Cambridge Women’s Fixture 2024
Yesterday saw the last of the women’s fixtures take place on the Tideway with Brookes taking on Cambridge University. There were some tricky conditions for all to deal with across all racing due to the amount of stream from recent rain, meaning that the flood tide was almost unrecognisable.
In Blue boat fixture, two pieces were rowed between the start line in Putney and St Pauls and then the Mile Post for 8 minutes. In a heated race start, in initially rolling conditions, crews stretched onto race rhythm coming toward the end of Putney Embankment. Brookes, with the Middlesex station, were able to break ahead around the first bend and open up a clear water lead by Fulham FC. Rowing in tricky conditions around the Hammersmith Bend, Brookes were able to dictate the margin they had around the outside of the bend to win the race by around ¾ length.
In the second piece, crews switched stations and rowed 8 minutes around the Hammersmith bend towards the end of the Eyot. Brookes were able to establish an early lead and stretch away to win by 3 lengths in a dominant row.
In the Blondie fixture, the same two pieces were rowed. Brookes were able to parry a fast starting Cambridge crew. Also on the Middlesex station, Brookes were then able to establish a lead past around the first bend and continue to stretch their lead up to Hammersmith Bridge. In similar bouncy conditions, Brookes were able to continue building their advantage, winning the first piece by 3 lengths.
In the second piece, Brookes were able to come out on top after remaining on the same station. Around the bend under Hammersmith Bridge, Brookes broke contact and sped away towards the finish to win by 5+ lengths.
The 3rd eight raced against Cambridge LWTs. In a great showing of the strength and depth of the Brookes women’s group the crew were able to make a fast start and explode out to a lead coming past Putney Embankment. By the finish line at St Pauls, Brookes came out on top winning by 5+ lengths. In the second piece, starting multiple lengths down around the outside, Brookes came away with another win after an explosive start to win by another margin of 5 lengths.
Brookes were also fielded a 4th crew that raced London RC. In a slightly different format some great racing was held with both crews getting lots of experience on the Tideway stretch. Brookes began the first piece on the Surrey station, but restarted the piece after some clashing inside the first minute. After a restart Brookes finished the first piece with a 1 length lead. They began the second piece on Middlesex again from the Start and finished with a 2 1/2 length lead. The final piece ran from Hammersmith down towards Putney with Brookes finishing with 4 lengths of open water. Thank you to London RC for organising some great racing!
Overall, a fantastic set of results over the weekend for the Brookes Women before the last of the winter racing coming up over the next month. Attention turns to a solid block of training as Spring rapidly approaches and the return of side by side racing.
Courtesy of AllMarkOne