Issue 104 - December 1997

Cambridge talent sends Ripley to reserves

Andy Ripley, the former rugby international who has just turned 50, came as close as he will get to a rowing Blue when he rowed over the Boat Race course in Cambridge's time trial for their third eight. Ripley was a significant force in the No 4 seat and the crew returned a respectable time of 19 mins 39 seconds for Putney to Mortlake the considering that the only sound to encourage them was the ticking of their stopwatch and the planes circling over Heathrow's Terminal 1.

The Blues for March 28's Boat Race will be selected from Juniper and Angelica, the two boats who raced over the course five minutes later in 18 mins 41 secs. Named in deference to the sponsors Beefeater, juniper and angelica being herbs used in distilling gin, they proved an effervescent cocktail. Juniper steamed to the surface first, but Angelica's cox Suzie Ellis added piquancy by steering the better course.

Juniper, steered by Alistair Potts and stroked by the Canadian Blue Brad Crombie, who changed to rowing on stroke side only recently, reached the Mile with a length lead. Ellis's boat shipped three big waves after half a mile and encountered rougher water on the Middlesex station than her opponent. A safety boat guarding workmen repairing Hammersmith Bridge forced the coxes to go wide - Potts went so wide that Ellis turned inside him and went for a bump when Potts scuttled back towards his station. A huge effort by Ellis's crew, stroked by Toby Wallace, drained their reserves, while Potts opened enough water between them to indulge his scenic tour of the Tideway.

The German gold medalist Stefan Forster was in the losing boat, together with the British international Graham Smith and three of this year's outstanding Goldie crew. Stroke Crombie's winning boat had the President, David Cassidy, a second German international in Marc Weber, and two more Goldie men. The Blue and international Alex Story is recovering from a back injury. Cassidy's squad has strength in depth to attempt to extend their Boat Race run of five victories to six in March.

© Copyright Christopher Dodd, 1997.