M1 – 1st ahead of Queens and FaT

Sharpening the arrow

Yesterday saw M1 compete for the first time in its full Lents line up after the Head 2 Head race and Fairbairns where we had been forced through absence and injury to race with substitutes.

For those of you who have followed my emails you will know that we have consistently been an apparent 12 seconds off Queens, and just slightly off First and Third.

I am pleased to tell you that this losing streak ended yesterday. With a tidy but not blistering row, where we aimed to develop a long strong rhythm over blistering pace, M1 clocked a time of 8.35, 3 seconds ahead of Queens and, more importantly 5 seconds ahead of Trinity.

I’m proud of each and every one of the crew and what we’re doing right now can go down as a tick in the tick-box. But it is not our final grade. In 18 days time for the 1st VIII we go out on the first day of bumps and that is when we are really going to be judged. So, we take into training confidence in knowing that Trinity can be beaten – something Andy Sweeney was keen to impress upon us in training today in his typically forward style. But we also know we have much more speed to be released on the boat and are excited to move on again.

I would be doing you a disservice not to mention M2 who have been moving fantastically with some strong coaching from Oli Pike, Leo Judd and Paul Mortenson. I may even be moved to say that they are quicker than the 2nd VIII I was in for my first year which went up 3!