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| Blogs > helga_hansen > ♥♥ Mitt Hjerte - My Heart ♥♥ |
Row, Row, Row Your Boat...
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Row, Row, Row Your Boat... Yesterday saw the 12th Annual Varsity Boat Race take place between Bristol's two universities, Bristol University, and University of the West of England (UWE). The competition is a tough one, one which UWE have won for the previous three years, and Bristol Uni were desperate to clinch the title this year. Rowing as a university sport has always been popular, with the most famous Varsity Boat Race being the annual clash between Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Rowing has reached an almost iconic status in the UK since Sir Steve Redgrave lifted his 5th Gold in Sydney in 2000. Steve Redgrave kept his oars out of the water after that, but his team mates Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, along with Ed Coode (who is currently doing a Post Grad course at UWE) and Steve Williams won gold again in Athens, 2004, in the Men's Coxless Four. Being a member of a university rowing team is hard work, with students juggling a degree and hours of training, both indoors and on the water. Typically senior level crews will train twice a day six days a week, with the majority of this time spent on the water or alternatively on the indoor rower, aiming to cover about 150km a week between the two. Trying to balance a degree with all this training is difficult to say the least, so the degree often takes a back seat to rowing at senior level. There is much kudos for a winning team that universities happily subsidise their rowing teams, paying thousands each year for crew members to participate in training camps both in the UK and abroad. UWE's teams spend a week in Spain in February each year, training specifically for the famed Head of the River Race which takes place in March. There is another training camp during the Easter break, with the final push being made for the annual Varsity Boat Race in Bristol's Floating Dock. As a tangible yardstick to show just how fit some of the contestants in the 2006 Varsity Boat Race are, here are some of the times they take to row 2000m (the standard rowing race distance - 2k) on the indoor rower: UWE Men's Senior Squad, Matt Bartholomew - 6 mins 05 secs UWE Men's Alumni Squad, Peter Reed - 5 mins 57 secs *** Peter currently rows for Team GB Bristol Men's Senior Squad, Mark Roberts - 6 mins 09 secs Bristol Women's Senior Squad, Jess Penneycard - 7 mins 21 secs As an aside, to be considered fit enough to row for Team GB (Great Britain) men must achieve a time of under 6:10 for a 2k, and women a time under 7:15. A six minute 2k requires a split 1:30 per 500m on average over the whole distance. (Some of the Euro Hot Tubbers know that Helga rows on an indoor rower, and her time is 5 miles in 18 mins, or 8km in 18 mins... and she is seriously debating whether to sign up for the women's rowing team in the Autumn term.) Weighing-in at a combined weight of 742kgs (116 stones, 12 pounds) UWE were 1kg per man heavier than Bristol, who weighed in at 734kgs (115 stones, 8 pounds). Bristol also had the heavier cox to pull down the course (55kg v 66kg). In March the two universities achieved their highest ever result, 35 and 36, at the prestigious Head of the River Race (HORR), with less than half a second separating the two crews over the 4.25 mile Oxbridge boat race course. It was this half second that were driving Bristol Uni to win yesterday's race. The senior men's race turned out to be a disaster, with both teams "losing" the finish line, which meant the teams had to row the race AGAIN. That 1300m must have been the hardest race of their lives for both teams, having just given it all they had in the previous row. I know all this, as I was there, supporting my team. Personally knowing some of those boys and girls makes all the difference, and so there I was, screaming my lungs out, urging my team to "move"... and they did, winning the race by half a length!!! And a proud University of the West of England team retain the coveted title for another year. U-W-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The photo is "The Slap", which is when the official challenge is made. This year the slap was delivered by Matt Bartholomew, UWE Boat Club President, and Martin Herbert from Bristol Uni's Boat Club was on the receiving end.   Love, hugs and kisses from ♥♥HH♥♥ |
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