For ICBC, the New Year brings one of the most brutal post-Christmas training camps imaginable, culminating in Quintin Head a couple of weeks after. IC have had a strong showing at this event over the past couple of years and this year was no exception, with fastest women’s crew of the day as well as being thoroughly robbed of the novice pennant.

The build up to the race for the men’s 8s had seen the standard rivalry that occurs every year between the student and non student crews. The nonstudents had appeared to have the edge during training with super-sub Helen Wood in the crew, so the heat was on ‘Dildo’ Dave Loveday to continue the trend in to the race. However, it wasn’t to be and the students edged out the nonstudents by 4 seconds, finishing 4^th (2^nd senior) and 5^th (3^rd elite) overall respectively. Rumours of Dave’s seat mysteriously vibrating throughout the race are yet to be confirmed. IC also fielded an IM1 8 with big Josh Butler coming out of retirement once again, finishing 20^th overall (4^th IM1).

Every year, just as it’s starting to get unpleasantly cold, GB rowing brighten everyone’s lives by holding their first and even more unpleasant trial in Boston (the one in Lincolnshire, not the one you’re thinking of). This all-weekend event consists of a 2k ergo test on the Saturday followed by a 5k head race in singles on Sunday. Despite the less than ideal location, weather and testing, all Imperial mans stepped up.

On a cold, wet, Saturday in November, ICBC ventured forth to extend the club’s domination to the wild North... Bedford. With wins in the Men’s and Women’s Intermediate four, Women’s Elite quad and Women’s Novice eight; no-one minded that the Novice Men were slower than their fairer counterparts.

In an event where some of the best rowers in the world will line up side by side with you it’s best to shift the goal posts slightly. Considering that every Imperial boat which competed showed good speed early in the season, and having two full Imperial College men’s eights both competitive with each other, and in the top twelve, it shows the depth across the whole squad.

Normally the reports focus on how many wins we achieve of a weekend, sadly this year we came away with no overall victories. Not even the lightweights could save us! But, luckily we have the big deal women to pick up a few medals; Zoe Lee and Helen Wood won a silver medal in a composite Women’s Four and were joined by Mel Wilson and Georgia Francis where they won a silver in a composite Women’s Eight. Mel also won a bronze in the Women’s double.

Finally, over a month after the last race at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, the article is done.  Kit has been washed, fitness has been lost, and most importantly the shakes from alcohol leaving the system have gone.  Imperial had one of its most successful outings in the last ten years with wins in The Remenham Challenge Cup, The Prince Albert Challenge Cup, The Ladies Challenge Plate and The Thames Challenge Cup.