After a hard term’s training and some promising results in the Nephthy’s races, we were all frustrated that poor weather conditions (and in particular the high winds) resulted in all but the first day being called off.

In particular it was a shame that the severe delays on Wednesday meant that the women’s novice B crew did not get a chance to race at all, despite waiting at the boathouse in the cold all afternoon.

The remaining women’s novice A crew and all three men’s boats did us proud, most winning their races by a sound margin.

Several bystanders commented to me on the day that this year’s novices at Balliol are the strongest, and have the best technique, that they have seen in recent years. We all hope that this early setback in the year’s racing calender will not deter our new rowers from keeping up the sport after the vacation, when it is certain we will come back and dominate Torpids as in previous years.