M1:

Anastasiia Kamenska(Cox),

Chris Craggs,

Tom Durrant (Crew Captain)

David Johns,

Sam Foster,

Andrew Sullivan,

Matt Tasker,

Connor Quinn,

Mark Condos

W1:

Louise Baker(Cox),

Filipa Goncalves de Azevedo,

Evelyn Tichy,

Cara Ferrentino,

Christine Hoyer,

Carmen Jack,

Zhen Sun,

Tamara Steijger,

ZZ Friedman (Crew Captain)

As with current tradition, Wolfson’s M1 and W1 crews for May term are awarded Wolfson College colours in the form of a crew Zephyr so congratulations to everyone included in these crews. I am sure both crews look forward to a term of early mornings, hard training and lycra tan lines to ensure those Wolfson colours are well derserved!

M2 and W2 to be announced shortly!

M1 DAY 1: ROW OVER

M1 DAY2: BUMP UP OVER JESUS II- After being disappointed in their performance on Tuesday, M1 made time for an extra morning practice on Wednesday. Day 2′s race started well for Wolfson with a swift start that put distance on Homerton and took quick ground of Jesus. We slowly reeled in Jesus and despite a grassy gained 3 whistles outside the plough. This was followed by a bump for 10. In taking the rating up we gained overlap on Jesus. In an attempt to save the bump and avoid contact Jesus came out of Ditton wide. Wolfson took a good line increasing their overlap and forcing Jesus wider into Downing and LMB who had bumped out ahead. This is Wolfson’s first bump in over 3 years and with the majority of the crew never having rowed bumps before and a number of novices, this is a good sign for the coming days and year.

M1 DAY 3: BUMPED DOWN BY JESUS II – An unfortunate chain of events meant that as Wolfson pulled clear of Jesus II and closed down on the LMBC crew in front coming around first post corner, a member of bow 4 caught a crab that eventually led to a nifty parking manouver and a bump by Jesus II. The crew was despertaely disappointed with the result as even in the early stages they had looked like closing down LMBC for a second bump.

M1 DAY 4: ROW OVER – While row overs are often uneventful and boring for the bank party, Wolfson’s final day row over was very different. Starting behind Jesus II again and ahead of a blades chasing Pembroke II, M1 knew they needed to push hard from the get go. A steady start saw them hold station with both crews. By grassy Wolfson were within a boat length of Jesus but Pembroke had closed to withn a boat length. Coming out of grassy Wolfson pushed for 10 and took ground off Jesus. However, LMBC faltered and Jesus bumped up leaving a lot of empty river for M1 to cover with a crew breathing down their neck. The call Kill had been designated to finish off the crew in front but on exiting Ditton to relieve the pressure of a approahcing Pembroke crew, the first ‘Kill’ call came and the rating was quickly taken up to 39-40. Pembroke reacted strongly knowing they needed to bump Wolfson to gain their blades and closed to within a canvas and then overlap! However, M1 did not give-up and another Kill call was called….15 strokes later another one……and the same again. Wolfson and Pembroke jostled canvas-overlap-canvas-overlap all the way down the reach! The final push from both crews came by the railway bridge. A massive cheer of pain and joy was released as we crossed the line having spoilt Pembroke’s blades party plans.  This was a huge performance from M1 and they, Pembroke and Homerton (within a boat length of Pembroke) all showed memorable mental strength to maintain the quality and level of rowing for the full course in such a tightly contested competition.

W1 DAY 1: BUMPED DOWN BY CHRISTS

W1 Day 2:  ROW OVER – Though rewarded with a only a row over, W1 had a truly spectacular day of rowing. The crew remained focused amid the chaos of whistles, cannons and flailing (obviously inferior) crews. After the start, we settled nicely into a powerful and consistent rhythm. The crew rowed hard and strong, finding a stride that propelled us towards Christ’s II. We were gaining on them, hungry for vengeance and bumping them back to their rightful place. If it weren’t for the pandemonium in front of us, Clare II crashing into the bank and providing an easy over-bump, the Wolfson ladies would almost certainly have caught Christ’s II. Most impressive however was not the remarkable effort that the crew demonstrated when chasing Christ’s but their resilience after the over-bump. Instead of easing off, Wolfson women continued to row with grit and determination all the way to the finish. Every member of W1 should feel tremendously proud of today’s race. Each of us gave every last ounce of energy and demonstrated that we will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of bumps. As one “sexy” Wolfson boatie (as proclaimed by the bumps programme) put it, “Witness the fitness.”

M2 DAY 1: ROW OVER – On Tuesday the 1^st May Wolfson’s M2 boat lined up as the first Wolfson crew to compete in the Lent 2011 bumps. With everyone controlling their nerves M2 came off with a solid start, only for chaos to occur on a divisional scale at first post corner! Interesting marshalling had resulted in Hughes Hall, who bumped being told to cross the river into the path of our M2 crew and the resulting carnage led to a re-row of the division. At the second gun M2 again made a solid start rowing with clear water ahead. With the crews behind bumping out we settled in for a comfortable row-over.

M2 DAY 3: OVER-BUMPED DOWN BY CLARE HALL -Thursday of bumps highlighted to all involved how fickle and lucky bumps races can be. As M2 closed on the Addenbrookes boat ahead they bumped the Fitzwilliam boat in front of them on the inside of First Post corner. This forced M2, who had taken an inside line, to react quickly and correct their line going wide around First Post. Unfortunately the line could not be recovered and M2 ploughed into the outside of the exit of first post corner. This resulted in an over-bump for a very good Clare Hall as Queens had despatched the poor FaT boat in-between. This however, sets up a re-race of Day 2 for the final day with Wolfson hoping to bump Fat IV and regain positions in the Div 4 table.

M2 DAY 4: BUMP UP OVER FAT IV – On the final day of bumps Wolfon’s M2 crew were lined up once again behind the FaT crew from day 2; a crew they knew they had the better of. However, there was no complacency and M2 drew cleanly away from the chasing Emmanuel 3^rd boat and closed on FaT. Nearing first post corner, looking for the early bump, a “mini-crab” disrupted the rhythm in the bow 4; however, it was a minor blip as M2 again closed and obtained overlap without contact. M2 then held overlap around first post corner with the FaT cox obviously under orders not to concede early. This was to such an extent that shortly after first post corner the bump was called by the umpire on the bank bringing M2’s Lent bumps to a close.

Overall M2 ended with a -1. This was an unlucky result for a crew that had no prior bumps experience and had esperienced its fair part of misfortune.  However, the crew had a fantastic time and cannot wait till Mays comes around.

NM1:

NM1 put Wolfson in a great position to begin next years Fairbairns with a determined row that saw them finish 13th overall in the men’s category. NM1 maintained a nice long rhythm and some good coxing through the final few corners aided a great race.

NW1:

I have a slightly biased view (as there coach) but possibly the stand out performance of the day came from the women. The highest finishing boat of the day and a position not achieved by an NW1 crew in over a decade (in fact as far back as the online records go!). The girls produced a fine display to finish tied 10th (9th if you exclude St Mary’s girls school). A stunning performance and hopefully one that means good things for Wolfson’s senior women crews later this year!

NM3:

A NM3 crew that had been hampered by absences over the term battled hard over a tough Fairbairns course in severe conditions to beat several crews including Sidney Sussex NM1, Pembroke NM2 and Caius NM3.

NM1 received a bye into the second round. There they met St Cats A. After going behind from the start, the guys pulled back with a mighty effort to make it through to the quarter finals. Here they unfortunately lost to Clare A despite fighting back in the later stages of the race.

WCBC NW1:

NW1 also produced some good performances. In the first round they showed that its not all about the size of the college or fancy boats but the rowers themselves as they stormed to a 4-5 boat length victory over First and Third A. They were unfortunate to meet eventual winners Newnham in the second round but according to the official winning margins, gave them their closest race of the day!

WCBC NM2:

NM2 powered off the start to win their first round race easily by 3 boat lengths against Fitzwilliam College. Their second round race was against nemesis side Trinity and was the race of the day. Trinity took it hard off the start but Wolfson clawed their way back into it. Two unfortunate crabs left Wolfson with just a bit too much to do as a tiring Trinity crew just managed to hold off a resurgent Wolfson – based on today’s performance NM2 can look forward to gaining revenge on the longer Fairbairn’s course!

WCBC NM3:

NM3 also raced today and after a first round bye met Queens college in the second round. After initial technical failures, NM3 put in the effort to hold distance with Queens but it was just too much to claw back the initial Queens lead. A great effort by NM3, not giving up till the very end!