained fast, putting in a time equal to the mile record on O.M. day, but they did not quite manage to achieve the consistency and excellence of performance that was hoped for. At Henley, we were drawn against the second or third fastest crew in the event, and went down to them by some two and half lengths, having rowed well as far as Fawley. It was estimated that our performance put us roughly half way up the list of 18 entries.

After the end of term, the crew won Junior Eights at Kingston and Burton-on-Trent. The race at Kingston was against the Eton crew that had won the P.E.Cup at Henley the previous week and the Queen Mother's Cup at N.S.R. It was a fitting end to the season, and is the first time that Monkton have beaten an Eton crew at this level. The Monkton crew was tight on the start, and the first stroke was nearly disastrous: Eton went up a man or two. Monkton pulled back, and went half a length up by the enclosure on the very short Kington course. Then, about 10 strokesfrom the end, we had a near crab, which affected most of the crew. Dispite this, we got home with a third of a length to spare, beating the record in the process. Eton had probably given all they could the week before, and had not trained properly for Kingston; perhaps they thought that Monkton would be easy meat. The Monkton crew had trained to the best of their ability in a busy last week of term, and it is maybe some sort of justice that they pulled off this race.

As always, the eight - indeed the whole Boat Club - is grateful to the many people who helped them to have a successful and happy season. Hosts who put the crew up in London, Cambridge and Hereford; parents and friends who gave support (and food!) at many regattas; OM's and others who provide funds and encouragement for holiday rowing. Particular mention should be made of Miss Bridget Buckley, an Olympic oarswoman who lives locally, who spoke at the Bumps Supper and then regularly coached some of the novice crews on Wednesday afternoons; also of Mr. Stephen Oxlade, who leaves us after three seasons. His enthusiastic and untiring coaching of a large number of boys and girls has been much appreciated. We wish him well as he takes on the rowing at Cheltenham. To all these, 'Thank you'.