On Saturday 1 March, the CUBC Lightweights took to the water in their second fixture of The Boat Race season. The women faced Godolphin and Latymer School, with the men racing Vesta Boat Club.
Cambridge Lightweight Men v Vesta Boat Club ‘A’
Result: First piece to Vesta by 1 1/4 lengths, Second piece to Vesta by 1 seat
| Name | Seat | College |
| Isabella Fiske Harrison | Cox | Trinity |
| James Richards | Stroke | Girton |
| Theo Hatcher | 7 | Robinson |
| Peter Crossley | 6 | Sidney Sussex |
| Ben Isherwood | 5 | Emmanuel |
| Joshua Moore | 4 | Queens’ |
| William Morris | 3 | Gonville & Caius |
| Gianluca Maffi | 2 | Downing |
| Jeremy Wilkinson | Bow | Churchill |
Video: David Tait
Race report: Jeremy Wilkinson, Bow
The Cambridge Men’s Lightweight VIII+ spent the weekend on the Tideway for a fixture against Vesta Rowing Club’s senior men’s first boat. Having won the coin toss, Vesta chose to race on Surrey station providing CUBC the opportunity to practice the opposite station from the previous fixture.
The first piece saw a cracking start from CUBC, rating well above 40 strokes per minute, to push to an early half length lead by the end of the Putney boathouses. Utilising the Fulham bend, this lead was pushed out to almost a full length, however Vesta managed to hold onto a canvas of overlap by the end of the Middlesex advantage. The Vesta crew, coached by CUBC alumnus James Cracknell (2019), proceeded to draw on their Tideway experience, and made full use of the additional steering needed to avoid a sailing boat stuck on the course due to a lull in the wind, stealing back a couple seats coming into the Surrey bend. Through the start of the Surrey bend Vesta successfully used their momentum to push even and out to a lead of a length and a quarter which CUBC held until the finish at the end of the Eyot.
Following a short break, the second piece began in similar fashion as CUBC took a couple seats with a blazing start that was quickly nullified by the Surrey bend. The remaining minutes were a true dogfight as Vesta won a couple seats through the straight following Chiswick steps, that CUBC managed to reclaim through the start of the Mortlake bend. Vesta, however, started their final push a fraction earlier than CUBC which ultimately led to their victory by a canvas.
Thank you to the Vesta crew for a fantastic race and invaluable experience.
Cambridge Lightweight Women v Godolphin and Latymer School
Result: First piece to Cambridge by 1/3 length, Second piece to Godolphin and Latymer by 2/3 length, Third piece to Cambridge by 2 lengths
| Name | Seat | College |
| Molly Wilson | Cox | Clare |
| Madeline Jackson | Stroke | St Edmund’s |
| Arden Berlinger | 7 | Pembroke |
| Freya Clarkson | 6 | Emmanuel |
| Giselle Pezier | 5 | Queens’ |
| Jessica van de Grint | 4 | St Catharine’s |
| Eugenie Dodds | 3 | Christ’s |
| Grace Forward | 2 | Jesus |
| Claire Cooper | Bow | Sidney Sussex |
Race report: Claire Cooper, Bow
For their second fixture of the season, the Cambridge Lightweight Women raced Goldolphin and Latymer School in three pieces over the Championship Course.
Cambridge cox Molly Wilson chose Middlesex after winning the coin toss, giving Cambridge a slight advantage on the first piece. After a solid start from both crews, the lightweights edged into a lead which reached a third of a length by the end of the piece at the mile post.
The second piece was longer, from the mile post to Chiswick Pier. As in the first piece, little separated the crews on the start. Taking advantage of the Surrey bend, Goldolphin started to stretch out a lead coming into Hammersmith, with Cambridge keeping contact. As the crews came around into a washier section, Cambridge started to take back seats as Godolphin took an assertive line. Not able to get back level, the piece ended with 2/3 length to Godolphin.
With everything still left to play for in the final piece, the Lightweight Women were determined to settle onto their speedy base pace. Starting at Chiswick pier, Cambridge were composed and locked in. From the off CUBC started to take seats on Godolphin, snapping the elastic before Barnes Bridge. Taking advantage of the Middlesex bend, Cambridge came into their tiers and lengthened the lead out to two lengths by the University post.
Thank you to Godolphin for the great racing.
Please note: all crews are provisional until crew announcements take place from 26-28 March. The following crews may not represent the crews for The Lightweight Boat Race.