Newton Women’s Boat race Trial VIIIs Coaches’ Comments

After the Newton Women’s Trial Eights yesterday, the coaches offered their view on the racing that had taken place.

The first race saw the Oxford University Women’s Boat Club’s race between ‘Real Life’ and ‘Fantasy’ in which Real Life triumphed by 3 lengths. Head Coach Christine Wilson said,

“Trial Eights is a unique event on the Boat Race calendar, and I’ve come to learn there is nothing quite like racing 6.8km in December. The race serves as a barometer for the team’s training and the race readiness of individual athletes at this point in the season. This year we have intense competition for seats in the Blue Boat and Osiris, and the athletes realise they have to perform whatever the conditions. Today the crews pushed each other to know the course and to take risks when a racing opportunity presents itself. While Real Life ultimately dominated despite some questionable steering, I suspect Fantasy carried with them the hopes of many rowing fans beyond those in the crew.”

The Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club featured crews named ‘Rise’ and ‘Grind’. Rise took control of the race early on and went on to win by a little over 5 lengths. In reviewing the race, Chief Coach Rob Baker said,

“Our two crews had shown to be of a similar speed coming to the Tideway but Rise was able to make the most out of the training in the last few days and produced a convincing win on the day over Grind. Whilst I would have liked a closer race I saw some excellent performances and we have certainly made progress in finding fast combinations that I can take forward and look at Blue Boat and Blondie combinations in the New Year.”