2357 OUBC The Foot 4_05 (Page 2)

March 2005
THE FOOT
Old Blues and Isis Newsletter
Bosporos BC and the 2005 Blue Boat race at Wallingford
W
ith the 2005 Boat Race only weeks away, this is the
first Foot newsletter to commemorate the three Olympic
successes of our Old Blues and Isis. All 560 OBI around
the world must have got up, stayed up or stayed put to watch
Matthew Pinsent (Blue ’90, ’91, ’93) and Ed Coode (Blue ’98)
win their Gold Medals in the GB coxless Four. This was
followed by a Silver Medal for Gerritjean Eggenkamp (Blue ’02)
as the Dutch Eight won the battle behind a USA Eight that had
led from the start.
We had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their successes at
the December Bosporos BC Dinner at Simpsons in the Strand.
Attended by well over 100 OBI, squad and coaches. it was another
demonstration that Bosporos BC is very much alive and well in
its seventh year. If you would like to join and be part of similar
events, please email Pete Bridge on [email protected]
After last year’s result, we’re all hoping that the 2005 Boat Race
on 27 March will be another cause for celebration. Details of the
dinner at the Dorchester organised by Martin Watts (Isis ’89,
Blue ’90) are on the last page of The Foot. Martin steps in after
many years of Dick Fishlock’s hard work and superb
organisation. All our thanks must go to Dick for these Dinners
It looks to be a really exciting Race ahead in 2005, with two
superb Blue Boats. After a very strong performance against
Leander on 12th March, it’s a confident Blue Boat that enters
the last two weeks preparation. We wish both the Blue Boat,
the Blues-strengthened Isis and the coaching team the best of
luck on March 27th.
Tom Barry, Old Blues and Isis Representative
The 2005 Boat Race Eight
named ‘Daniel Topolski’
We’re now in our third year of an OUBC ‘tradition’ – naming
our new boats after significant members of OUBC. This year, in
a ceremony attended by over 110 Old Blues, Isis, current squad,
coaches, friends and family, the sun shone on cue at the Wallingford
site as the new Empacher eight was named ‘Daniel Topolski’.
Miles Morland, OUBC President in 1965 when Dan first came
up to New College, gave a wonderful review of Dan’s
achievements, including his own initial advice that Dan was far
too small to row and should try his hand at tennis. Miles was
equally insistent that this must have been the lucky prompt to
ensure Dan never stopped rowing, coaching and giving so
much of his life to OUBC over 40 years and named the boat
with a minimum of Formula One champagne spraying.
Sean Morris (Blue ‘63, ‘65) and Rachel Quarrell (Isis ‘92)
Dan then rowed at bow in the Bosporos BC crew, racing the
newly formed Blue Boat, and lunch followed with further
words from Boris Rankov, Michael Barry and Dan.
It was a wonderful, well attended and fitting occasion.
'Dan in the bow seat with Hugh
Corroon (Blue ‘95)
Neil Chugani (Isis ‘90, Blue ‘91)
and Matt Smith (Blue ‘00 - ‘03)
Two generations of Topolski
Dan and Suzy Topolski
Miles Morland (Blue ‘63, ‘64, ‘65)
and Dan Topolski
Giles Vardey (Isis ‘75, Blue ‘77)
and John Wiggins (Blue ‘76, ‘77, ‘79)
From the coach’s launch…
Chief Coach Sean Bowden gives the story of the preparation and development of the
2005 squad for the Boat Race on 27th March.
Nearly seven months in preparation…
Squad training started at the beginning of September, with four
athletes who had been at the Athens Olympics joining in later in
the month. Perhaps the most striking thing about this year’s initial
group was the depth of quality athletes, with twelve rowers
having represented their country at senior or U23 level. In the
initial squad there was a strong North American contingent, with
international and top level collegiate experience, as well as three
members of the British Rowing Team including this year’s
President, Robin Bourne-Taylor, back in Oxford after his year in
the Olympic Eight. It was, however, by no means just about the
new graduate intake, as they joined last year’s Blue Boat stern
four with their own Great Britain U23 experience. With several
good junior internationals coming in as freshmen, a choice of
capable coxswains and some rowers from the colleges, the 2005
squad looked to have enough ingredients to make for a very
competitive year and two strong crews at the end. The only
disappointment was that the total number of trialists was less
than 25. With a number of last year’s Isis rowers choosing not to
put themselves forward, and only a few rowers from the
summer’s development activities presenting themselves for
training, it means that we started running with only twenty two
rowers and four coxswains.
Each season starts with a 2 km ergometer test and a wide selection
of physiological tests to assess each rower’s physical capacity.
This testing procedure has been developed over the last five
years within our programme and provides valuable information
about how best to bring each athlete to his best for race day.
Training is not all about the laboratory and with the Pairs Head,
Fours Head, Indoor Rowing Championships, Upper Thames
Small Boat Head and the National Team Trials ahead of them,
there is more than enough opportunity for the rowers to show
what they can do.
The Michaelmas Term climaxes with the Trial Eights on December
the 14th. As traditional as this event is, it still provides the best
race situation for the rowers to get to understand the Boat Race,
even if its role within the selection process has diminished. The
Christmas break is followed with the January training camp in
Mequinenza in Spain. With its basic facilities and mile upon mile
of still water, the squad is able to get on with some excellent
training in a tough but very focused environment before
returning to England for the final stages of selection.
With The Blue Boat and Isis selected by early February, the Hilary
term is all about getting ready to race. The emphasis of the
training shifts away from the voluminous endurance training of
the first term towards those specific workouts that emphasise the
intensity and technique needed for the Race. Warm up fixtures
have been arranged, including the traditional one with with
Leander on March 12th to put the final edge on the crews. It is
then the last two weeks on the Tideway preparing to avenge last
year’s ignominious defeat and make it four wins out of the last
six Races!
The newly formed Blue Boat prepares to race Bosporos BC at Wallingford on
13th February.
OUBC Boat House Appeal
The Appeal is now well and truly launched and we
are making solid progress towards our £3.6 million
target and to start building on the magnificent site at
Wallingford. By now, all OBI should have received
a brochure and/or a phone call from a fellow crew
member to discuss the Appeal and your possible
donation. In addition, Joe Michels (Blue ’91, ’92, ’93)
is currently co-ordinating the US and Canadian Appeal
and Ian Gardiner (Blue ’’92, ’93) the Australian Appeal.
We have had a wide range of individual and crew
donations including £50,000 raised from the 1965
“Krew of Steel”. It shows the huge support for what
will be a home for the combined Men’s and Women’s
University Boat Clubs. If you haven’t received a call
or a brochure and would like to discuss the Appeal
or make a donation, please call Tom Barry on 07970
724253 or email [email protected]
OUBC at Henley Royal Regatta 2004
Colin Smith (OUBC stroke ’04, Isis ‘05) overhauls the GB selected I.J.Lawson of
Leander on the Friday of HRR. Colin went onto the Final of the Diamond
Challenge Sculls but lost to the seeded M. Hacker of Germany.When was the last
time an OUBC sculler got to the Final of the Diamonds?
The Isis crew of the Men’s Student Coxed Fours, with Steve Royle and coach
Johnnie Singfield.With two ’04 Isis and two squad spare men, they got to Sunday
with some determined rowing on all three days, but lost narrowly to Imperial in
the Final.
Gerritjean Eggenkamp (Blue ’02) at 6 in the Hollandia Roeiclub Grand crew.This crew went onto win the Grand and took the silver medal in the Athens Olympics.
Details of this year’s Boat Race and where to support
DATE: SUNDAY MARCH 27TH
TIMES:
Isis v Goldie at 2.35pm
Oxford v Cambridge at 3.05pm
OXFORD OUTING TIMES UP TO THE RACE:
OUBC boat from Westminster School BC and there’s
generally launch space to follow the crews in the days
before. Check with Steve Royle (Tel: 07990 523404 or
[email protected]) for details beforehand.
The OUBC website www.oubc.org.uk will have
regular updates.
WATCHING THE RACES AT PUTNEY:
Imperial College BC
We’ve decided to move our OUBC families and supporters
room this year from TRC to next door Imperial College BC.
IC have provided us with a much needed bigger room, but
the excellent view of the start remains, with the rest of the
Races shown on a large television. It is a wonderful place to
base yourself for the afternoon’s activities.
As before, there is a small charge for the room and tea, of
£7.50 per person, admission by ticket only.
Please email me on [email protected] with your
requirements and send a cheque (to ‘OUBC’) to me at
11 Theresa Road, London, W6 9AQ. I’ll send or email you
the tickets.
MV Salient
Richard Fishlock has again organised the MV Salient as the
base for the ‘on water’ viewing of the Races and has some
tickets available. It’s a fantastic place to watch from and
Richard always provides a superb fare and appropriate
celebrations.
Tickets from Richard Fishlock on 01865 310319.
Boat Race Dinner
You will hopefully have received your invitation to this year’s Boat Race Dinner at the Dorchester. If you have not received one,
or are still to reply, please contact Martin Watts by email at [email protected] or by phone on 07956 911 501.
Contact details and websites to visit:
OUBC
Stephen Royle, OUBC Director of Rowing
Tel: 01865 790268
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.oubc.org.uk.
Barbara Wilson, OUBC Administrator
Tel: 01865 790268,
email: [email protected]
The Boat Race website, updated each day
www.theboatrace.org
Bosporos Boat Club
Peter Bridge
Tel: 020 8748 0053
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.bosporos.com
OBI and Veterans Boat Race
Tom Barry
Tel: 07970 724253
e-mail: [email protected]
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People and Events
March 2005
OLD BLUES AND ISIS
Henley Royal Regatta 2004
Having arranged the hire of a launch for OBI and guests
at HRR for the first time in 2004, I was not a little concerned
to see how it all worked out! It was a resounding success
and has started an OUBC ‘tradition’. I have already booked
launch Arethusa for this year’s HRR Friday and Saturday.
Let me know if you’re interested. You could either join
others on board or take the launch for your own party
for an hour or so.
Richard Manners (Blue ’93), wife
Emma and their son at the OUBC
Saturday drinks.Such devotion to OUBC
that David and Emma have created a
small but perfectly formed Blue’s blazer
for the next generation to wear early!
Good to know it still fits. Peter
Saltmarsh (Blue ’67, ’68, ’69)
Arethusa leaving Leander with a full OUBC complement. Henry Morris
(Isis '02,'05, Blue '03, '04) smiling and John Ducker (Isis at HRR, 1958) waving.
Liz Chick (Blue ’92, ’94), Kingsley Poole
(Isis ’90, Blue ’92, ’93, ’94), Ed Haddon
(Isis ’92) and Ed Bellamy (Blue ’96,
Isis ’97) enjoying themselves?
Keith Mason (Blue ’56, ’57) and
David Hardy (Isis ’59)
OUBC 2004 Summer Family Day
O
ne of the highlights of the OUBC summer
2004 was the 150th Race celebration Family
Day in Christ Church. After a service at the
Cathedral, 100 OBI and their families had lunch in the
President’s Garden. Excellent food, good wine and great
company. We surely can’t wait another 150 years to do
something like this again!
Jim Rogers (Isis ’65, Blue ’66) and
Michael Barry (Blue ’46) and past
OUBC Treasurer.
Chris Freeman (Blue ’66 and ’67) flew over from Canada to join the lunch.
Preparing the event…
Lynton Richmond (Isis ’83, ’84 and
Blue ’85) and OUBC Treasurer with
future OUWBC potential.
Head of the Charles 2004
Bosporos Boat Club raced in the HOTC in Senior Eights, coming seventh in the Division, beating Crabtree BC and
improving on previous times. Very windy, very cold and superbly organised by stroke Nick Holland (Isis ’80, Blue
’82), now in Washington DC.
Andrew Gordon-Brown
(Isis ‘93, Blue ‘94)
Jerry Dale (Blue ‘69, ‘70, ‘71)
The Crew: Alexander Lindsay, Jerry Dale, Nick Holland, Tom Barry, Andrew-Gordon Brown,
Stephen Plunkett, Duncan Spencer, Abi Chapman (Mark Dunstan, not present)
Steve Royle
and Heather
Boxer
OUBC and Isis crossed
oars Polo shirts and
long sleeved tops
watching the IVs Head in
November from Hammersmith
Bridge. Heather has housed,
fed and supported the Blue
Boat during their final Putney
fortnight for many years.
We’ve long had OUBC and Isis clothing available for
purchase but Jonathan Scarlett (Blue ’62) has widened
the variety available. Most pictures are worth a thousand
words….
150th Anniversary Race
Champagne in support
of the Boat House Appeal
There is still some of this delicious champagne, first
publicised in the last issue of The Foot, available to OBI.
It is the product of a family owned vineyard 5 miles NE
of Reims and available to us through the energies of
Keith Mason (Blue ’56, ’57). The specially designed label
and bottles are shown here.
David Livingston, (Blue ’03, ’04 and
Isis ‘05) wears the OUBC crossed oars
Polo shirt.
Henry Morris, (Isis '02,'05, Blue '03,
'04) in the long sleeved version
At £89.70 for a six bottle case (£14.95 a bottle) it is
wonderful value and all surplus will go directly to the
Boat House Appeal.
Contact Jonathan on 07973 780838 or
[email protected] to order.
Contact Barbara Wilson at Iffley Road. Cases can be
collected from either Iffley Road or Hammersmith.
OUBC Tie
We still have a few OUBC silk ties left from the 2002
production, designed by 2002 President Ben Burch. It has
the Oxford crossed blades with crown above, and is worn
by Giles Vardey in his photo (front page) at the recent Boat
Naming Ceremony. It is available from Barbara Wilson at
OUBC Iffley Road for £26 (including P+P). Cheques made
out to OUBC and sent to Iffley Road Sports Centre, Iffley
Road, Oxford, OX4 1EQ or arranged by telephone on
01865 790268.
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