We went to this new regatta to get some experience on a 1500 metre multi-lane course. We did not get this experience, as the entry was small and the course was not quite as long as advertised. Cheltenham 1st VIII failed to turn up, so we raced our own 2nd VIII only in the Junior Eights event. The 2nd VIII had set themselves the task of beating the 1st on this occasion, and had trained specifically for it for two weeks. The 1st VIII was correspondingly worried by the occasion, so it was a good test for both crews. The contest was very close for most of the course, and it was only towards the end that the 1st VIII pulled away to win by a length. Both crews were congratulated by the commentator for their style and power. (Other crews at the event were generally of lower standard.) The 1st VIII also entered Senior B Eights. They went off the start very fast, leaving Exeter behind very rapidly. The win was officially 'by a margin', which is West Country jargon for 'easily'. This was an easy win — too easy to give us much needed experience of racing the whole course.