The year got off to a rather inauspicious start with a section of last year's promising 'A' crew who had won their class at the National Schools Regatta leaving to play Hockey (extemely well, of course). This clearly affected morale amongst those left in the crew, who had been hoping for another season contending the 'A' class, and who felt cheated of projected success. Much of the weight and brawn of the original crew having departed, the resulting crew were lighter, and a number of different combinations of oarsmen were tried before settling to a regular crew. From the time of the Avon Head, that crew remained largely the same, and as a group ident- ity formed, so a new spirit of purpose and deter- mination grew. A crew who had maybe felt rather 'second best' began to realise that they could achieve excellence and success in their own right, but that it would take hard work. It has been hugely encouraging to witness the maturing application of individuals to develop- ing their personal fitness, and the sense of achievement and satisfaction when stamina and strength have paid off in race situations.

It has been a major frustration to the crew that they have had so few chances to prove their efficiency, due either to regattas cancelled be- cause of bad weather, or to conflicting claims on their time, such as house plays! What regattas we have been able to attend have shown how, given a chance, the crew can beat others of far greater physical size, from more prestigious clubs. At the Avon County Regatta they won the little final, beating Cheltenham, Radley and Canford, rowing at a markedly lower rate than the competition. Again, at Reading Town, rac- ing late in the day, they beat Radley and Chel- tenham 'A' easily, losing in the final by some two lengths to Bryanston 'A', but giving Shrewsbury 'A' a terrific battle all the way down the 800m course. With a little more zip, and a more consistently aggressive start, this crew would have done even better, but competition was denied them.

All praise to the crew — for the members of last year's 'A' crew, thanks for lifting and stimu- lating such a high level of technical skill and commitment; and praise to the new members, who have improved impressively throughout the year to become a most tidy and competitive crew, better than we ever imagined. Special thanks to stroke, Jonathan Salisbury, a literal pillar of strength and scourge of the weak willed! The crew has been a pleasure to coach and it has been a most rewarding year.