Day 4

St Antony's left the river cold yet fuming today.

Cold because someone in the administration told the first aid team to arrive for 12AM when the regatta was scheduled to start at 10.30. The Stallions spent an hour on the river before being told to land and wait for racing to begin at 12. When racing did start it was on the short course, which did not favour either of our crews. The Stallions, despite frostbite, fought well against their nemesis, St Anne's A. As was often the case the opposition had a faster start, but the Stallions managed to hold on, if not close the gap. Surely it is no coincidence that they won all their races against A crews on the long course, while they lost to a B boat on the short one?

The Toyboys also were disappointed to see the course shortened as they have been at least a length faster over the second half than any crew they've raced. In their fourth round heat against St John's B the Toyboys came from behind, to clinch victory in the final ten strokes. It was comfortable in the end because of a St John's crab, but for the first half it had really looked like the Antony's crew might suffer a shock defeat.

In the quarter final an unsporting Worcester crew heckled our boys on the start line, and reduced the stagger to half a length. The Toyboys had an average start, made worse by the Toyboy's first crab in nine races. The crew recovered well though, and the entire race was tight, never more than two feet separating the crews. At the finish line the Toyboys employed their trademark surge and crossed the line comfortably ahead; at least so it seemed to everyone on the city-side bank. Neutrals proclaimed St Antony's the winner in a thrilling heat. On the far bank the Worcester bank rider was celebrating, and seconds later the finish-line marshal decided Worcester had won by half a foot. It's no mean feat to establish such a small margin of victory when viewing the finish line through a slit in a metal rod, so well done to the marshal whose owl-like vision was accurate enough to pronounce on a race that would have been tight even with a photo-finish. St Antony's immediately appealed, but the race organisers said they had to stand by the original decision and there was no time for a re-run. The eagle-eyed marshal was nonetheless promptly replaced by a more senior colleague, no doubt to prevent such a screw-up reoccurring. It was an unfortunate way to exit the competition, especially as the race returned to the full-course for the semi-final and final.

The fact remains, though, that St Antony's have not had two men's crews reach Saturday of Christ Church in years. All in all Christ Church was a great success for the club and we look forward to more significant challenges next term - next stop Torpids!

Day 3

Today was another great day for St Antony's at the river, particularly for the men.

First up today were the girls. Ben's Sugar Rush got off to a great start St John's first boat. The girls were well ahead and going strong in the early stages, but a crab allowed St John's to get their noses ahead. As they came round the inside bend at Univ boat house their lead was extended to a length. Ben steered expertly as St Antony's held on bravely, even reducing the gap by a few seats in the second third, but in the end were defeated by a very strong crew.

The Stallions fared better in their race against Green Templeton. For the third time in a row the lower-ranked Antony's crew staved off a first boat,thanks no doubt to psychological warfare on the start line. GTC's 2-man caught a huge crab and failed to recover; the crew never got into smooth rowing, and the Stallions pulled away. They extended their lead to three lengths in the closing stages by staying long and calm. The Stallions thus qualify to row on Saturday of Christ Church!

The Stallions will be joined in the last 16 by the Toyboys who brushed aside Queen's first boat today. Queen's had a one length stagger in their favour as they were on the city course, but this lead was swallowed up in the first three strokes as the Toyboys got off to a flying start. It was men against boys today, and their long strokes, excellent timing, and perfect control must surely place the Antony's crew among the favourites for Saturday. In the end the Toyboys won by at least 6 lengths. They even had to do the ritual "three cheers for Queen's" chant twice, as the opposition had not crossed the finish line in time for the first rendition!

This lines up a very exciting Saturday at the river. Come along and cheer your crews to victory in this, possibly the most prestigious novice regatta anywhere, ever!

The Boat Club will be cheering the crews on from New College Boat House. Come join us there

The Stallions kick off the action at 10.40AM in the third heat of the day. They take on either St Anne's A crew or Trinity B. The Toyboys race against St John's B at 11.05AM.

The Quarter Finals are at 12.20 and 12.25. The Stallions will there face either Univ A or St John's A; the Toyboys will face either Oriel A or New B. The winners of these two quarter final races will meet in the Semi Final at 1.10PM. The final of ChCh is at 2.15PM.

Celebrations to follow.

DAY 2

St Antony's left the river cold but undefeated today as all crews progressed to race on Friday.

The Stallions returned to their giant killing ways today as they added Merton A to a scalp collection already featuring Oriel M1. In a closely contested race the Stallions matched the higher ranked Merton crew stroke for stroke in the first half of the race, before pulling away as they passed boat house island. Merton responded, but their push came too late, and the Stallions won by two seats.

St Antony's WB were the first of our boats out today. They rowed a strong race against Oriel B, so strong in fact that a seat coming loose was not enough to upset their winning streak. St Antony's WB leave the competition, despite being undefeated, due to an error in registering the crew to race. Well done!

St Antony's WA (Ben's Sugar Rush) overcame a solid Hertford B crew. The awe-inspiring sight of our women's first crew threw the Hertford ladies off and they never recovered from an abysmal start. In the end St Antony's won by about half the race course. Our girls showed how well they can row today as they eased into an effortlessly long and efficient stroke.

The Toyboys capped off what was a great day for the college by dispatching a strongish New College C boat. Although the Toyboys were not on top form, rowing visibly shorter and more frenetically than in previous races, they still won by countless lengths. This race capped off a bad day for New College's men's squad, as their B crew in only the heat before succeeded in crossing the race course and ploughing into the bank after stroke caught a photo-book crab. St Benets promptly rammed their bow into New's shell, adding to the repair bill. Insurance companies and boat men on the Isis must love the ChCh regatta.

DAY 1

Christ Church day 1 was on the whole successful for St Antony's!

Today St Antony's WB were the first crew on the water. They cruised through to the second round in what was a comfortable win and a convincing performance.

The Toyboys were next out. They outclassed Lincoln A, winning 'easily', which in rowingspeak means the marshal couldn't be bothered to count the number of boat lenghts.

St Antony's WA or Ben's Sugar Rush? came up against a very tough opponent in Brasenose WA. Badly let down by a poorish start the girls mounted a great rear-guard response and came within a sniff of victory, loosing in the end by a mere two seats.

The Stallions were hampered in their attempts against Lincoln B by technical and personnel issues. They never fully recovered from a disappointing start, but managed to hold the distance to their opponents. They will seek revenge tomorrow when they take on an unsuspecting opponent in the repêchage!