THE BOAT CLUB As our main event of the Easter Term in recent years, the Head of the Trent at Nottingham, was unfortunately too late for us this year, races were arranged with Leeds University and York City. In fact the latter race grew into an event for seven crews, and it seems probable that this will prove to have been the first Head of the Ouse at York. St. Peter's School 1st VIII beat York City by five seconds over the long course, and Bradford G.S. 1st VIII won over the short course, St. Peter's Colts VIII coming second. Only H. N. Blackford and P. C. N. Brown remain from last year's 1st VIII. Four of this term's crew are drawn from School IVs, two from the Colts VIII and one member has not previously rowed for the School. The growing tendency of passing directly from the Colts to 1st VIII should produce a greater number of boys who would have two and even three years in the 1st VIII. Care in selecting the crew and attention to individual faults meant slow progress as a crew over the first stages, but as always paid dividends in the end. Indeed in January, glancing at the form crews were showing, it seemed doubtful if we could even extend York City, let alone beat them, so much were they advanced in training. By concentrating on elementary points, being spared the problems of Regatta racing, and with long outings, the 1st VIII developed well and were reasonably fit for the race against Leeds University. Leeds beat us easily by half a minute, but the race happily had a good effect on the crew, who felt they had rowed well and profited from the racing experience. It is a great pity Leeds 1st VIII, which is always good in the Winter Term, is partially disbanded every Easter, and that they rarely boat at York in the summer, for competitive paddling is a great stimulus in training. We can manage only one outing a week with York City, which, needless to say, is most valuable. On the following Saturday we raced York City over the same course. The 2nd VIIIs' race over a shorter course was extended to include Bradford 1st VIII and our 3rd and Colts VIIIs. One thus saw seven VIIIs in procession. The occasion was such a success that it will certainly be repeated next year, probably as an open event. As there was no important race for the 2nd VIII, the attention they normally enjoy was devoted to all third year boaters, that is, to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th VIIIs, which might in fact explain the result of the race. The Colts VIII is very promising and did well to beat the 2nd and 3rd VIIIs both in this event and in the School Head of the River. These notes will appear in May, when the Summer Regattas will be near at hand I hope School crews will appreciate the importance of their first regatta, apart from the actual winning of a cup. If a crew loses its first race, it will take a long time to get fit and experienced enough to do well: if it rows three or four races in the day, sometime it is virtually bound to win a cup. And it is so enjoyable winning cups!
D.S.M. 32
