In their final hitout before the Boat Races and the weekend before Crew Announcements, CUBC’s Women’s A crew took to the Thames for Women’s 8s Head of the River on Saturday
Coach Paddy Ryan noted to a solid hitout for his crew against GB squad athletes and other top UK and University Crews as the CUBC Women’s A crew won the Open University Pennant.
In a confidence-building encounter, CUBC’s women’s crew executed their race plan and maintained their rhythm under race pressure, an encouraging sign with the Boat Races just 20 days away.
| Position | Name | College |
| Cox | Hannah Murphy | Girton |
| Stroke | Megan Lee | Lucy Cavendish |
| 7 | Carina Graf | Emmanuel |
| 6 | Jenna Armstrong | Jesus |
| 5 | Iris Powell | Churchill |
| 4 | Carys Earl | Gonville and Caius |
| 3 | Clare Hole | St. Catharine’s |
| 2 | Jo Matthews | St. John’s |
| Bow | Gemma King | St. John’s |
Sunday 10th March
CUBC’s Men’s Openweight crews raced Leander, whilst the Lightweight Crew faced up to London Rowing Club “A”, fresh from a win in the Bousted Cup, dethroning Thames RC for the first time in 10 years.
CUBC Men’s “A” vs. Leander Club: 1257
| Position | Name | College |
| Cox | Ed Bracey | Wolfson |
| Stroke | Matt Edge | St. Catharine’s |
| 7 | Luca Ferraro | King’s |
| 6 | Noam Mouelle | Hughes Hall |
| 5 | Seb Benzecry | Jesus |
| 4 | Tom Lynch | Hughes Hall |
| 3 | Thomas Marsh | St. John’s |
| 2 | Gus John | Wolfson |
| Bow | Kenny Coplan | Hughes Hall |
The OM A crew faced a strong Leander crew in two pieces.
Off the first start, the Leander crew utilised the initial Middlesex bend to stretch out a 3/4 length lead just after Craven Cottage. Passing the Mile Post CUBC’s rhythm helped them inch ahead of Leander. At Harrod’s, CUBC rowed through Leander on the inside of the bend and the crews were level past St Paul’s. CUBC drew out to a 2-seat lead approaching the Eyot, but Leander finished fast down the island and took the lead. However, as Leander began to tire, CUBC moved level, and as the piece was called down the crews were even. In the second piece, CUBC gained a couple of seats off the start, but Leander walked through and out to half a length lead by Barnes. Through Barnes Bridge, Leander opened up an unassailable lead, and despite a late charge from CUBC, Leander finished 1 1/2L up.
CUBC Men’s Lightweights vs. London Rowing Club “A”: 1230
| Position | Name | College |
| Cox | Ben Harding | Queens’ |
| Stroke | Lewis Gray | St. Catharine’s |
| 7 | Thomas Heppel | St. Catharine’s |
| 6 | Freddie Markanday | Magdalene |
| 5 | Ben Jones | Magdalene |
| 4 | Harry Fieldhouse | St. John’s |
| 3 | Gianluca Vartan | Homerton |
| 2 | Sam Taylor | Clare |
| Bow | Emile Czernuszka | Homerton |
The Lightweight Men took on London Rowing Club ‘A’ over two pieces, with Cambridge on the Middlesex station for both. The first piece, from the Boat Race start to Hammersmith Bridge, saw Cambridge push out to a 1/2 length advantage past Craven Cottage and towards the Mile. LRC then fought back past Harrods, going under Hammersmith Bridge 1 1/2 lengths up. In the second piece, from the Blue Doors to Barnes Bridge, LRC pushed out early and built a 3L advantage, holding this into Barnes Bridge.
CUBC Men’s “B” vs Leander Club: 1245
| Position | Name | College |
| Cox | Jake Intrater | Wolfson |
| Stroke | Orlando Morley | Girton |
| 7 | Brett Taylor | Queens’ |
| 6 | Martin Amethier | Peterhouse |
| 5 | Joe Travis | Jesus |
| 4 | Cameron MacKenzie | Churchill |
| 3 | Dane Halkiw | Jesus |
| 2 | Sean Hayes | Jesus |
| Bow | Joe Holey | St. Catharine’s |
CUBC’s B crew raced on Surrey against an experienced Leander ‘B’ for two pieces.
Leander had the quicker start in the first piece, but CUBC ‘B’ settled onto a faster rhythm and quickly moved a few seats ahead. An equipment failure just after Craven Cottage forced a level restart. CUBC pulled ahead again on the second start, but struggled to regain their composure and were victorious by just over 1/4L to the end of the Eyot. The two crews were level off the start of the second piece, but came together after around 30 seconds. Leander fared better in the clash, winning a slight lead which they extended to around 3/4L by Barnes Bridge. Rowing around the outside of the final bend, CUBC were able to counter Leander’s advantage of the inside of the bend, and finished 3/4L down.