St Catharine's College Boat Club

I was severely tempted to write this report in the style of Clare boat club's account (here) but that would have been to mock what was actually a fantastic bumps race. Having ground Clare down to a nailbiting bump on the reach yesterday, we knew they wouldn't go away, but we were unprepared for the sheer ferocity with which they came. We feel (and I'm sure Anton and his bell will disagree) that the Clare bank party were highly optimistic, but it is certain that they gained more than a length before first post, helped by some short, nervy rowing from us. That said, we pulled ourselves together, and as Clare started to tire we held ourselves firmly at a canvas round the corner.

However, as always in bumps there was another side to the story. Up ahead, Girton who had performed such heroics against Clare on day 2 to give us time to help them out, had held us between station and a length for the whole of first post reach, when 'something' happened. I heard later that 3 of the Girton rowers stopped rowing, all I knew at the time was a shout of 'half a length' (no time to raise whistles to mouths) and suddenly a shunt, a yelp of pain, and cries of 'hold it up'. The Girton cox apparently took the full force of our bowball in her back - for which we apologise and sincerely hope she's ok. 

We could debate in great detail whether the outcome of the race could have been different had Girton not slowed (Were we holding Clare, who deserve full credit for an unbelievable start? Were they blowing up, or just gathering themselves for a final push?) but in the end that's bumps for you... The words 'got away with it' were heard, whispering on the wind, but we knew that anyway. We go into day 4, up 3, chasing a falling Peterhouse.