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Despite the late return to university and coping with a flooded Ouse for a significant part of the term, UYBC managed to send three senior crews to race on the River Thames at Fours' Head of the River, on November 14th.
The men's squad put out a strong four made up of Tom Bulpitt, John Appleton, Oscar Neilson and Sam Agass, coxed by Alice Taylor, whilst two women's crews made up of returning seniors took on London: Hannah Kirton, Pip Maloney, Catherine Oliver and Lara Wainwright, coxed by Ellie Cooper and Alex Mahan, Charlotte Bentley, Rosy Temple and Laura Macfarlane, coxed by Ngaio Simpson.
The three crews were prepared early and were able to enjoy some of the morning's racing before switching on their own racing mindsets. The weather held off for the crews as they battled through the gruelling seven and a half kilometres of tidal river, incidentally on the same stretch of the Thames as the famous Oxford-Cambridge boat race, between Chiswick and Putney bridges.
For most of the rowers, this was the first time that they had competed on the Thames in a four, making it a completely different experience to the Eights' Head of the River, held before Easter, over the same course. Despite the extreme exertion required, Sam Agass, a new recruit to the senior men's squad from the novices of last season, reckoned it was the most exciting race that he has been part of so far.
On top of the demanding race, the crews then faced the return journey to the boathouse against the river's stream and the rain that had been threatening finally arrived. In spite of this, all crew members remained upbeat and high spirited!
In a sport where success is not easily recognisable, the Boat Club has provided itself with a solid platform to start the season: all three crews placed significantly higher in the results than their starting positions, leaving captains John Appleton and Ngaio Simpson with high hopes for the next few months and indeed, the rest of the season. This sets the bar high for the coming weekend: UYBC will be taking on local competition on our very own River Ouse at York Small Boats Head, this Sunday, November 21st. Be sure to pop down to cheer on the crews, either in town, by the Lowther, for the exciting race finish, or at Millennium Bridge to drive the university's boats on for victory!
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