Boat Club

Activity on the river in the Christmas Term was restricted largely to a handful of seniors, who competed in the Dee Autumn Fours at Chester, and all the first year in rotation on a three weekly basis. An option system operated for a few non-team rugger players, but because of the demands of athletics and rugger on most of our top oarsmen in this term the sculling competition has been postponed to the end of the Summer Term.

The Easter Term saw the senior end of the Club back into full-time action, and three fours emerged to compete in the Yorkshire Head of the River. The first and second fours trained as an eight for the first four weeks before splitting into two crews, and good promise was shown in early training. The 1st IV probably came to its peak just too soon, and although eighth equal was a creditable position in the Yorkshire Head they were still 18 seconds behind rivals Durham School. The 2nd IV rowed its best on the day and managed a splendid fourth place in a strong field of eighteen crews. The 3rd IV's training was not as complete as the other crews, but they still managed seventh out of thirteen in the Schools' Division. A strong Colts section also emerged this term, with a very promising four at the top end and plenty of good solid potential further down. The IV, a little rough in technique, came to their best in the Yorkshire Head with a magnificent row which brought them into second place in the Schools' Division, in which they were one of the youngest crews competing. There is great hope for this crew next term, and also for the rest of their age-group, who without any tangible incentive showed great promise for the future.

The 1st and 2nd IVs went on to race in the Tyne Head of the River where conditions were similar to those described in voyages round Cape Horn. Success was in survival rather than in speed, and neither crew was really able to show its fine potential. They then returned to the VIII to train for the Tideway Head of the River in the first week of the holidays. After a week's break over the end of term we met and travelled to Cambridge for a day's rowing 'before moving to London. By this stage a good rhythm had been established in the crew, and in spite of the strange surroundings the crew seemed to take kindly to the Thames and it to us. The Head itself was rowed in blissful conditions, and starting from 305th position out of 370 crews the VIII rowed better than even they could have possibly wished to finish 149th. Considering the 30 second handicap from starting so near the end of the field this was an outstanding performance, valuable not only for its achievement but also for the experience gained from competing in this "Grand National" of rowing. 1st IV J. P. H. Harrison P. N. Withers S. J. Tomlinson A. G. B. Perks N. A. J. Brindley 2nd IV 3rd IV W. A. D. McMaster J. Snowdon D. B. McCarter L. S. Wilson W. S. Mcllroy M. A. J. Ferguson T. F. Hudson C. Duckling P. S. Spencer P. D. Johnson Colts IV C. G. A. Morcom J. N. C. Turner N. J. Ramsden R. J. Holden A. P. P. Gray