Jesus and Wolfson win at Clare

Jesus’ novice women and Wolfson’s novice men came out on top in Clare Sprints yesterday.

Last year’s men’s winners John’s lost in the second round, whilst the women’s champions of 2008 Anglia Ruskin were beaten by Jesus in a close final.

Clare Novices, which saw the first major races on the river for the novice crews after Queens’ Ergs, is held over a distance of about 800m running from the bottom post on the Long Reach to Morley’s Holt just after the Railway Bridge.

Wolfson NM1 (Novice Men’s 1), who finished eighth at Queens’ Ergs, beat Selwyn, Emma and their grad rivals St Edmunds before their handsome 4 length victory against Girton in the final.

Quinton Goddard, who coaches the Wolfson crew, said it was difficult: “Despite a poor start in the final we managed to claw our way back into contention against a determined Girton crew. I think our toughest race was against St Ed’s who really pushed us all the way in the semi final”.

Jesus NW1 saw off Trinity, King’s, Pembroke and Christs to reach their final with Anglia Ruskin.

Ruskin, who comfortably won at Queens’ Ergs, were left trailing by a well-rehearsed Jesus start but clawed their way back to be leading by a canvass at the Railway Bridge. Jesus’s meadowside position however game them the inside of the bend and some tenacious rowing saw them win by half a length.

Wolfson cruise to victory in the early rounds

Their coach, last year’s captain of Jesus College Boat Club Alexis Tran-Viet, was delighted with the result: “The jesus novice women have shown that the can handle the mental pressure during the race and were able to find their very strong rhythm”.

He added: “We will consolidate this week’s victory and work on more technical stuff for Fairbairns, where we should be one of the favourites“.

In the Plate divisions featuring the college’s lower novice crews Fitz II beat Caius II by 2 1/2 lengths to win the men’s title whilst John’s II narrow beat Pembroke II to take the women’s crown.

Full results are available on Clare Boat Club’s website.

Fairbairns, the climax of the Michelmas term calendar, takes place on Thursday 3rd (novices) and Fri 4th (seniors) of December.

Jesus’ novice women celebrate their narrow victory over Anglia Ruskin