Category: News

Reunion Rowing

Brian Smith writes:

Unfortunately, several who planned to row had to drop out close to the day, so we were few in number this year. We were therefore grateful to the Boat Club captains, not only for their help, but organising rowers so we could have an outing in an eight. As ever, it was a real mix of men and women, from a wide range of years (and not just invited year alumni), bringing back a range of memories – but we do make sure it is fun and not too strenuous.

Glen Norcliffe (1962), who had come over from Canada, commented: “I expected that turning the clock back 50+ years and sitting once again in an eight would be a big challenge. But lo! These new boats are light as a feather, the spade oars correct the worst of strokes, the cox was brilliant – she kept the rating down to 20 and even lower – and the other seven rowers gave nothing but encouragement. The sun shone and we were soon speeding down the Cam. What i feared might be a challenge became the most enjoyable of experiences, one that I hope will be savoured by many more former boat club members in Fitz reunions to come.”

https://www.flickr.com/photos/181898184@N06/48808191122/in/album-72157711097060491/

Crew: Leila Harris Fahmy, Emily Lees, Hazel Walker, Emmet Cassidy, Brian Smith, Pete Howard, Glen Norcliffe, Lizzie Knight , Andre Neto-Bradley

https://www.flickr.com/photos/181898184@N06/48808190817/in/album-72157711097060491/

If you are interested in joining us, or if you wish to put a crew together from your year, please contact Brian Smith (brianpsmith1975@gmail.com) who co-ordinates arrangements on behalf of the Billygoats Society.

Fairbairn Cup – Women

Emily Lees writes:

To mark 40 years of women’s rowing at Fitzwilliam College, this year saw the advent of an alumnae boat for Fairbairns. Organised by Hazel Walker (2017) this year we were known as Fitz Past and Present, as we were lucky to be joined by a couple of present students, but we also saw the return of a number of Fitz rowers past, including Helen Fishwick and Rhiannon Philps (2014), Ilona Szabo, Jemima Gasson and Emily Young (2015), Emily Lees (2016), Jess Halliday (2011) and benefited from the able assistance of Emma Marron (2002) who temporarily transferred allegiance from Peterhouse for the day after injury in W1 depleted our crew.

We had a great row, coming very close to catching Peterhouse ahead of us until re-acquainting ourselves with the bank around grassy corner! Despite this, the crew put in an impressive time of 18:40 and hugely enjoyed our time back in the boat. We hope to return next year, and would welcome any other Billygoats who would like to join us.

Fairbairn Cup – Men

David Birtwhistle (1966) writes:

In his great enthusiasm to promote Billygoat rowing, rebuild the boathouse and upgrade the equipment and experience of rowing at Fitz, Jonathan Price persuaded me back to row with an alumni crew on the Cam.

Since then the annual return to compete in the Fairbairns has become an elaborate ritual, a process that begins with Adrian Tollett’s call-up in the midst of summer rowing and ends before dawn on the first Friday in December when the crew assemble at the riverside for a practise before the waterway is closed for the race at 08.30.

This year the usual suspects were fewer than they have been in previous years, there were even rumours that someone might have gone skiing instead.  As a result we had the benefit of a student sitting in with us, and one of Adrian’s clubmates from City of Cambridge.  Matt could not make the practise outing so we set out with Adam, a substitute substitute.  I realised that I, by far the most ancient member of the crew, am old enough to be their grandfather.

It always surprises me to find that the Cam is so narrow and twisting.  Since our days in the mid-sixties ( you see, I do remember some bits ) all these moored houseboats have appeared, making life difficult for our cox, Kathryn.   The choking smoke from their flues and their droning generators are a distraction from the business of concentration.  Actually the balance was not bad but we might have been a little short on umph.

This year we had been promoted into the dizzy heights of the Senior Men’s division.  Fitz has the most blessedly located boathouse which allows us to wait in comfort as all the crews are marshalled.  Then, still nice and warm, we can step into the boat, take ten strokes and start rowing the race.  This is just as well as our start was delayed by an hour as one of the above mentioned houseboats has, apparently, joined the race as a novelty crew.

Like life, our row improved as it went on.  The only other crew in sight swept past us the moment  they were able, which unsettled us, but they were soon forgotten when we were overtaken by the delights of the Long Reach.  Still lacking a little umph, we smartened up for the parade past all the other crews at the finish.  After we turned, a yell from Kathryn alerted us, two filthy houseboats, lashed together and on the wrong side of the river were steering towards us through a smokescreen of fumes.  Some very deft steering saw us through but only just.

Rather shaken and weary the row back was still a pleasure for this old competitor.

Crew: Kathryn Ogilvy, Alan Alcock, Andrew Goulden, Clive Woodman, Nick Francis, Matt von Lany (current student), David Birtwhistle, Phil Dickens (City of Cambridge), Adrian Tollet

Plum Puddings

A somewhat depleted Plum Puddings turnout meant a number of combinations were considered before we went for a traditional 8+ vs 2x race format, with Mateja and Eryk bravely being volunteered for the smaller boat. The 8+ paddled down doing a few exercises, some of which meant different things to different crew members and nothing at all to others, with a few 10s to round off the training program. We spun at the bottom of the Long Reach and waited for the 2x. Having forgotten to practice starts, we settled on a novel approach to the race – starting from backstops at light pressure, and taking it from there. The 2x led off the start, having cheated by starting with bows level at frontstops. As the 8+ got into its stride, stroke desperately trying to keep up with 6 and 5, we began to catch up. As the crews drew level the 2x went into the bank, much to the relief of some in the 8+.  To their great credit, and contrary to every similar event I have ever seen, the 2x did not claim that cox had cleverly moved over, subtly forcing them into the bank, but they will no doubt learn this time-honoured technique as their experience in the 2x grows. Mince pies and mulled wine completed the afternoon, and strengthened our resolve for the meetings and dinner ahead.

Crews:

Ray Kelly (8+) – Adam Morland, Dan George, David Birtwhistle, Morten Kals, Dan Riches, Mads Christensen, Francis Headley, Noah El Wafa, Jemima Gasson

Ron Walters (2x) – Mateja Soretic, Eryk Sokolowski

Saturday October 5^th was the day for this year’s Rhine Marathon, which is rowed from the RHTC Bayer Leverkusen club downstream over 26.2 miles of river to the Ruderclub Germania Düsseldorf 1904, located in the suburb of Hamm.  This was the 11^th consecutive year the current “squad” of late 1970s vintage Billygoats has tackled the course, happily doing so this time in good conditions and with a decent if unspectacular performance – timed at 2 hours and 44 minutes.

We again rowed as a coxed quad in a class D river boat (the “Elbe”) provided by our host club, Germania Düsseldorf, with club member Wolfgang once again sitting at cox.  Wolfgang has surely qualified as an honorary Billygoat by now, with 10 years served as a crew member.  This year saw us scrambling to mobilize the usual squad, with age, health issues and family events conspiring to leave us short of two oarsmen late in the build-up.  In stepped two Aberdeen Boat Club veterans well known to Neil G (also an ABC member) to save the day, and thus we rowed as an Aberdeen BC/ Billygoats Cambridge composite crew for the first time.

Above: The crew outside Ruderclub Germania Düsseldorf – Ron (ABC), Neil (BG), Jim (ABC) and Clive (BG)

On Friday evening we enjoyed the dinner for visiting clubs hosted by Germania Düsseldorf, taking care not to overdose on the local delicacy of Schweinhaxe (Pork Knuckle) or the dark Alt beer.  Saturday we had an early start by virtue of being at the older end of the age categories, having to make the 7:00am bus down to the start in Leverkusen to rig our boat and prep it for the marathon ahead.

Above: the scene at RHTC Bayer Leverkusen before the start. 169 boats completed the course.

Above: The “Elbe” and her crew ready to get going!

Above: Time for at least one selfie!

With an hour or so to get ready down at the start, we rigged the boat, taped up the riggers to minimize wave in-spill, installed our battery bilge pump and a GoPro on a tripod behind the cox, loaded up with water, gels and energy bars, and set-off at an elegant 20+ spm down the river.  The water level on the Rhine is exceedingly low this year due to lack of rainfall, so the current was a little slower than usual and we expected a lot of rough water due to the narrower river and the ever present large barge traffic.

In the event we experienced less barge traffic than usual and made pretty good progress due to the better conditions, not losing as much time to the experienced Rhine crews who know how to deal with rough water better than those of us who see it once a year!  We stopped briefly on the water 3 or 4 times for water and energy replenishment and covered the course at a relatively even pace all the way to the finish.

No prizes won, we were 4^th of 4 boats in our Masters G category, however 2 ½ minutes faster would have placed us in second position, so we were quite encouraged with this as a scratch crew with two members absolutely new to the Rhine.

Above: GoPro camera still from early in the race.

This year our weekend was brilliantly and almost fully documented in images by Ron Wallace, aka Snapper Ron, who gets the credit for all the pictures in this article (except the selfie) and who has posted the event online at the following address:

http://cofd.co.uk/images/Rhine%20Marathon%202019/Rhine2019.html

The GoPro footage has been edited down into a very amusing 2 ½ minutes movie which is well worth watching even if you have no rowing experience – look for the tile which identifies within its contents the GoPro footage and play it.  It starts with a stills slide show and then takes you into the race footage.  Enjoy it without the pain and the effort!

Once again a huge thanks to our German hosts for their warm hospitality and for their ability to organize such a great event so smoothly.  Health and fitness allowing we will keep the tradition going in 2020!

Neil Gardner (1977)

The Billygoats again entered the Cambridge Town Bumps as Paul Wallace reports:

On Monday 15th July, a scratch Billygoats crew pushed off at 7:30pm and gingerly made our way to the start, entered as “City 8” starting in the lower half of M2 division. This year, the Bumps used the new division timings, with four days’ Bumps spread across five days – which made it easier for crews to fit around work commitments.

A strong start on the first day saw us pull away from Rob Roy 4, and move up slightly on the juniors in “City 7” before they caught XPress 2 at First Post Corner. With open water ahead, we kept a two length lead and finished with a solid rowover. On the second day, the crew put in another good start, and chased down the XPress 2 boat very quickly to collect the bump within 500m, an excellent result on another hot and humid day. Thursday’s crew repeated the game plan and overhauled St. Neots 2 in short order to score another quick bump, and set up the final day’s racing to chase “City 7” again.

There are some great photographs on the Cantabs Facebook page, with thanks to Bill Amos at Cantabs RC:
Thursday-1
Thursday-2
Thursday-3
Wednesday-1

On Friday, another big start saw us pull away from St Neots to a three-length lead. City 7 and Cantabs 6 had bumped ahead and blocked the river, so Sammi Tarling called for a hard stop to avoid a collision before First Post. At this point, with St Neots bearing down on us at full speed, our race looked over. But as the boats ahead shifted, Sammi called for an emergency restart, the crew responded, and we powered through the narrowest of gaps and into open water, allowing us to escape from the chasing boats.

Ahead of us, “City 6” had seen the other boats drop out of the race, and felt sure of a safe row-over – but before long, they could see us closing the gap. Sammi urged us on round Grassy and past the Plough, grazing the corners with the smallest of margins, and an overbump became a real possibility. City 6 responded to hold their lead at around two lengths as we chased down The Reach to the finish. If we had not been held up at First Post, then it would have been a very close race indeed, and that evening we speculated about the heavy fine that would have been levied by the CRA if the Billygoats, rowing as City 8, had overbumped the City 6 crew.

Full results: Two bumps, Two row-overs for the Billygoats
http://www.crarowing.co.uk/town-bumps/about-the-cra-town-bumps/results

With thanks to Robert Doe for organising the crews, and especially to Sammi Tarling for being the best cox on the river!

Reunion Rowers enjoyed outings in an eight and a four with the support of the Boat Club Captains and graduate rowers. Alumni matriculation years varied from 1970 to 1998, with five alumni from 1988.  All enjoyed themselves greatly, with those, who had not rowed for a while, relishing the “visceral” feel of being ‘on the water’ again.

Reunion Rower Katie Bycroft commented “It wasn’t blue skies and warm sunshine on the river last Saturday, but the heady sense of a Cambridge summer term hit me forcibly as we ran down to the boathouse from Fitz. The boathouse was stunning, almost unrecognisable with shiny new boats, light oars with no splinters, and a state-of-the-art racking system. Wonderful! The outing (the terminology quickly came flooding back) was great fun. I loved hearing all those phrases again: bow four, from backstops, half slide, square blades… Go! We managed to sit the boat occasionally, but that wasn’t really the point. To be on the Cam in a swish boat with friends and other alumni, indulging in a sport that I grew to love in my time at Fitz, was a treat that I will remember for a long time.”

All our crews are now mixed M/W, reflecting the change in college demographics. ‘Mixed’ is also a good description of the variation in recent experience and fitness levels. Technique soon comes back, if not ideal balance.

We were especially pleased to welcome John Eisold (retired Fitz Head Porter), and his daughter, to see the brand new four, named after him, take to the water.  Our thanks as always to Antony Moule, College Boatman and Coach, for his excellent support. Donna Thomas, from the Development Office, provided bank support, and recorded the event on camera. Photos are here:

The Reunion Rowing is now being organised under the auspices of the Billygoats Society. We welcome all alumni who wish to row at the Reunion weekend, not just those from invited years. If you wish to put a crew together from your years, or would like to go on the crew list for future years, please contact Brian Smith (email billygoatsrowing@billygoats.org.uk and put Reunion Row in the title). We email potential rowers in the Spring and crews are ‘finalised’ in early September, with the usual last-minute adjustments on the day.

Brian is looking for a co-organiser at the 2019 Reunion as Mike Thomas will, regretfully, be stepping down. (Note from Mike – I have really enjoyed co-organising the Reunion Row with Brian, following on the tradition of the prior ‘Over Sixties’ rowing.  It has been great to widen the age range of alumni rowing.  All who take part really enjoy it, as the smiles at the end of the outing show – be they for renewing old friendships, physical enjoyment, or just survival without catching a crab.)

Mike Thomas

Dark but not long until sun-up, that time every rower knows and associates with a cocktail of tiredness, anxiety and excitement.  Not cold but definitely early autumn: no longer the long, hot, memorable summer of 2018.  Getting on a coach in the garden suburb of Dusseldorf-Hamm we’re driven to the chemical town of Leverkusen.  Three hours later we row 42 kilometres back to where we started.

The Rhine Marathon has been organised by Ruderclub Germania Dusseldorf 1904 since the early ‘70s when Germany was a very different country.  Held on the first Saturday of October it now falls around Reunification Day on the 3^rd and Oktoberfest, two features of the current version of Germany.

This is the tenth consecutive year a Billygoats crew have rowed the race.  We know that because, unlike banks, broadband providers and insurance companies, the organisers reward loyalty.  At the prize giving the crew were called up on stage and given engraved glasses marking the occasion.  A thoughtful touch reminding us of the first year we rowed when we were welcomed with a commemorative plate.

We rowed for the first time at the invitation of another Fitz alumnus who had rowed with X-Press.  The legacy was passed to us and now it’s time to pass it on.  Why do it?  The organisers provide a boat, blades and our excellent cox Wolfgang (who even stepped in to row this year as Clive was unable).  They welcome you with a meal on Friday night and organise a party on Saturday.  A coach is provided: all you do is pay.  Accommodation is arranged: all you do is book.  How long does it take?  Like the University Boat Race, but only in this respect, it’s difficult to compare year on year because of conditions but the winning crew is around two hours, category winners up to 2 ½ hours, average crews up to three and however long for the rest: not that different from a runners marathon.

Plan for Saturday 5^th October 2019: you won’t regret it.

Roly BEEVOR [1977], Simon COLE [1978], Neil GARDNER [1977], Dan GEORGE [1979], Nick TITTLE [1976], Clive WOODMAN [1977]