News postings from other seasons can be found in the Squad News Archive.

With the 2004 Olympic Rowing Regatta completed over at the Schinias course in Athens, the headline result of the week's worth of racing was the photo-line finish to the Mens' coxless Fours, which saw OUBC's Matthew Pinsent win his fourth straight Olympic gold medal. Backed by fellow Oxford old boy Ed Coode in the three-seat, the GB crew edged out the reigning World Champions Canada in one of most exciting races of all time. The lead swapped hands on numerous occassions, but with 250m to go the GB crew looked to have it in the bag. A superhuman effort from the Canadians, however, saw them come back once more, and with ten strokes to go it was once more anyone's race. A gargantuan sprint to the line, led by Pinsent, saw Great Britain hold off the Canadian crew by a mere 0.08 seconds.

To complement the two OUBC gold medals won in that race, 2002 Oxford oarsman and Dutch ergo record holder Gerritjan Eggenkamp anchored the Netherlands 8+ to a silver medal in the regatta's blue ribband event. Like the GB 4- above, the Netherlands 8+ was only formed this year, in fact only qualify for Athens by winning in Lucerne earlier in the summer. A storming third 500m metres saw them move from fourth to the silver medal position but, whilst they continued to move on the leading American crew in the sprint for the line, the finsh line came to soon for the men in orange to convert their silver to gold. Nonetheless, Gerritjan and the rest of his crew mates were delighted to be able to add that silver medal to the Grand Trophy they won at Henley Royal earlier in the year. With Gerritjan's wife expecting the couple's first baby in the next month, 2004 is thus far turning out to be a bumper year for this particular Boat Race winner.

With three other OUBC athletes competing on this, the highest and most prestigious stage of all (Scott Frandsen, Canadian 8+, 5th; Robin Bourne-Taylor, GB 8+, 9th; Simon Cottle, GB 4x, 12th) it was a typically successful Olympics for the OUBC. What is more, with CUBC taking home a medal as well -- a bronze for 2002 Boat Race oarsman Stuart Welch (alongside some-time Oxford coach and four-time Olympic medalist Mick McKay) in the Australian 8+ -- the pedigree of the Boat Race as an event was once more underscored.

With a large number of athletes engaged with summer international commitments, the annual OUBC cycling trip had a smaller than usual pool of potential riders from which to draw its peleton. As a result, the traditional pre-season bike trip departed for the North of England rather than the South of France this year, and the rowers-cum-riders were rewarded with the sort of weather you'd expect from such a choice. Torrential rain and gusting winds failed to dampen the spirit, however, as the Lake District (for the first half of the trip) and the North Yorkshire Moors (for the second) were tackled full on.

Despite the less than perfect weather, the riders logged ample mileage and thus achieved the long aerobic workouts they were looking for ahead of 1st September and the start of the road to the Boat Race 2005. Rolling lanes along undulating vallies nestled beneath some breath-taking scenery were interspersed with numerous short sharp hills, the likes of which are not seen even in the Alps. With modern-day tarmac simply laid on top of the millennia-old farming tracks and the Roman roads criss-crossing the region, hills are tackled head-on without the benefit of the hairpin bends and switchbacks so characteristic of the Alps. Gradients in excess of 25% were assaulted, leaving the riders feeling less as if they were cylcing up to the passes than leg-pressing their way along. Maintaining enough momentum to stay upright was often the challenge of such climbs. However, never lasting longer than 20mins thanks to the head-on approach of Roman route planners, such tortuous climbs invariably gave way in a short amount of time to the rolling roads so typical of the rides and so conducive to the type of training sought. All in all it was an enjoyable trip, and successfully served to whet the appetite for the road to the Boat Race ahead.

Oxford oarsmen's 2004 summer of success continued for Blue Boat rowers Colin Smith and Dave Livingston at the World U23 Championships in Poland recently. Dave, racing in the GB 4- alongside three relatively inexperienced crewmates, made the A Final in a tough event and raced well in doing so. In the pack at 1000m, the GB 4- fell off the pace slightly as the other final five crews made their move. Nonetheless, come the finish Dave's boat were as satisfied as their coaches were with what was a more than creditable regatta performance.

Next up was GB single sculler and Blue Boat strokeman Colin Smith. Hot off the back of his giant-killing exploits at Henley Royal Regatta Colin flew out to Poland quietly yet firmly confident in his ability, despite the fact that a 76kg frame inevitably leads many to doubt his potential as an international rower. And if there was any event in which such doubts could most justifiably be given voice to, it is the single scull. With the cream of Europe's up-and-coming scullers fighting it out in a field in which Holland's 6'6" oarsman Sjoerd Hamburger was not the biggest, in the event which ended up producing the highest World Championship Gold-medal time of the regatta, Colin was not going to be given an easy ride.

Right from the beginning of the week, Colin set out his stall. A victory in both his heat and his semi-final saw him through to the final in bouyant mood. Despite a strong headwind seemingly designed to to further punish the 6'1" Colin, come the 500m mark he led the pack: a couple of feet ahead of the Australian sculler Mitchell Punch, but a length and a half ahead of the rest of the field. At the halfway mark the same distance prevailed between Colin and the Aussie but the Dutchman Hamburger had succeeded in closing to within half a length, with the Latvian Kristaps Bokums only half a length further back. 250m later and with 750m to go, the four of these oarsmen were inseperable, strung out in a line across the course; and the race was truly on. By the 1500m marker the 6'8" Latvian sculler Bokums had hammered out a length lead over the others, but the Australian, the Dutchman and Colin remained inseperable. And so the sprint for the line began.

250m later and with only 250m of the race remaining, Colin and the Dutch sculler remained locked in a titanic battle in the silver-medal position, the Australian having fallen away to the tune of a length after being unable to withstand the pressure or sustain the pace. The Latvian giant Bokums, looking so comfortable having made his decisive move in the third 500m, now began to struggle. His turn of speed there had obviously come at a price, and as Colin and the Dutchman waged war, the Latvian's lead was cut back to less than half a length. As the line hove into sight, Colin and Hamburger continued to trade stroke-by-stroke blows whilst Bokums tried desperately to hang on until the beep. With less than 10 metres remaining the most exciting race of the regatta saw the medal positions still anyone's guess, and as GB, Latvia and Holland slumped exhausted over the line, the spectators held their breath. As the Latvian sculler received medical treatment on the water, the final result was announced after an inspection of the finish-line photo:

1. Kristaps Bokums Latvia - 7:24.45
2. Colin Smith, Great Britain - 7:25.44
3. Sjoerd Hamburger Netherlands - 7:25.77

Click here for the podium photo.

It has been announced that the 151st Boat Race will take place on Sunday, 27th March 2005. The exact time has yet to be confirmed and will be dependent on the tides, but will be mid- to late-afternoon. As usual, the Isis-Goldie Race will take place half an hour before the two Blue Boats race.

Click here for the full Press Release.

Olympic preparation continues with Athens less than a month away. The Great Britain Team has been finalised and contains four Dark Blue athletes. Simon Cottle is in the quad, whilst 2004-2005 OUBC President Robin Bourne-Taylor will race in the the Eight. Matthew Pinsent and Ed Coode will make up a Dark Blue stern pair for the top GB boat, the coxless four. Joining them in Ahens will be recent Blues Gerritjan Eggenkamp, in the Dutch Eight, and Scott Frandsen, in the Canadian Eight. The Club wishes all of them the best of success.

In addition, Colin Smith and Dave Livingston will race for Great Britain at the U23 World Championships in Poznan in August. Colin will compete in the single, whilst Dave is part of the coxless four. Finally, Pete Reed is presently in Austria as a spare to the GB Olympic Team at their final pre-Athens high-altitude camp, whilst Andrew Stubbs will race in the GB Eight at the World Student Rowing Championships in September.

This summer two recent Blues are putting the river aside and raising some money for charity. Matt Smith, 2003 President and three-times Boat Race winner is cycling across America to raise money for AMREF, a charity that aims to provide basic sanitatation and healthcare in war-torn Somalia. Matt intends to post regular updates on his progress on a website set up especially for the trip through which it is also possible to make a donation or sponsor his journey. Slightly closer to home and cox Acer Nethercott is competing in the London Triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) this summer in aid of Centrepoint, a British charity for the homeless. Donations or sponsorship pledges can similarly be made via a website once again set up for that purpose.

http://www.cycleamerica.org.uk/
http://www.justgiving.com/acer/

OUBC enjoyed one of its most successful of recent years at Henley this season. The entries spanned eight events and led to seven Finals being contested, culminating in four victories for our OUBC oarsmen.

In the Silver Goblet's & Nickall's Challenge Cup, Pete Reed and Dave Livingston were knocked out on Saturday in the semi-finals by the British squad pair of Dunn & Livingston. This pair had started the week as Dunn & Garbett, the GB pair for Athens, but injury forced the replacement of Garbett by Dave's brother, James, just before their Friday race. The Livingston "Blues Brothers" Dave and James last raced against each other in the 2003 Boat Race, when Dave sat at six in the Oxford Blue Boat whilst brother James rowed at seven for Cambridge. On that occasion the younger sibling Dave enjoyed victory, triumphing in the closest Boat Race in history. This time round, however, it was James who crossed the line first. In the final, Dunn & Livingston lost to the South African pair of Di Clemente & Cech by four and a quarter lengths.

Of the Sunday racing, the first final of interest to OUBC supporters was the Thames Challenge Cup, in which victorious 2000 Isis strokeman Phil Beard was competing as part of the London R.C. crew. Trailing at the Barrier, London fought back to prevail in what was a very close race; final verdict: half a length. The day thus began well for the OUBC finalists.

Next up was 2004 Blue Boat stroke Colin Smith, racing in the final of the Diamond Challenge Sculls. Two days previously Colin had faced the British Olympic sculler Ian Lawson in the quarter finals in what many consider to have been the race of the regatta. In a fine display of fearlessness in racing, Colin took the contest to Lawson from the very first stroke. A two-foot lead coming off the Island was hammered out to a length come the Barrier, and despite Lawson's constant attempts to get back on level terms Colin maintained this advantage all the way to the Enclosures. At this point, Lawson caught a large crab (doing well to stay afloat in the process); upon getting going again, Lawson attempted to claw back his deficit, but soon after conceeded defeat and paddled home for a "not rowed out" verdict. Colin then defeated his second seeded sculler in as many days (O'Sullivan of Ireland) to reach the final, where he faced Marcel Hacker, 2002 World Champion and one of the favourites for Athens in the single. Colin was unable to repeat his achievements of the previous two days, but nonetheless finished a creditable second in a highly competitive event to a worthy opponent. What is more, he did so having displayed many of the virtues OUBC as a programme seeks to instil in its athletes; as such, he did the club proud.

Just two races later and there was OUBC interest again, this time in the form of Simon Cottle. Racing as part of the British Quad, a close race saw the Ukrainian Olymic boat emerge victorious by a single length. In the next of three consecutive OUBC finals, 2002 Blue Boat three-man Gerritjan Eggenkamp raced as part of the Athens-bound Dutch 8+. Sitting at six, Gerritjan triumphed over Harvard in the final of the Grand Challenge Cup, the latter having knocked out the Cambridge Blue Boat the day before, and thus secured the second OUBC victory of the day.

OUBC's fifth final of the day was in the Visitors' Challenge Cup for coxless fours, where Andrew Stubbs (BB '04) was racing as part of an OUBC/Oxford Brookes composite crew. They faced the stern four of the 2004 Cambridge Blue Boat in the final, having beaten first a boat taken from the GB lightweight 8+ and then the current Visitor's holders and Irish U23 4- in earlier rounds. Taking the lead off the start, the Oxford boat led by a length and a half at the Barrier. Coming up to Remenham, the Cambridge boat took the second of two massive pushes designed to get them back into contention, their first one having failed. In doing so however they suceeded in steering themselves on to the booms. This second last-ditch, all-or-nothing attempt having backfired, the race was effectively over, and the Oxford boat rowed home comfortable and worthy winners. For Andrew Stubbs, the result came as sweet revenge after the Boat Race three months earlier, and when a bitterly disappointed Cambridge strokeman Stephan Bushbacher commmented on the dock afterwards that "a decent crew would have offered a re-row" Andrew simply smiled at the irony of the situation.

The final race before the tea interval was the final of the Stewards' Challenge Cup. Following the collapsed lung of Alex Partridge, Matthew Pinsent was joined by fellow Oxford old boy Ed Coode to make up a Dark Blue stern pair of a boat that will now be the British 4- and priority boat in Athens in just over a month's time. Their victory over Australia by two lengths gave OUBC oarsmen their fourth and fifth Henley Winner's medals of the day. Finally, the Oxford 4+ competing in the Men's Student Coxed Four's raced in the last OUBC Final (and last race) of the day. After an excitingly close contest, the day unfortunately ended in a half-length defeat for the Oxford crew. All in all, however, four victories and seven finals contested marked an impressive display for the OUBC at Henley this year, underlying the strength in depth of both this year's squad and of the club in recent years.

This year OUBC has a variety of entries racing at Henley. In the Diamond Challenge Sculls, 2004 strokeman Colin Smith will trade one blade for two ahead of representing GB at the U23 World Championships in Poznan later this summer. His Boat Race team mates Peter Reed and Dave Livingston (the former an OUBC Vice-President for 2004-2005) will race in the Goblets following their impressive showing at the GB Trials in Hazewinkel at Easter, and after representing Great Britain in the pair at the World Cup this summer. Andrew Stubbs completes the 2004 Blue Boat contingent racing at Henley, sitting at three in a composite Visitors 4-.

Joining these four at Henley will be an OUBC 4+, racing in the "Men's Student Coxed Fours" event now that the Britannia Challenge Cup has been split in to a club event (retaining the old Britannia title and trophy) and the aforementioned newly established event. The crew comprises victorious Isis oarsmen Jack Tarrell and Jonny Mathews alongside Jimmy Woodrow, Paul Holland and cox Andrew Crawford. Paul Holland in particular is looking forward to racing in the dark blue of Oxford after he was selected to row in this year's Isis crew but contracted pneumonia five days before the race and had to withdraw on Doctor's orders.

In addition to these current OUBC squad members, a number of OUBC old boys will be competing. Phil Beard (Isis 2000) races in the Thames Challenge Cup as part of the London R.C. Eight; Gerritjan Eggenkamp (Blue Boat 2002) races in the Grand as part of the Dutch Olympic 8+; Simon Cottle (Isis 1997-98) will compete for the Queen Mother Challenge Cup as part of the GB Olympic Quad; and Matthew Pinsent (Blue Boat 1990-91, President 1993) will stroke the British Athens-bound entry in the Stewards'. Ed Coode (Blue Boat 1998) and Robin Bourne-Taylor (Blue Boat 2001-2003) had been due to contest the Grand along with Gerritjan, but illness has forced the withdrawl of the British 8+ they are a part of.

The preliminary Great Britain Olympic rowing team has been announced, and at present contains three Oxford Old Blues. Matthew Pinsent (BB '90, '91, '93; President '93) will again stroke the coxless four, as he did in Sydney, and will be looking for his fourth straight Olympic Gold medal. Meanwhile, Robin Bourne-Taylor (BB '01, '02, '03; President '04) and Ed Coode (BB '98) have been named in the Eight, following in the footsteps of Luka Grubor (BB '97) and Andrew Lyndsay (BB '97, '98, '99), both members of the Gold Medal winning GB Eight from Sydney. The British Quad has yet to be finalised, but Simon Cottle (Isis '97, '98) is in strong contention for one of those four seats.

Meanwhile, Gerritjan Eggenkamp (BB '02) was the six-man of the Dutch Eight that qualified for Athens at the final pre-Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne last month, and Scott Frandsen (BB '03) is the current bow-man of the Canadian Eight which won the World Cup regattas in Munich and Lucerne this summer, are reigning World Champions, and head off to Athens as favourites to take gold.

Just two weeks after the Boat Race and the final round of British Trials in this, the Olympic season, took place in Hazewinkel, Belgium. OUBC was represented by: Colin Smith, stroke of this year's Blue Boat, raced in the single; Dave Livingston and Pete Reed, five and six in this year's Blue Boat; Robin Bourne-Taylor, Blue 2001-2003 and currently taking a year out to pursue his Olypmic dream; Simon Cottle, Isis 1997, 1998; and Ed Coode, Blue Boat 1997. Former Oxford President and three-time Blue and Olypmic Gold Medallist Matthew Pinsent was forced to withdraw from the regatta through illness.

Sunshine, flat water and a light cross-headbreeze saw some close racing and witnessed some outstanding Oxford results. Most prominent of these were those of Livingston and Reed, casting aside their disappointment at the events of a fortnight before to finish sixth fastest pair in the morning time trial, then to row down the six- and seven- man of last year's Bronze Medal winning GB 8+ in the final 100m of their afternoon heat, before finally finishing sixth overall in the A-Final in this, the Olympic year. Whilst those inside OUBC were little surprised by the outcome of these races, in performing as they did Dave and Pete turned more than a few heads in the wider GB set-up. They will now race for Great Britain in the first World Cup regatta of the year, which takes place in Poznan, Poland.

Once again this year the Isis crew boasted significant experience on paper, junior internationals mixed with former Blues and Isis members and a smattering of oversees postgrads to form a strong line up. However, dissappointed with the defeat of last year, the crew's attitude throughout training had been to grasp the race from the moment the flag dropped. This was achieved and the race was decided early on as soon after the black buoy Isis moved out to a clear water lead as they rowed around the outside of the Fulham bend. The race was effectively over from half way down Crabtree Reach but Goldie maintained composure and kept the deficit to within 2 and a half lenghts all the way down the course, closing to a length along the Chiswick Eyot straight with Goldie striking a 36 and Isis' 34.5. This pattern continued down the course, with Goldie again pushing hard after Barnes Bridge, but Isis were able to dictate the race and won by 1.75 lengths in a time of 18 minutes and 42.1 seconds.

OUBC - ISIS: Average weight 87.7kg (13st 11 and three-eighths lbs)
CUBC - GOLDIE: Average weight 86.0kg (13st 7 and three-quarter lbs)

On 14th March down on the Tideway the Blue Boat and Isis enjoyed their final fixture ahead of 28th March. Molesey formed the opposition, and proved to have no intention of giving the Oxford Boats anything but a thorough work out. In both of their pieces, the Blue Boat jumped out to an early three-quarter length lead against the Molesey first VIII and then successfully held their opposition off, defending this lead to the finish as the race swung on to the Surrey bend with Oxford on the outside. Isis enjoyed similar sucess, and OUBC is grateful to Molesey for providing what proved to be a tough workout and some hard racing.

On Sunday, 7th March the Blue Boat and Isis took on two Imperial College crews in fixtures on the Tideway. With the opposition containing two Olympic Gold Medallists and multiple World Champion Medallists, both races provided stern tests for the Oxford Boats in the build up to 28th March.

Racing from the University stone marking the start of the Boat Race course to Chiswick Steps, the Blue Boat became embroiled in a heavy clash off the start in which one of the I.C. blades was broken. After a replacement was found, the restarted race saw heavy water and waves that made for a challenging encounter. The Blue Boat, on Middlesex, coped well with the conditions and moved steadily away. Come Chiswick Steps the final margin was recorded as 12 seconds.

Isis too enjoyed a challenging race, and won by a similar margin. Both crews were grateful to Imperial College for the fixture, and both crews gained important race experience.

The Blue Boat travelled down to London today for the offical announcement of the two crews ahead of the 150th Boat Race, to take place at 6pm on 28th March this year. President and returning Blue Sam McLennan, absent from the announced boat due to a long standing back injury, accepted the challenge of his Cambridge counterpart Wayne Pommen and introduced his crew to the press.

With an average age three year's younger than their Cambridge opposition, Oxford however enjoy much Boat Race experience. Despite the absence of 2003 Blue McLennan, four of last year's crew return: undergraduates Basil Dixon, Henry Morris and Dave Livingston, and cox Acer Nethercott. Bas Dixon will be the most senior Boat Race oarsman racing on 28th March, returning for his third Blue. Henry, Dave and Acer race their second Boat Race having cut their teeth together in Isis (the reserve crew) in 2002.

Joining them are two more Brits, Pete Reed and Andrew Stubbs, and two Americans, Christopher Kennelly and Joel Scrogin. Chris is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he was national champion in the Varsity Eights at IRA's (the American University rowing championships). Joel Scrogin was formerly at Brown, and rowed for the USA at U23 level. Andrew Stubbs is a graduate of Newcastle University, where he rowed in the Northern Universities Boat Race. Pete Reed is a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, having attended Dartmouth Naval College before going to University (where he took up rowing). He is sponsored by the Navy, and will take up active service after completing his degree at Oxford.

The 2004 Oxford crews - both Isis and the Blue Boat - can be found on the crew lists page.

On Saturday, 28th February OUBC took two crews to race at the Reading Head. Conditions were calm with little stream, and both Isis and the Blue Boat raced hard to secure the fastest two times of the day. A good hard work out that offered plenty opportunity to practice racing, both crews now move on to prepare for the fixture against Imperial College in a week's time.

OUBC's three new Empacher coxed Fours were named in front of a crowd of Old Blues at the Wallingford boathouse this weekend. Despite the biting wind and cold weather, a substantial turn out witnessed the dedication of the Steve Royle, the Duncan Clegg and the Michael Barry. All three men were present, and their contributions to the OUBC acknowledged. After a racing fly-by comprising of the Blue Boat, Isis and a Bosporos VIII, all present decamped to the fireside warmth of the Beetle and Wedge for lunch. A presentation by the architect on the plans for the new Boathouse on the banks of the Thames was followed by a toast to the 2004 crews, which rounded off proceedings admirably.

The final set of GB long distance Trials for this, the final year of the Athens Olympiad, took place at Boston on 7th February. Gusting winds across the flats of Lincolnshire saw standing waves on the first half of the course, and thus the time trial was halved from its usual 5km format to just over 2,500m in length. In the pairs, three-time Oxford Blue Robin Bourne-Taylor, taking a year out from his four-year Engineering degree to concentrate on the push to Athens, finished 7th, whilst Pete Reed and Dave Livingston came 14th. In the single, Colin Smith was 11th, Samuel Parker 20th and Jack Tarrell 23rd.

Once again off the back of the brief Christmas break the OUBC squad headed to Spain at the turn of the new year for the annual winter training camp. A flight out to Barcelona was followed by a coach journey to Mequinenza, a small town known for its expansive waters and catfishermen. Despite foggy conditions hampering some sessions for a couple of days, there was much good training completed. As in previous years there was a recognisable format to this year's camp, the whole split up into a number of three-day sub-sections, with pieces at the end of each. The trip was thoroughly successful and left all concerned ready and eager to push on into the training that remains between now and the Boat Race come 28th March.

Life has two great certainties, which are ineluctable and may only be delayed: death and Davos. Even the luck of the Irish could not avert the second, as Ciaran Hayes turned up four hours late and on a different flight. When the squad had assembled, however, there began a week's hard training on cross-country skis.

The group fell roughly into two halves - those who had been on the previous years' trip, and those new to cross-country skiing. By the end of the week this distinction mattered less as some people, with Walter's coaching, picked up the basic technique very quickly. What was more important was the snow: snowfall had been very light, and some of the runs up the valleys were shut, meaning that only two (Glaris and Dischma) were viable options. Bas Dixon, Sam Parker, Henry Morris and Nick Walter decided to venture further afield up Fluela (the World Cup circuit), but regretted their choice when they were challenged to a race by some 11-year old Swiss kids and soundly beaten - proof once again that size and strength are worth nothing if not married to efficiency and technique.

Competitiveness was much on display; the war-cries on the slopes were only matched by the cries of people trying to get out of bed and put on their leggings. In addition to long, "steady state" skis, there was also interval training and the traditional and by now famous Snowball Biathlon. Illness and injury were avoided as much as possible, though Henry Morris might not have suffered conjunctivitis if his roommate had refrained from using his contact lens case as a protein shaker. The trip served two purposes: it provided tough altitude training, in a fresh environment, and it also focussed the rowers' minds on the processes required to learn new skills. What the squad has taken out of this trip will prove very important in the final three months before the Boat Race.

The end of the first term and the squad's departure for Davos in Switzerland marks the half way point in the OUBC season on the road to the Boat Race. As President Sam McLennan notes, the results so far in the build up to the 150th Varsity encounter have been the normal mixture of both the good and the slightly disappointing.

"As with any year, this year we have experienced results that could be construed as negative or positive. The test of a sucessful team is how the group analyzes and responds to such results. A negative result can be turned into a positive with the right kind of effort just as a positive result can be turned into a negative by becoming lax. Dealing with adversity helps bring a people together and dealing with problems together is what makes a team a team. Winning the race is the ultimate goal and anyone who thinks there won't be any adversity in winning the Boat Race is kidding themselves. It is how a team responds as a unit when they are in trouble that marks a winning team, not how well they can pat each other on the back when things are going well."

With such sentiments endorsed by the whole squad, Oxford are now set to enter the final term's worth of training with renewed vigour as OUBC seeks its third straight Boat Race victory of recent years.

At the second GB long distance sculling trials of this Olympic season, Oxford rowers once again performed creditably. Special mention goes to Colin Smith, a first year Geography student and Boat Race triallist, who came 11th overall. In doing so he beat many oarsman from last year's British World Championships team and was the fastest U23 finisher. Samuel Parker continued his impressive form in the single from the first set of trials, coming home 26th overall, whilst returning Blue Dave Livingston finshed 31st. One place ahead of him was his 2003 Boat Race team mate and three-time Oxford Blue Robin Bourne-Taylor, who is currently taking a year out from his undergraduate Engineering degree in order to concentrate on his preparations for Athens as part of the GB squad.

A cold, damp fog rolled over the Tideway on the morning of 10th December, enveloping the Boat Race course in an eerie silence that did little to presage the momentous battle that was about to take place. At 13:45 on the Boat Race tide OUBC raced two Trial Eights in a mock Boat Race, as is traditional at this time of year. Whilst the coaches look to form two matched Eights to produce as testing a race as possible, after a week's worth of training in the two crews it often develops that one crew "clicks" better than the other - two crews that are matched on paper do not always produce a matched race come the end of the week. This year however did, as just like last year's epic Boat Race the two crews battled each other all the way to the line.

Named with a nod to the recent rugby action, Ruck and Maul were drawn on the Middlesex and Surrey stations respectively. Ruck started the more aggressive, employing a higher rate of striking as they sought to use their Fulham bend to full advantage. This they sucessfully did, and the two crews passed the Milepost with Ruck enjoying a three quarters of a length lead. A large cruiser wash then added a very un-Boat-Race-like obstacle, and Maul, at the slightly lower rate, were able to cope better and clawed back a quarter of a length just as Ruck had been looking to break away. As Maul's Surrey bend now swung into play the momentum began to swing towards them too. By the time both crews shot Hammersmith Bridge it was Maul who now enjoyed the lead, albeit a slight one, and it was Ruck who were now feeling the pressure.

The next few minutes' racing was intense, as Maul fought to extend their lead and Ruck battled to contain them round the outside of the bend. As both crews swung onto the Eyot straight, Maul had still not managed to break away and the pendulum subsequently looked as if it might be swinging back in Ruck's favour once more. The effort required to hold Maul round the outside of the lion's share of the Surrey bend was starting to tell, however, and as Chiswick Steps came into view Maul began to turn the screw. By the Bandstand, Maul had successfully eeked out the all-important clear-water, yet Ruck refused to capitulate. As the two crews shot Barnes Bridge Ruck closed the gap once more and James Berrins, the Boat Race Umpire, was forced to warn Maul back onto their station. The final Middlesex bend saw Ruck looking for the disqualificatory bump as Maul found themselves harried and hassled all the way to the line. The final verdict recorded a one-length victory to Maul as the two boats crossed the line stern-to-bow abreast.

Whilst the spectators in the following flotilla of launches were left to savour yet another feast of Tideway racing, those participants new to OUBC learnt what a side-by-side 18-minute race implies. Fresher Jack Tarrell, stroke of the winning crew, commented, "Unlike in a head race, you have to push off the other crew; balls to the wall pushes, even if you're not ready. I wasn't prepared for that kind of racing." The build-up to Trial Eights as well as the race itself added to Oxford's store of racing knowledge. A stomach flu caught the team by surprise over the weekend, disrupting line-ups and preparations in both boats, but such distractions only served to prepare the team further for Boat Race possibilities. All athletes put forth a high quality performance from line to line and the close, aggressive racing produced will surely stand Oxford in good stead come 28th March.

The Oxford squad spent the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of November training on the Boat Race course down on the Tideway in London. Bosporos (the Oxford Old Boys Club) put out two Eights on the Sunday and offered those new to the squad this year experience of the side by side nature of Boat Race racing. The weekend was considered by all to have been both valuable and productive.

Usually in the excitement of an ergo championship, the sheer size of the competition can tuck athletes away in the crowd. There was no such anonymity at the British Indoor Rowing Championship in Birmingham on November 15th.

The university ergo challenge pitted universities against each other, showcasing Oxford and Cambridge. The arena held six rows of 20, all Concept II's new Model D ergos. Across the front row Oxford took stations 1-10 and Cambridge 11-20. All machines were electronically linked and ran on a single clock. 5-4-3-2-1-Go: The showdown began. Oxford President Sam McClennan commanded an early lead of the field. He sat next to Cambridge President Wayne Pommen and eventually defeated his presidential competition by 2.7 seconds. In the final results, Oxford's Peter Reed dominated the field, winning the university competition's gold in a time of 5:58.5. Cambridge took the next four places in the Blues competition. Dark Blue took the following four places.

Oxford performed well in Birmingham, with several personal bests and some outstanding performances. The squad's overall performance at the championship will provide a solid platform on which to train over the winter months.

A regular fixture in the team's preparation for the Boat Race, the Fours Head of the River has become a useful first indicator of how the two opposing squads are shaping up. Raced over the full boat race course but in reverse, the five coxed and coxless boats of Oxford all competed respectably. As with last years results, Cambridge seem to have eeked out an early lead on the road to our March fixture with a strong top boat. All of Oxford's boats raced hard with the close grouping of boats indicating the healthy state of competition within the club. Particular mention must go to Isis V (Jimmy Woodrow, Andrew Stubbs, Brian Romanzo and Paul Holland; cox Will Young) who raised their game sufficiently to secure the Senior 2 4+ pennant against strong competition.

The results are important in that they illustrate the work that is needed to be done on both individual technique and fitness amongst the squad. It also gives a strong boost in motivation as the squad moves into the second phase of winter training. Although not a strong as the Oxford may have looked for, the results illustrate the room for improvement and now this has been recognised the feeling in the squad is one of focussed determination as we build up to Trial Eights on 10th December.

This season's first set of ARA long distance trials were held at Boston on 18th October. Clashing with matriculation at Oxford (the formal and compulsory ceremony at which students are offically accepted as members of the University), OUBC was not able to send its full complement of U23 and Senior Team trialists. Limited time before the trials was available in singles as sweep boats took priority, and for those able to make the trip there were mixed results. Samuel Parker, however, put in an excellent performance, and with most of the GB Senior Squad away in Cyprus on training camp he finished 8th overall and second amongst the U23 trialists.

On September 1st, those brave enough to cast their hat into the ring for selection for the 2004 Boat Race assembled in Oxford at the OUBC's Iffley Road Gym. The first week of training began without the nine Blues and Isis rowers and cox who were in New Zealand to race Waikato University in the Great Race - an antipodean event modelled on the traditions of the Boat Race. After a week of introductory and fairly light training, the New Zealanders returned and the squad was complete and training ready to commence in earnest. The squad this year is highly promising, with the prospect of healthy competition for all seats; a good sign of things to come.