[caption id=”attachment_864” align=”aligncenter” width=”684”]winter_head_2015_m1 M1 holding their prize[/caption]

Crew: Tom Hiom George Cameron (s) (c) Alex Duncomb Peter Stevens George Daubney Helge Dietert Alistair Pryke Manu Signer Ben Catterall

Saturday 14th November

This crew benefited from the experience in two fours from the start of term, and a new coach from Robs, Toby Rudkin. Helge was very fit, having raced in both Fours head and Vets Fours head the previous weekend, and Alistair, a fresher, brought solid school-boy technique and cool head to the boat. I had made the mistake of entering the earliest division, thinking everyone would be to bed early with Bops cancelled for the foreseeable future - unfortunately the date clashed with a big MCR night, so our 2 man had a very sore head.

This did not stop us from winning the 8+ division (with 8.43), with only a faster time on the day from the quad Toby was racing in. Downing, Clare, Fitz, FaT and UCL all had eights out. We wound up a little early before the motorway bridge but settled into a nice chunky rhythm along first post reach. There was a bit of a wobble out of grassy corner, but we started to close on a big crew from Essex R.C. ahead. A highlight was our wind up from the railway bridge to the finish, which felt very very chunky but relaxed. There was a mutual agreement at the end that we had plenty more speed to come - bring on Fairbairns.

Stern pair also enjoyed a blast from the past with Boars Head later on in the day, kindly organised by James McMillan.

G.C.