Cambridge Men v Oxford Brookes #FixtureSeries 2 Review

With less than 30 days until The Gemini Boat Race, the Cambridge Men were looking to impress in the second FixtureSeries.
Oxford Brookes University rowing is one of the leading programmes in the UK and there are many members of the team who have either earned national representation or a on the cusp of achieving this. The programme aims is to produce outstanding rowers and athletes capable of winning at the highest levels and the club has many Men's Henley and Henley Royal Regatta winners.
This was Cambridge Men's first run down the Championship course of the year, so the stakes are high as the countdown begins. Conditions were difficult on Sunday 6th, with fast flowing water and a reasonable wind. The Umpires needed to move the start time of the first races in the Fixture Series due to the amount of water flowing out from rain over the last few days, a delay in start time meant that the crews would be rowing with the incoming tide.
These were the races were fast and furious with intense races along the Championship Course.

Umpire Clare Harvey undertook The Coin Toss, Cambridge 'B' were on Middlesex and Oxford Brookes 'B' on Surrey.
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The Cambridge 'B' Fixture against Brookes 'B' turned into two battles for space as the crews came together along the line of Boats in the first piece, with Cambridge 'B' being warned. The first piece was a close tight race but it was the second piece that was eventful. Oxford Brookes were disqualified after crashing into Cambridge and damaging a rigger.


⁠Cambridge 'B' v Brookes 'B' started at 15:07 GMT⁠

UMPIRE was Clare Harvey


FIRST PIECE - Oxford Brookes won by 3 lengths

SECOND PIECE - Cambridge Men's won as Brookes were disqualified
THIRD PIECE Cambridge Men won by 5 lengths

Cambridge 'A' v Brookes 'A' started at 15:27 GMT⁠

UMPIRE was Sarah Winckless

The crews started the first piece very close together and straight off the start the blades were overlapping. Sarah warned the crews immediately, there was disruption caused to the Cambridge crew, Oxford Brookes seemed to come out between. Down the line of boats, Cambridge held their position. Going past Fulham Football ground, Brookes were on the outside of the bend and Cambridge took the lead but Brookes did not hold back. Both crews at similar rates.
The crews remained close. As Brookes came into the Surrey bend and their advantage they started to come back. Brookes looked to handle the conditions much better. The crews clashed again as each crew battled for the best position. It was after a clash that Brookes took the lead. The crews held their positions, resulting a crab in the Brookes crew.
The crews remained close as they came to the closing stages, with Cambridge pushing back to finish the piece down by a canvas. In all an impressive race from both crews.

FIRST PIECE - Oxford Brookes won by a canvas
For the Second Piece the crews swapped stations.

The crews re-set and lined themselves up to start the second piece, which took some time as both crews tried to get the starting lead. Cambridge presented a different approach to take this race right from the start, with a two man lead off the start rating 44. Cambridge kept moving away from Brookes, as the Brookes men tried to come back , holding overlap with Cambridge. Cambridge were warned for their steering with President Charlie Marcus, moving into the middle of the river. They broke contact and were leading by a length clear water into Barnes Bridge. Cambridge retained that position and won the piece by 2.5 lengths.


SECOND PIECE - Cambridge Men won by 2.5 length