CUBC vs German U23

For their final fixture before The 2016 Cancer Research UK Boat Race, Cambridge took on Germany’s under-23 eight – a formidable crew featuring a number of international U23 medallists – in two half-course pieces, from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Eyot, and then the Eyot down to Chiswick Bridge.

Cambridge took the Middlesex station and got away cleanly in the first piece, but found themselves a few seats behind the Germans in the first 20 strokes. The Germans took the race head-on and were almost half a length up on Cambridge by Thames RC, but it quickly became apparent that Cambridge had plenty in the tank to draw from, and began to slowly encroach on Germany’s lead. Around the Fulham bend, Cambridge had pushed out to a seat’s lead, and had half a length by Harrods. Both crews started to drift towards each other, resulting in a clash coming past Hammersmith Bridge. In the wake of the clash, the Germans struggled to find their rhythm again, and Cambridge seized the opportunity, pulling out to a length’s lead. Cambridge proceeded to draw further away from the Germans, and won the first piece by 2 lengths. The Light Blues had demonstrated a calmness and determination under pressure – the test would now be to retain that composure in the second piece.

The start of the second piece showed a clear change of attitude from Cambridge, who shot out of the blocks to a seat’s lead. However, the Germans approached their bend with considerable aggression and managed to overturn Cambridge’s lead – but tellingly, the Light Blues hung on all the way around the German’s bend, and by the end of the bend it was clear that Cambridge were poised to retake the lead. Towards Barnes Bridge, Cambridge gradually turned up the pressure, and coming under the bridge the light blues had a length’s lead on the Germans. With shouts of determination, Cambridge changed gears in the last section of the piece, clearly buoyed by the margin they had already won from the Germans. The margin increased dramatically coming into the final stages of the piece, and ultimately the Light Blues finished 3 ½ lengths ahead of the Germans.

This was a strong result for Cambridge, and demonstrated well their ability to deal with the pressure of match racing. They now turn their attention to the final two weeks of preparation before they face Oxford in The Cancer Research UK Boat Races on the 27th March 2016.

CUBC:

B) Felix Newman
2) Ali Abbasi
3) Charles Fisher
4) Clemens Auersperg
5) Luke Juckett
6) Henry Hoffstot
7) Ben Ruble
S) Lance Tredell
C) Ian Middleton

U23 German

B) Jakob Schulte-bockholt
2) Matthias hoernschemeyer
3) Christopher reinhardt
4) Laurits follert
5) Lukas mueller
6) Rene stueven
7) Felix Brummel
S) Marc leske
C) Felix Heinemann