Marlow Head: Snow flakes cascaded down on the Shogun’s windshield en route to the aptly named 2008 ‘Marlow Fours and Pairs Head’. Except that it wasn’t in Marlow, it wasn’t really a head race and scullers were also competing. ICBC had seven crews racing; 2 from the women’s squad and five from the men’s squad, all in coxed or coxless fours. Due to threats of flooding the head race was moved to Dorney lake and the usual 5 km head course was run in lanes less than 2 km long. All ICBC crews either won their events or came in second place.

The serenity of the outside snow suddenly became less attractive when crews had to alight their vehicles leaving the comfort of  artificial heating. There was widespread disgust when the realisation suddenly hit that what appeared like fluffy white snow was actually a cold grey slush that stuck to your face and dribbled down your neck. This eventually turned to rain making for a very unpleasant morning. Pre-race coffee could not be found for Molesey supersub Debbie Pyke who steered the coxless four of Christina Matteotti, Erica Thompson and Hannah Rouse. The caffeine-free crew had to race for time only since they were the single entry in the W.S3 4- category. The  women’s coxed entry of Louise Hart, Ro Smith, Selina Graham and Chloe Symmonds with cox Larissa Matley won the WS3.4+ in a time of  8:01.96, just over a second slower than the coxless boat.

Two seconds was the losing margin for both men’s crews in the first division of racing. Fireman Sam Henry Fieldman coxed John Dick,  Dom Meyrick-Cole, Tom Arnott and Will Todd in the S2.4+ category. They came second to Balliol College BC who finished in 7:10.4. Following the  testosterone-filled performance seat 3 Meyrick-Cole was beside himself with excitement: ‘I didn't know until after the race that I was racing with the same Will Todd that won Henley and Pair’s Head. He's such a man.’ The other men’s crew of Matt Lunt, Mike Zammit, Chris Pollock and Rob Tod coxed by Connie Pidoux were defeated by Nephthys who came home in 7:25.97.

In the afternoon’s division three men’s crews were racing. In the senior three coxless fours (S3.4-) ICBC had two entries who finished in first and second place.  The winning crew were composed of Alex Gillies, Richard Winchester, Adam Seward and Andy Gordon who clocked a time of 6:19.34. 10 seconds later were Tom Bell, Brook McLaughlin, Iain Palmer and Josh Yerrell taking the runner-up position.

The final win of the day went to Kieran Docherty, Leo Carrington, John Davey and Adam Mayall in the S3.4+  coxed by Connie Pidoux. Their closest rivals were Exeter university: 13 seconds slower than the IC crew who won in 6:35.23. Seat 3 Leo Carrington was dubious at the initial crew selection: ‘With a volatile Scotsman at stroke I was expecting some mid-race shouting, but it wasn’t to be!’. Kieran performs best at circuit training when Stuart adopts a Scottish accent to call station changes. The crew, as Stuart was overheard saying (possibly out of context), made like a postman and delivered. That made a total haul of three wins and three runner-up places: another set of solid results for the club.

By Christina Duffy