19/04/2024
The politics of time with Carolyn Smith
Emma Sprints
Sunday the River Cam was awash (sometimes literally) with costumed rowers for the annual Emma Sprints. These races are intended to be a fun introduction to racing for novices. Crews are encouragged to wear costumes and those with the best costumes are awarded a pineapple. All crews are also awarded mince pies. We had both men's and women's crews racing. Our novice women (NW1) beat Hughes Hall and Clare Hall to make it to the semi finals where they were beaten by First and Third. As semi-finalists, they then had a further race against Murray Edwards which they won. Fantastic results for our novice she-wolves! Our men didn't fare quite as well but still put on a strong showing.
Coach of NW1 Jonas Thyregod Wilcks gives us a report of day:
"NW1's first water race saw them progress all the way to the semi-final of Emma Sprints. In the first round they defeated Hughes Hall NW2, despite their start being superior. Wolfson NW1 does not have the quickest start, but is similar to a freight train, once the girls hit their stride they move through other crews really well. In the second round they again convincingly defeated Clare Hall NW2, advancing to the semifinal where they saw themselves defeated by a tough-rowing First and Third crew. In the battle for 3rd place they dispatched of Medwards in a dominant manner and won by multiple lengths.
These are great results, but for novices we look for effort and improvement almost more than results as they try to get accustomed to the chaos of rowing races. The girls remain focused, and are not resting on their laurels as they gear up for the culmination of their two months of hard work in the coming weeks, with the last two competitions of the calendar year, Clare Novices Regatta and the Fairbairn Cup.
NM1 did well to make it close with Caius NM2 in the first round, but ultimately saw themselves defeated by a strong and in-tune crew. Caius would go on to win the entire division, whereas the boys got a second run at a crew against Clare NM2 who they left in their puddles as they dominantly left them behind. Whilst the results do not shout out at you, the luck of the draw was against the boys facing Caius in a face-off that was easily worthy of a final. The boys will take all of this onboard as they also are ready to take on the next few races, where two of our other crews; NM2 and NW2 will join the Wolfson armada of novices."
Fullers Fours Head of the River
Ten crews represented Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) and Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club (CULRC) at the Fours Head of the River Race in London this weekend. This annual race takes place on the Thames from Mortlake to Putney, the reverse of the Championship Boat Race course and saw nearly 400 crews racing including Universities, Clubs, Schools and International crews.
The Four's Head is the first real test of the CU Women's Boat Club of the year. Wolfson alumna and CUWBC Captain Larkin Sayre said before the race, “The CUWBC squad are looking forward to our first major race on the Tideway. We love this course and can’t wait to show our speed alongside great crews from all over the UK (and world!)”
The crews included Wolfson students Sophie Paine — who raced with Larkin to secure the fastest women's coulees four — Anna Harrison, and Edmund Coke for CULRC. Congratulations to all.
