CBC News
I am very excited to share with you what has been a very successful term. Firstly, I must introduce myself, I am Emma Radford, the new Captain of Boats. I have taken over from Joe Nash after his successes last year. We are aiming for another successful year on the Cam with quadruple Headship on the cards for the first time. I am a 3rd year reading Biological Natural Sciences.
Success of term
This year we have welcomed a new cohort of keen novices. Taking wins on both sides this term, it bodes well for Lents when they add strength to the senior squads. NM1 narrowly missed out on the win for the first few races of term but retained the title we have held since 2017, winning Fairbairn’s. NM2 came in strong finishing joint 2nd at Fairbairns.
On the women’s side we saw success with NW1 winning Emma Sprints and Clare Regatta and holding 4th place at Fairbairn’s, NW2 saw an ejector blade at Clare regatta but finished a strong 3rd at Fairbairns.
In the senior squad both the men and women’s second fours won their respective divisions at Uni Fours Regatta. W1 won Autumn head at the start of the term and at Fairbairns W1 came 3rd only 7s behind the winners, W2 finished 3rd and W3 came 1st.
M1 won Fairbairn’s for the first time in 11 years, winning by 11 seconds and M2 won their division, beating 18 M1 crews in the process.
Advisory Committee
I am excited to announce that we have set up a Caius Boat Club Advisory Committee. Here, members of the Junior committee will work with alumni who have a range of experience rowing and beyond to put CBC in the best possible position to excel. This aims to provide more long-term sustainable planning for our club and enable greater connection with and involvement of alumni in order to facilitate Caius to go from strength to strength on and off the water. I am delighted to announce we have David Tait (chair), George Budden (President), Fay Sandford and Melissa Wilson on board to start this adventure. David rowed at Caius 1996-1999 (Captain ’99) and at CULRC in 98 and 99. Fay rowed Caius W1 in 2010-2013 and the CUWBC Blue Boat in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Melissa rowed at Caius Mays 2012, 2013, 2015 and rowed with CUW/CUBC 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017. She rowed GB U23 WCs 2014, 2015 and Senior WCs 2017, 2018, 2019 and qualified a boat for the Olympics. More information on George to follow!
Coaches
This term we saw Tim Schmalz leave to coach Radley School. Since his departure we have welcomed Kozzy Voudouris from Kings as W1 coach, Molly Shaw from Cantabs as W2 coach, Ella Cross as W3 coach. For the novice women we have Joe Dolphin and Rhiannon Smith as NW1 and Freya Eastwood as NW2 coach.
On the men’s side, Ben Dyer returns to coach M1 and Felicity White joins to coach M2. For the novices our own Inigo Holman coached NM1, and NM2 has been coached by Louis Baxter from Sidney. A big thank you to all the coaches for achieving the successes of term.
New President Announcement
The CBC Junior Committee and I are delighted to announce the appointment of George Budden as our new Boat Club President. George will take over immediately following the retirement of Martin Wade earlier this year. We are fortunate that Martin will remain as Emeritus President. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin for over two decades of exceptional leadership as President, having overseen multiple blades and Headships in his time and our consistent growth as a club. George, our incoming President, matriculated at Caius in 1984 where he read Mathematics. He became Overall Captain at CBC in 1987 and rowed in the ’87 Headship Crew (when Caius won its first Headship since the 19th century). George writes ‘I have very fond memories of rowing at Caius and met most of my best friends there in one boat or another! I look forward to working with CBC on its next exciting adventure – towards the bicentenary of its founding 2027) for starters.’ We are all very excited to work with him and look forward to continued success on the river.
The End of an Era: Jimmy’s resignation
The current committee would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Jimmy Altham who will step down from his role of Senior Treasurer after Mays 2023. I am sure I speak on behalf of many alumni who have rowed at the club in the last 17 years that Jimmy has guided the club financially and provided unwavering support on the bank. We owe Jimmy a lot and a special shoutout has to go to Jimmy for being Chair of the Committee that achieved construction of the new boathouse. This without debate is something that all Caians are proud of and love rowing from every day. In my unbiased opinion, it is the best boathouse on the river!
Jimmy, we all love your dedication and support to Caius Boat Club. We hope you can enjoy some peace without the CBC finances, but look forward to seeing you at future BCDs and on the bank at Bumps.
Here is Jimmy pictured with Captain Brie Stark when the ‘Jimmy Altham’ boat was launched! This boat has been used by W1, M2 and now W2 love rowing in the ‘Jimmy’. GTM!
Trialists
We have many trialists rowing this term with the University. We have Lucy Havard, Vera Kunz and Carys Earl (our novice from last year) on the women’s side. On the men’s side there is Dan Toy, George Hawkswell, Cameron Mackenzie, Tom Knell (Lightweight), and Matt Francis (another of our very own novices last year). We wish them the best in the run up to their respective boat races.
Headship Board & Pembroke Regatta
This term we have looked back at our history and the fabulous successes with the design of the Headship Board kindly donated by Jack MacDonald. This shows 35 Headships since 1998 – truly remarkable! There is plenty of space to fill so we are hoping for a successful year! We plan to hold an opening ceremony for this combined with Pembroke Regatta on the 18th February (tbc). If you are interested in rowing at Pembroke Regatta please get in touch with Honora, our alumni officer at hav25@cam.ac.uk. She will also post this on the facebook group which you can join on this link:
Socials/ Staying in touch
We love when alumni get in touch. Please find us on facebook and instagram and we are reigniting our twitter @caiusboatclub. If you are in Cambridge and keen to come along and bank party a session, we would love to have you and hear about your old stories from CBC. Email the men’s or women’s captains at: caius.women@cucbc.org and caius.men@cucbc.org.
Plans for next term: Training Camp and Racing
In the new year we are excited to have 30+ people signed up to go on our first training camp since I have been here to Chester. Please all hope for good weather in Chester on the 8th January, we will need it!! CBC went to Chester in 2018 so we are excited to visit again. This will be a great opportunity to integrate the novices and focus without the usual bustle of term. With less than 12 weeks till Lent Bumps next year we are looking forward to Newnham Head, followed by Pembroke Regatta and the respective Heads of the river. I will be in touch at the start of term with the dates of these and we would love support from you on the banks.
Thank you!
A want to say a big thank you to the whole committee with the recent addition of 2 new welfare roles. It is amazing that so many people can be involved with making sure the club runs smoothly.
Silver Buttons for Blazers
The silver buttons that once adorned every Caius May and Henley blazer have not been made for over fifty years. Now, after a collaboration between a CBC alumnus and a Norfolk jeweler, the buttons are available again. Made from the ‘lost wax’ process, they are cast in sterling silver in two sizes, larger for the blazer body and smaller for the cuffs. The buttons may be ordered from Lanes Jewellery, info@lanes.co.uk, Tel 01263 713738. Speak to Josh for further information.
Merry Christmas and I wish you the best in the New Year, and hopefully see some of your faces on the Cam.
Emma Radford
Captain of Caius Boat Club 2022-23