Here we entered for Senior III Eights. The first round was against a London Rowing Club crew. We had a messy start, during which we lost ground (almost unheard of!), then we settled down and went away to beat them easily in a time of 4.01. (Very fast for 1500 metres, because there was a following wind and plenty of water coming down.)

St Edward's 1st VIII was also in this event Poly second Eight easily, paddling home_ at a rate of 23. In the Semi-final, they beat King's Chester 1st VIII by about two lengths. We met St Edward's in the final. We determined to go out in front from the word go, and stay there if at all possible. Monkton looked tidier and more composed as they approached the start, and the St. Edward's crew looked nervous. They caused a false start by squaring blades in the heavy stream, and making a move to go before the word. When the race finally got off, neither crew looked particularly tidy, with Monkton looking tighter and less effective than usual. St. Edward's soon went up by about a quarter length. Our stride was effective, and we went up again to about level. We maintained this position for a good part of the race. At the 'intake' (about 750 metres) the St Edward's crew was ahead by about a third of a length. We were two lengths down by the bridge, and although the race was almost certainly lost by that stage, there was an excellent take home. The crew was more pleased with this final stretch than any other of the week-end. The St Edward's time was 3.53, the same as the time taken by the winner of the Open Eights event. The commentator remarked that both crews looked too good for Senior III. Under the new rules, introduced this year, it is possible for experienced crews to enter for Senior III, which is only one step above Novice. Radley and St. Edward's have both entered for races of this status: one wonders how soon they will return to their more usual Senior I and Senior II hunting grounds.