march 2009 - Fitzwilliam College - University of Cambridge

march 2009 66
Reunion Rowing – Recent Graduates
After sounding people out around Easter time, and
subsequent intermittent communication, we found
ourselves back at Fitzwilliam. As far as possible, we
had aimed to collect first-boat rowers from 2003–04.
This was largely successful, with the cox and five of
the eight rowers in this category and the others being
substitutes, or first-boat rowers from the previous year.
Attending the dinner on Friday evening provided us all
with an opportunity to catch up on each other’s recent
activities, whilst also affording us a look at the
impressively refurbished bar.
Following a leisurely start on Saturday, we met at
the boathouse around 2pm for a 2:30pm push-off –
a schedule arranged with the previous night’s revelries
in mind! Although about half the crew had not set foot
in a boat for four years, I think that we were all quite
pleasantly surprised by our ability to sit the boat
comfortably. We paddled up to Baitsbite lock,
incorporating a couple of quick bursts to prepare
ourselves for the up-coming mini-regatta that Adrian
Tollett had organised. After spinning and returning to
the top of the Long Reach, we lined ourselves up for our
first round against a Selwyn mixed VIII. The course was
about 500m, to the railway bridge. An easy victory over
the Selwyn boat left us smiling and patting each other
on the back – assuring ourselves that it had had nothing
to do with the fact that one of the opposing crew had
caught a crab off the start.
Unfortunately, we proved the old adage that pride
comes before a fall: we paddled back to the start for our
second round against the Fitzwilliam veteran boat. It
was a close race, but it appeared that we were just not fit
enough: the veteran boat, with average age about twice
that of ours, beat us by around half a length. Suitably
humbled, we decided to paddle home. After putting the
boat away, we had to disperse back to our respective
lives, but I think we did so with a satisfied feeling: it had
certainly been enjoyable to see each other again and to
reminisce about our past rowing days.
REUBEN ROWE (2001)
Women’s Reunion Row
The sun was shining blissfully and the boathouse was
already buzzing as the members of the ladies’ reunion
crew started to arrive, some with husbands and babies
in tow. After meeting and greeting was over, it was
agreed unanimously that the newly constructed
boathouse was a great success, toasty, inviting and
even comparatively luxurious. With the men’s reunion
crew shoved off, it was time briefly to negotiate rowing
positions – and then our turn to push off.
Some members of the crew hadn’t put hand to oar
for many years but mercifully the cox was gentle with
us and we all soon discovered that, just like riding a
bicycle, all comes flooding back remarkably quickly.
With a couple of exercises to reawaken and loosen up
the hands under our belts we were ready to head down
the reach, rowing as an eight. Needless to say the going
was not perfectly smooth at first but the mounted
supporters on the towpath were encouraging and
soon we felt ready to try our hand at some racing
starts. These were surprisingly successful and, having
reacquainted ourselves with just how tiring rowing flat
out can be, we decided to revert to some steady rowing.
By now we were smooth and elegant and stole admiring
glances from the men’s reunion crew as we passed
them! A short break for re-taping softened and rapidly
blistering hands and it was time to return to the
boathouse, still bathed in sunshine, gliding
harmoniously over a glassy Cam.
BRETT BURKHART (1986)
Reunion Mixed Hockey
It was a pretty hot day and a makeshift team. Matthew
Holt and I were the elder statesmen, surrounded by
some dynamic forward players and resilient mid-field
and defence generals. I noted with some amusement
the grief I was given at my continued use of a wooden
stick but, as I hadn’t used it at all for over five years,
I needed to keep the major changes to a minimum.
Fortunately the conditions were good and the
Fitzwilliam turf had been mowed short to facilitate
a fast flowing and skilful game.
The Oldies team cruised to a 5–0 victory – as our
memories are fading, it may have been more or less!
Tobias Wood got one as did Aleem Iqbal. The claims
were staked over curry in a traditional local eatery
(which no longer sponsors the team, I was sorry to
see). Man of the match was probably split between
Matthew and Hannah (note to Claire – don’t row all
morning first!), but a great team effort by all.
The Fitzwilliam team played a magnanimous
supporting role and it was good to see that the hockey
effort is in safe hands.
NADIR MARUF (1992)
Mixed Hockey at the Reunion
Serita Rana