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Old Blues cast a critical eye over the youngsters. The umpire’s launch Amaryllis was built in 1928 by Hobbs of Henley for Cambridge University Boat Club. For the technical, the boat is of carvel construction, draws only a foot of water and, of course, has a tunnel stern with an aft slung rudder.
1 April 2022
By Tim Koch
Tim Koch keeps tabs on Cambridge.
The 2022 Cambridge Men’s Blue Boat.The crew.Cox and President Charlie Marcus is studying engineering. He coxed Goldie in 2019 and the Blue boat in 2021, winning both times. Stroke, Ollie Parish, is another engineer and a 2021 Blue. He was junior world champion in the eight in 2018 and also in that year was stroke of the highly successful St Paul’s School crew that won the PE at Henley. Ollie Wynne-Griffith (“7”) is studying for an MBA and was formerly at Yale. He won a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the GB men’s eight.James Bernard (“5”), who is studying land economy, has represented the USA at under-23 level, and won with Goldie in 2021. Tom George (“6”) is studying for an MPhil in Real Estate Finance, is a former student of Princeton University and won bronze in the GB eight at the Tokyo Olympics.Former Cal Berkeley rower, George Finlayson (“3”), is studying an MPhil in Management and competed for Australia Under 23s in 2019. MBA student, Simon Schürch (“4”), was a Swiss 2016 Olympic Gold medallist in the Lightweight Coxless Four.Bowman Luca Ferraro is an undergraduate classicist. Initially a sculler with Lea RC, he represented GB in the double sculls at the Coupe De La Jeunesse in 2019. He was in the CUBC men’s spare pair in 2021. His school was the non-rowing Latymer in North London, not the aquatic Latymer Upper in Hammersmith. Jamie Hunter (“2”) is studying for an MBA and is a two-time World Championship Silver medallist in the lightweight four and a World Championship Bronze medallist in the openweight pair. He raced for New Zealand at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing fifth in the lightweight men’s four.Upstream of Hammersmith Bridge.In Fulham Reach 1.In Fulham Reach 2.In Fulham Reach 3.Old Blues and young hopefuls.Passing Harrods in the launch with coach Rob Baker (right) is double Olympic Gold medallist and Old Blue James Cracknell.Heading home.No balance problems.Back in Putney.Charlie Marcus seems happy with the outing…As does Tom George.On the Putney Hard.Soaping the boat.Back on the rack.Goldie, the Cambridge Men’s Reserve Crew.Goldie passing Harrods.
Returning to the Cambridge Women…
The Blue Boat shows off their new race-day kit…As do Blondie, the Cambridge Women’s Reserves (photobombed by Oxford).
On Wednesday, the Cambridge Women’s Blue Boat and reserve crew, Blondie, did two short races between the start and St Paul’s School with a one length staggered start. Not surprisingly, the Blues won but, particularly in the second piece, Blondie made them work for their victory. It was ideal Boat Race side-by-side racing practice as it was into the wind on an unsettled tide.
I especially enjoyed watching it as most of us can only really appreciate a top crew when we see them next to a good but untimely inferior boat. On their own, Blondie would have seemed to be a highly competent crew – but alongside the Blue Boat, they appeared short and rushed. The comparison just emphasised how much time the Blues appear to give themselves on the recovery and how much effective reach they had. Great stuff.
Blondie (left) initially led the Blue Boat (right) due to their one length start.Stroke, Imogen Grant, and “7”, Grace Prendergast, squeeze their boat past Blondie cox, Dylan Whittaker, and stroke, Elena von Mueller. Prendergast’s heart rate monitor is reading 158 bpm.Grant, Prendergast and friends move on past.Cambridge legend, Donald Legget, has been involved with CUBC for 59 years, a record unlikely to be beaten.
Hear The Boat Sing 