The crew was formed two weeks before the race at Henley. Its first two outings had been oustandingly good (better than the coach re- members ever seeing before), but illness struck very quickly, and we have been plagued with 'flu (or whatever it is) ever since. The half term should have provided an ideal opportunity to train properly in the new boat, but the virus caused one of the four planned outings to be cancelled, and another to be cut short. Members of the crew were under th weather for outings later in the week.

The Monkton 1st VIII has been coached more or less the same technique for umpteen years. The coach is aware that he is set in his ways, so he and three other coaches went to a coaching conference just before Christmas to be told what technique is currently in vogue. The Director of International Rowing (one Miss Penny Chuter) explained to us that 'international' technique has gone through several phases over the years. The latest is that the recovery at the end of the stroke, and slide control (hands — body — slide) is much as we have been coaching. Where we differ is that international crews use more leg drive and less body swing than we usually em- phasise. The aim appears to be to drive hard with legs, without opening up the body — upper leg angle as much as we usually do. The 1st VIII tried this technique from the first outing, and enjoyed the sense of power as they did so. The boat certainly lifted out of the water during the better pieces of paddling. We persisted in the few out ngs before Henley, and were not too worried that the rate could not climb above about 29.

February 28th turned out to be a warm spring day — warm enough for car windows to be open during the journey. There was a fair stream on the course, and the ground was muddy under- foot, but conditions for putting boats together could not have been much better. Launching was chaotic, and the Secretary promised to improve the arrangements next year. The row was satisfactory, and the rhythm devleloped by the crew near the top of the island was better than we have had on home water. The rate was about 29/30, and some hard work went into the race. blade-work becamse scrappy as the crew tired, and the ratio was not as good opposite the public enclosure, and lack of fitness was appar- ent. We had a good tustle with Bryanston (rate about 28), and caught them up early in the race. We should have overtaken them.