City sprints regatta

​This Sunday saw the Eddies Eagles race in the City Sprint Regatta, a side-by-side race (dubiously advertised as 500 meters) outside the boathouses. A technically challenging race on an extremely tight stretch of river, even with the houseboats moved out the way.
The Eagles were first up against Cauis W3. After a saucy paddle straight past marshaling, a couple of chunky race starts, and a questionably legal spin under the railway bridge, the Eagles paired up alongside their competition at the start line. While Cauis were faffing, the girls were ready and waiting at that start, looking relaxed and composed, and ready to take the win.
As both coxes lowered their hands the marshals started the race. Immediately, Cauis, who had the mental advantage of starting a little further ahead, but on the outside line, pulled ahead with a strong race start. After a few strokes the Eagles settled into a power ten and quickly pulled back the lead. After 33 strokes it was all over, and the Eagles won by a couple seats.
After a spin at Jesus Lock, the Eagles headed back to the start line to spar with their next opponent, Churchill W2, who they had SMOKED the previous day in Spring Head-to-Head. This time, Churchill, who were fresh from having not raced, had the advantage of the inside line.
As the pink and blues lined up at the start, Eddie’s were ready well ahead of their opponents, waiting at front stops for starters orders. As the marshals called for ‘attention, GO!’ the girls laid down their phattest watts as they followed the corner. Stroke sides power was too much for little Dottie, and despite some excellent maneuvering from the cox, blades clashed. Kathy in 7 lost control of her blade, eventually being able to recover it before loosing it immediately again in the chaos. Once the blade was recovered, she was quickly able to get back in time but marshals klaxoned the race.
Both crews were blamed for the clash and given the option to return to the start or carry on from halfway down the course. The Eagles elected to carry on from that point, yet some questionable marshaling put Churchill a couple seats ahead before starters orders. After a strong start and 15 solid stokes, Eddie’s had pulled back a seat, a very close race yet it was not enough to take the dub, meaning the Eagles finished 2nd in their category for the second day in a row.
An excellent race from both Churchill and Cauis resulted in an incredibly enjoyable day of racing and a result that the Eagles can be proud of. To finish off the day (coincidental C-Sunday) the girls celebrated in style, by taking on refreshments in a field with hundreds of other students, the final celebration before Exam Term gets into full swing.