Imperial College Boat Club shone in the first race of the 2011/12 season with the club winning six [well five] pennants, including an overall win for Adam Freeman-Pask and Jamie Kirkwood. Imperial’s domination for the first head race of the season was unrivalled  with wins in Elite 2x, Mixed Elite 2x, Senior 2-, IM1 2-, IM2 2- and W IM2 2- and most crews taking top 3 positions in their categories.

Photo by Nick Ablitt

On Monday 12th September, David Walliams completed his epic eight day swim along the length of the Thames from Lechdale, Gloucestershire to Westminster Bridge in London. Along with the many wellwishers that lined the banks, ICBC were there [wearing nothing but speedos!] to greet him. Once the confetti cannons had died down, the Imperial boys commandeered a certain someone more used to sitting on top of the waves in a rowing boat than swimming through them - Sir Steve Redgrave.

This is what happened when Sir Steve met ICBC...

Press Officer Team Kimberley reports on the U23 World Championships in Amsterdam. For those who don't speak Kimberley, a glossary is provide at the bottom.

For those unaware, the under-23 world championships are the culmination of the rowing season for the country’s top athletes who are aged 22 or younger in the year of competition. Selection takes place after a series of several gruelling trials, followed by even more gruelling seat racing following. Five Imperial athletes were selected - Jamie Kirkwood [as if you hadn’t guessed already!] in the lightweight coxless four, Henry Goodier in the coxed four, Lottie Howard-Merrill in the women’s 8 and Josh Butler and Wilf Kimberley both in the lightweight quad, with the man himself, IC boss Don McLachlan, coaching. The event this year took place in Amsterdam.

Henley Royal Regatta, the highlight of the summer season, did not disappoint. 33 Records were smashed and 24 were equalled in the fast conditions. The sun shone brightly all week, many a glass of Pimms No.1 was drunk and Imperial performed spectacularly as most crews were knocked out by winners, finalists or semi finalists. Jamie Kirkwood was IC’s sole representative by finals day and successfully brought home his second consecutive Henley medal in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup.

All Imperial’s men’s crews had pre-qualified for the regatta, thanks to their performances earlier in the season. Training in Henley began in earnest the Saturday before racing and was followed by the Draw and crew weigh-ins. Despite the interference of revision and exams into Henley Week, Wednesday dawned and everyone was set to race.