On the 17th November the whole of the squad travelled down to Birmingham for the National Indoor Rowing Championships. The overall performance of the squad was pleasing, with a number of personal bests recorded, and some impressive individual times, notably Annie Vernon’s 6.59.0 – which was the fastest heavyweight time, and Kathryn Pontin’s 7.31.6 – the fastest lightweight time. The Oxford squad also put in an overall strong performance, recording comparable, if not slightly superior times. Still a long way to go, but at this stage the pacing looks pretty equal…

Results from IVs head were promising, with the heavyweight coxed IVs producing a win in WS3, and a second place in WS2. The quad finished fourth in a division of more than fifty, and the lightweight IV did well to come in fifth in the elite coxless IV division.

Comparison is difficult with the different classes of boats, but CUWBC seem to have come out marginally ahead of their Oxford counterparts.

Quad

• Nicola Gardener; Magdelene
• Annie Vernon; Downing
• Mary Hood; Downing
• Ruth de Las Casas; Peterhouse

4+

• Cox: Nick Acock; Emmanuel
• S: Julia Parker; Emmanuel
• 3: Ruth Harbitt; Fitzwilliam
• 2: Cath Dovey; Girton
• B: Angela Laycock; Emmanuel

4+

• Cox: Lizzie Gross; Corpus Christi
• S: Anna Mallam; St Catharines
• 3: Claire Philbrick; St Johns
• 2: Laura Rous; Sidney Sussex
• B: Cass Chisolm; Jesus

4-

• S: Kathyrn Pointin; Jesus
• 3: Claire Langrishe; Clare
• 2: Kate Billings; Emmanuel
• B: Karen Hartshorn; St Johns