After the cancellation of the novice regatta in Michaelmas, college rowers were especially keen for the new year and Torpids. This year, Torpids coincided with a very fast-flowing stream, meaning racing could only take place in an abridged format (OURCs gave their various contingency plans a curry-themed code name: this year, a code Phaal had to be declared).

The top 3 divisions were run as half-divisions to keep boats away from Iffley Lock, while the bottom 3 divisions were very sadly cancelled, leaving the bulk of our seven-boat fleet bereft of racing. A small silver lining for the lower boats is that since Rowing On could still take place, the new boats (W3 and M4) should be able to get a higher position for next year, but it doesn't take the sting out given the lack of racing so far. Our W1 and M1, however, still got a chance to get out there.

W1 (+4!):

W1 started the campaign with a bang. A cruise down the course saw them bump a strong Jesus crew in front of our own boathouse (to the glee of our coach), making them sandwich boat in Div 1, where they pushed past LMH. Trinity fell very easily the next day, as W1 caught them before Donny Bridge. (God Damn Bloody) Magdalen were only marginally more challenging on Day 3: our chief challenge was posed by the same Jesus crew from day 1 sprinting off the start line and threatening to bump from behind. Their sprint was in vain, however, since our W1 caught Magdalen well before the gut. We missed out on blades only by a small margin, rowing over on Day 4. A fabulous effort that bodes very well for Eights.

M1 (+1):

M1 started on bungline 10, a tricky place: you're nestled in a corner that the boats behind you can cut, allowing them to gain on you right off the start. That, however, becomes irrelevant if you just row faster. On day 1, we caught a Catz crew on their way down, bumping them before we had a chance to settle within around 15 strokes, filling us with confidence for Day 2. Even though we gained rapidly on Merton and got overlap, it was not to be, as Merton themselves bumped the crew in front and then cleared the line spectacularly badly, leaving us 3 lengths behind Balliol. We still closed it down to within a few feet but couldn't convert it before the finish post. We took them down by the gut the next day. Day 4 unfortunately didn't go our way: we were gaining on Merton again, but were severely punished by a momentary slip into the heavy stream and got bumped by a blades-winning Hertford crew.