Congrats to our W2 crew who WON their category yesterday in the third leg of Winter League! Having been plagued by yellow flags all term these guys have only had 11 outings this term! The progress they have made in the last two weeks has been exceptional and they were duly rewarded today!

A first race over this distance for the crew, they maintained a super rhythm set by Monica in stroke, with encouraging calls from coach Abbie & BP Kathy on the bank they kept the pressure on and pushed all the way to the line. With fantastic calls from Rory in the cox seat this crew certainly flew like eagles! We can’t wait for Easter term where we WILL smash the GOR and have two boats in bumps!
#yeaheagles

Day 1 – Chasing Christ’s II, Chased by Trinity Hall II – Result: Bumped (-1) 
Eddies were keen beans being the first crew of the day to row past headquarters earning them a cheer from CUCBC still setting up their tent. Perhaps a little nervous as it was the first bumps race for three of our rowers, we marshalled underneath the dreaded A14 bridge next to the cannon. After many failed attempts to locate the ring for the bung, a brave CUCBC member held onto the chain as we were pushed off. At the cannon, Eddies put up a good chase to Christ’s II but Christ’s II were able to bump Emma III just before first post corner. Having to swing wide to avoid the clearing boats, Tit Hall II snuck up behind the Eagles, able to take the direct path. Eddies did a valiant effort of holding Tit Hall off through the gut putting on a burst of speed down plough reach. Unfortunately, Tit Hall II caught Eddies as we turned onto the reach. Three cheers to Trinity Hall II who ended their bumps campaign with blades!

Day 2 – Chasing Trinity Hall II, Chased by Clare Hall - Result: Bumped (-1) 
Rallying from their bump yesterday, W1 was now further from the cannon but with a proper ring in the ground for their bung. Preparing for a hard race, Eddies sped off at the cannon fire. Tit Hall II slipped away quickly bumping Emma III ahead of them. Clare Hall managed to catch up to Eddies around first post corner, bumping us in the gut. Three cheers to Clare Hall who also ended their bumps campaign with blades!

Day 3 - Rest day

Day 4 – Chasing Clare Hall, Chased by St. Catherine’s II – Result: Row Over (0) 
After two disappointing days, Eddies returned rested for Day 4. The action happened around Eddies today. Speeding off at the cannon, Clare Hall quickly bumped Emma III in front of Eddies and behind Addies caught Cats II after missing them the day before. As Eddies rowed past the plough, they were miles ahead of the last racing boat and settled into a strong r26 to finish the 2.6km course. This row over was some of the strongest rowing W1 had done all term and, in the words of our president: “Rowing is fun again.” The Eagles were back! 

Day 5 – Chasing Emmanuel III, Chased by Addenbrooke’s – Result: BUMP! (+1) 
After the clean row over the day before, Eddies were ready to turn their campaign around. At the cannon, Eddies started their hunt for Emma III in what would turn out to be a short chase with coach Matt blowing the first whistle halfway down first post reach. Keeping each stroke long and maintaining control on their slides coming forward, Eddies caught Emma just before the corner awarding W1 their first Lent bump since the pandemic! With three cheers to Emmanuel III, Eddies rowed back with greenery in their hair. Now with a true understanding of the chaos that is bumps, the Eagles are keen to train over the break, get those UT2 miles in, push for those watts, and come back in Easter stronger than ever. The road to May bumps begins now!