Today I covered the University of London Boat Club Trial VIIIs races as the ‘official’ photographer which takes place on the Tideway (river Thames, London) following the University Boatrace course from Putney to Chiswick in two half stages.
Two evenly matched crews are chosen from the available squad members and put together only two or so weeks before the race, which means its a test of being able to ‘gel’ together well and work as a crew to perform on the day as much as it is being able to row well yourself. You are racing not for medals or prizes but against your friends for their respect in such a competitive environment that exists within one of the top clubs in the country. Its a simple game; you either win and earn respect or suffer humiliating defeat, tormented by the knowledge it was at the hands of your friends…
Every man wants to win, you might be best mates off the water but the lines are drawn when you realise you’re in different boats, dirty tricks a-plenty such as rigging mysteriously changing in the night may happen(!). Strangely, although the split between the crews grows as the moment nears, the camaraderie within the club – the club spirit as a whole – seems to draw everyone closer. You can laugh and joke with friends but deep down you’re racing them in your mind, and you’re winning…a swirling mix of thoughts, you have to win but doing so means defeating the very people you sit beside against a common opponent from a rival club.
The racing is fierce from the drop of the flag, flashing blades, turning muscles, straining equipment – water flashes by as the two crews pound up the river Thames towards Hammersmith. Sometimes blades may overlap, stroke for stroke whipping back and forth millimeters from each other – a clash spells certain destruction for the fragile carbon fibre shafts used. Side-by-side racing is intense the best of times, a battle of wills as much as strength, if you fall behind has the entire crew got what it takes mentally to pull it together and stage a powerful come-back? has a crew that gets ahead the ability to stay ahead and make any attempt at passing seem futile? When side-by-side racing lasts 12mins or more these questions become tough to answer…
Fist contained the more horsepower to get the boat moving at the start of the first race, taking an early lead of a length and a half. Fury struck a good rhythm and did not lose touch for the entire reach from Fulham to Hammersmith bridge. Some suspicious steering choices by the coxes resulted in Fury being unable to take advantage of the bend (they drew the Surrey station in the coin-toss) and they could not get on terms with Fist. Fist 1: Fury 0 …
The second race started very much like the first with Fist powering away in the early stages rounding the bend into rougher waters, Fury – being a tough lighter fell back but stayed on course to benefit from the up-coming corner on the approach to Barnes bridge and calmer conditions.
The two boats passed under the bridge bumper-to-bumper with Fist still ahead. Fist suddenly, and with no warning, veered to the right and headed for the inside of the bend…this actually paid to Fury’s advantage by staying in the stream they gained on Fist over the next 3 minutes closing the gap towards the finish line.
Despite the strong finish Fury could never regain the lead they lost, They pushed hard around the corner and could sense the closing gap on Fist but the race just wasn’t long enough. Fist won by a third of a length in the end – but only just.
Victory is sweet. Defeat is harsh… Fist 2: Fury 0
