The CUWBC crews from 1989 marked their 35th anniversary this year. CUBC extends its thanks to 1989 Women’s Lightweight President Clare Adams for the following photographs. 2024 also saw 1989 Women’s President Joanna Burch honoured by Newnham College Boat Club.
The CUWBC crews of 1989:
President: Jo Burch (Newnham), Lightweights Clare Adams (Emmanuel)
Date of races: 19th March 1989 at Henley
Blue Boat
Bow: Michelle Soane (Downing)
2: Jacqui Finney (Fitzwilliam)
3: Cat Lee-Elliott (Churchill)
4: Helen Sanders (Queens’)
5: Kirsten Clayton (Jesus)
6: Anne Kupschus (Gonville & Caius)
7: Rachel Cane (New Hall)
Stroke: Susannah Church (Emmanuel)
Cox: Vanessa Cook (Selwyn)
Squad coaches: Roger Silk, Ron Needs, Pete Convey, Adrian Hyncica, John Pritchard, Davy Parnham, Tony Bates, Marysh Chmiel, Nick O’Sullivan, Tony Nelder, Robin King, Sarah Blackhall, James Entwhistle, Louis Taylor, Steve Addison, Mark Briegal, Chris Lloyd, Andy Silk.
Blondie
Bow: Rachel Pearce (Downing)
2: Gina Adams (Downing)
3: Sarah Cooke (Downing)
4: Trudy Willmott (Newnham)
5: Kathie Flanagan (Peterhouse)
6: Sophia Khan (Clare)
7: Karen Heenan (LMBC)
Stroke: Elizabeth Renshaw (Newnham)
Cox: Paul Macfarlane (Churchill)
Spare IV Bow. Jane Irving (Emmanuel) 2. Marie-Claire Bleasdale (Queens’) 3. Karen Labron (Fitzwilliam) Stroke. Helen Mellor (Queens’) stroke Cox. Caroline Owen (Queens’)
Coaches: Robin King, Sarah Blackhall, Pete Convey, James Entwhistle, Louis Taylor.
Lightweights
Bow: Sara Hanna (Emmanuel)
2: Liz Hill (Girton)
3: Rupa Morris (Fitzwilliam)
4: Caroline Waller (LMBC)
5: Linda Newton (Clare)
6: Clare Adams (Emmanuel)
7: Amanda Wilson (Emmanuel)
Stroke: Kate Fawkner (Peterhouse)
Cox: Sandie Oates (Pembroke)
Coaches: Roger Silk, Ian Shore, Tony Nelder, Robin King, Marysh Chmiel.
Reflections from President Jo Burch:
“It was great to see the photos of the 1999 Boat Race crew enjoying their 25th anniversary reunion paddle this year!
2024 is the 50th anniversary of College women’s crews racing in the May Bumps and I was privileged to sub into Newnham’s anniversary Row Past crew, most of whom had been part of the CUWBC 1973 Boat Race crew which had also celebrated their own CUWBC 50th anniversary reunion paddle earlier in the year. They are still a gang of remarkable women! I have no doubt that the 1999 crew will be just as feisty when they reach their own 50th anniversary.
Seeing Clare Adams’ photos of the 1989 CUWBC crews, for whom I was proud to be President, brought back so many memories, not least that of sitting in the coaching launch with Ron Needs and Roger Silk, during a tough winter seat-racing session, being watched anxiously for positive/negative signals by all those being hoicked in and out of the boats, and trying to pretend that I had even the first clue about what Roger’s results ladder indicated! We swept the board that year in the Boat Races and it is lovely to see all those happy and excited faces! 15 years to go until our 50th anniversary reunion – keep up the training!”
