Chris Kroon’s flexibility training was tested in the opening round of the Allom Cup when the pin on his rigger gate came clean away jamming the oar underwater and sending the handle straight for Kroon’s head. With only seven rowers able to finish the race UCL cruised to victory leaving the IC(A) crew with only their leg warmers left to comfort them.

The Allom cup is an annual regatta race lasting less than 1000 m from the UL boathouse towards Chiswick Bridge. IC had 2 men’s crews and 1 women’s crew racing. However the ICBC crews were entered in the only ‘Novice’ category which can have crews who potentially rowed for several years but have yet to win an Ameuter Rowing Association accredited event. Until this October ICBC novices had never been in a boat before. Their performances give coaches great encouragment seeing that they can hold their own against more experienced crews at this early stage.

The premature end to IC(A)’s race was devastating for the crew who had high hopes on the build-up to the race. When asked about the race afterwards, seat 7 Angelo Tardugno retorted; ‘Well the race lasted 100 m... So there's nothing to say about it.’ This is the second technical malfunction to spoil novice winning chances in the space of a week. The same boat had rigger problems at seat 2 two mid-race at the Cambridge Winter Head which also reduced the crew to seven. The boat is scheduled for an exorcism later in the week.

The second men’s crew, IC(B) also lost out in the opening round ending cox Kieron Turkington’s 6 year winning streak at the Allom Cup. Overall results were reflective of the Cambridge Winter Head with the novice women again exceeding their male counterparts by reaching the final and finishing second. The women’s crew had a buy in the first round and were victorious in the semi-final against Royal Holloway. However another Royal Holloway crew managed to edge victory in the final by ¾ of a length despite a steady rhythm built up by stern pair Rose Stainthorp and Georgie Phillips.

With racing and cheering over the crews prepared to boat from UL and row back to IC. IC(A) had to return with 7 rowers due to the defective rigger so Sean Delaney agreed to return in the launch. However an over-enthusiastic attempt at tugging the start cable caused it to come away completely. Backup was called in and Steve ‘MacGyver’ Trapmore rolled up in a new launch, fashioned a length of rope into a starter cable, answered four separate phone calls, started the motor, answered another phone call and took off across the river back to Putney with the sound of a ringing mobile echoing across the tideway. We stood in awe.

The return trip in our new launch was weighed down by Club Captain Erica Thompson, Erica’s guns, Sean, 2 crews worth of bags, jaffa cakes, leg warmers and italian fig rolls. We battled the elements thrashing through curling waves and dodging floating debris. Finger freeze set in early despite glove rationing and by Hammersmith Bridge morale was low. Eventually we caught up with the homeward bound novice combatting splashback and choppy waters. The quality of driving was not hampered by conditions and the launch-landing was pure Bond. We were glad to make it back alive. The novices arrived soon after. The disappointment among the three novice crews highlights the trademark ICBC winning hunger that has already been engrained in their minds. Commitment to training and a good work ethic will see the crews through a tough training season ahead.

By Christina Duffy