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Metropolitan Regatta
Co-evolutionary theory, advanced banking techniques and Frume numbers for hydrodynamic lift. These were just some of the topics being revised by SUBC rowers intent on passing their exams next week, never the less we decided that we should race at Metropolitan Regatta on the last weekend in May.
On the Saturday the Women's squad went in force, taking their two Henley crews to test the waters. The eight had a tough heat and failed to get through to the final. The Women's Coxed four came second in their semi and 3rd in the final of senior 2 4+. Well done girls!
Sunday was the men's turn, with the Henley crews being finalised only days before we were all keen to get out on the water and see what we could do. For the 1st 8 especially, the Dorney Lake course held particularly bad memories as it was the site of our very narrow defeat by the University of London 3 weeks before. The 2nd 8 were also in senior 3 8's and had a great row in their heat, where no amount of coxing errors (by other crews) could prevent them from making the repechage, where they came a respectable 5th.
The 1st 8 won their heat with a display of dominance over Molesy boat club (the winners of senior 3 8's the day before) in the fastest winning time from the heats. This bought us a long break until the final, where we had lane 4. Having worked on our starts and first 400m we were in the pack at 500m, 1 second down on the leaders Brookes. We then started our middle thousand, where we rowed through both Brookes and moved away from the rest of the field. Molesy closed at the finish but to no avail and with a time of 6:10.04 we were the winners.
It is a well overdue reward for the guys in the boat, as it reflects how hard they have trained for this and how much they have given up to be a part of the crew. Well done Gentlemen (and Lady)!
written by George Clarkson on 2nd June 08
Men's Squad Easter Training Camp
After a successful head season the men's squad headed off for its now annual Easter training camp. Previous years have seen us head to Italy, Spain and Belgium, however this year we headed for the less exotic Dorney lake course, near Windsor.
The camp had a distinctly English feeling, sandwiches for lunch, variable weather from 6 inches of snow to sweltering heat and meals eaten in a proper British pub.
There was still some very decent training done, some people managed 190km over the week, and the benefits of 3 outings a day on both technique and fitness can not be underestimated. The camp has set the squad up for the coming regatta season with plenty of work done on starts and a provisional 1st 8 racing against Bristol University 2nd 8 which we won.
The men's squad are now deep in training for Wallingford and BUSA regattas, which will be on the May bank holiday weekend.
written by George Clarkson on 12th April 08
Head of the River Race
On the 15th of March, the Men's Squad headed up to London for the Eights Head of the River.
We had 4 eights entered in the race - after last years cancellation crews rowed off based on the 2006 results.
The 1st 8 started 96th, having a good row and moving away from Vesta II who started behind us and overtaking Furnivall as we passed the Mile Post. However a perfect race it was not as during the overtake our six man (Stefan Hemmingway)caught a serious crab, costing us maybe 3 or 4 seconds over all. Our final finishing place was 67th overall and 8th in the University Event.
The 2nd 8 had a strong row with an early scrap with a few crews finishing 211th.
The 3rd 8 had the target of automatic qualification in the top 260 to aim for. It was however not to be as they finished 265th.
We had not had a 4th 8 race at the head before and they produced a strong result finishing up 63 places at 350th out of 420 in total.
These are strong results and show the strength in depth we have in this year's squad. Very few other Universities had 4 crews entered.
The highest finishing place for many years for a top boat and solid performances from the other three eights.
written by George Clarkson on 17th March 08
Men's Squad Winter Training Camp
The men's squad headed off for our now traditional winter training camp. We went to Kingston Rowing Club for 3 days. After a Christmas break comprising far too many turkey and mince pies we were sluggish to get started. After the first 30min ergo everyone’s fitness began to improve fast and with many water outings in small boats, technical strides were made all round.
Winter training camp is always a time for integration of the novice and senior squad and both squads benefited from the focus only a hard training camp can bring.
Many thanks have to go to Matt Evans and Peter O'Brien who organised an amazing and well run camp. The camp was a really good way to kick-start the head race season looking forward to BUSA and the Head of the River Race.
written by George Clarkson on 11th January 08
Fours' Head
The big race of the first part of term and we arrived to a mirror flat tideway early in the morning on Saturday 4rd November.
Southampton had 6 boats entered, a coxless four and two coxed fours both from the men's and women's squads.
The Senior 2 4- had a stonking race going off 205th and overtaking 4 crews (1 within 50m of the start). They finished 147th overall and 17th out of 43 in their event, Southampton's best placing in the Fours Head ever.
The two Senior 3 4+ boats had mixed races. Both overtook a number of crews and finished about 50 places higher than their start positions.
The women's Senior 2 4- did very well placing 4th in their event and 312 overall. They beat notable crews such as Cambridge University and Vesta.
The women's Senior 3 4+'s suffered from a lack of local knowledge about steering and so suffered on the infamous Fulham flats. They put in solid early season performances however.
A big thank you to all stags and any other supporters who we may or may not have heard shouting encouragement all along the river.
written by George Clarkson on 4th November 07
Name the Filippi Four
We would like to thank everyone who entered ‘Name the Four’ competition. We had a fantastic response!
The raffle took place on Wednesday 4th July at Henley Royal Regatta. The plan was to draw the name in Butlers Field, but unfortunately, due to heavy rainfall the field was flooded. We were forced to take cover in a nearby bar! Andy Triggs Hodge (GB Squad) kindly drew the winning ticket. The new boat will be named ‘Ray Carlton’.
Thank you once again for all your support.
written by Kirsten Hazell on 3rd November 07
SUBC Ergothon
The rowers at SUBC are renowned for many things; their ability to get up at ridiculous hours of the morning, their success-rate in races nationwide, and their liver-busting socials at Jesters. However, at the beginning of October, 45 committed rowers proved themselves to be among the fittest of the university’s students. From 8am on the 1st to 8pm on the 2nd SUBC set upon a 36 hour ‘Ergothon’, raising money for Steps, a small national charity supporting those affected by a lower limb condition. Each rower had a two hour session of gruelling rowing on one of the two ergos (rowing machines) loaned for the occasion by the university gym (big thank-yous for that!) and during the 36 hours rowed almost 1000k. Having consulted Google Earth, I have found out that that is only 42k shy of the distance from Southampton to Berlin!
If you were one of the students who gave money to the bucket wielding SUBC members then thank you; with your generous contributions, the efforts of the rowers were rewarded with £1397.55, which was split between Steps and SUBC so that more events can be put on in the future! For more information about Steps visit www.steps-charity.org.uk
written by Emily Taylor on 3rd November 07
Reading Small Boats Head
The men's senior squad headed off for their first race of the year at Reading.
After only one outing in the crews, the results were good considering both the lack of preparation and lack of competition.
The Senior 2 coxless four were 7th overall and the second fastest sweep boat, even after their slightly agricultural steering resulting in the displacement of a large flock of geese.
The Senior 3 coxed four came 4th in their event and afterwards said that they had "rowed quite hard"
The squad are now setting their sights for Upper Thames Head and the Fours Head of the River race, which takes place on the third of November.
written by George Clarkson on 16th October 07