In many ways it is a disadvantage starting a season with an excellent season behind one - for everyone is expecting a repeat performance, or better; moreover previous success can to some degree breed a confidence that is not necessarily warranted by the figures on the stopwatch. That said, this has been a great season, marked by an unstinting and complete commitment by the whole crew to hard training and even harder races. A certain resilience, and a willingness to accept constructive criticism led to a marvellously positive self-supporting team spirit. The crew has the ability to maintain its sense of humour and proportion whatever the circumstances.
Early in the season we were blessed with a beautiful new boat; a mixed blessing, as it had clearly been designed with a lower average weight than ours, which made blade work critical in anything but the calmest conditions. However, dire predictions of shipwreck and disaster were brushed aside and amongst other very successful head races, it was a great fillip to know that of the thirty-two entries in our age group in the Schools Head Race, we were second, and that by only one tenth of a second! and that against the might of the Thames Schools! Great!
The start of the regatta season, and we had a timely reminder of our mortality by defeats at Avon Counties and Hereford ... but this is, as we have to keep reminding those in school who do not understand, against 'A' crews - a very much more competitive class' and we had lost effectively two weeks of training through the bumps. Excuses, excuses!
The season then started to look up - fifth in the 'A' class at the National Schools was a simply superb achievement, and if no one at MCS understood it ("Fifth - why didn't you win?") then the crew certainly did, and stood a foot taller; it's worth noting that it was nearly fourth, by a whisker over the 1500m course. We went to Tewkesbury, and with a certain amount of gamesmanship (thanks, JMB!) wiped the board, in a display of strength and form that none could match, winning by three lengths in the final. Very satisfying.
At Reading, our interpretation of the rule book, entering both the 'A' and 'B' classes in our age group was not appreciated by other jealous coaches; suffice to say that in an exhilarating and very close run final in the 'A' class, Hampton trounced us by half a length; whilst in the 'B' category, the final being rowed almost immediately after the Hampton race we won satisfyingly by almost three lengths. Maybe we really are an 'A' crew - but we hadn't won any hardware during the season, and it was great to feel those pots in our hands! There will be no 'presents' next season - there have been few this year. Success has been hard earned, well earned and richly deserved. I have seldom had the pleasure of working with such a self-disciplined, happy, single minded and tough group of young men. If there have been faults this year, they have been in technique; this has been particularly visible when the crew has rowed in fours - picking up, thanks to its hard work, several first places on the way. Maybe the proven coaching skills of Peter Bossom will iron out these faults, and the crew will go on to become the world beaters they clearly could be!
It is invidious to single out members of the crew for mentions - all have, in their own way, pulled their oars with great gusto and dynamism - however, "Luigi" Singh our novice cox, has been worth his weight in gold this season.
Overall, a sweaty, painful but enjoyable and thoroughly worthwhile year. I hope the crew stays together, and goes on to achieve great things.