Experience betters Youth vs. Cambridge in Pavia.
Once again Oxford was generously invited to take part in the "Alma Ticinensis Trophy", but this year was a particularly special running of the race. Since 1929, two eights from the universities of Pavia and Pisa have faced off in honour of the memory of the volunteer undergraduates killed in the battle of Curtatone and Montanara on May 28th 1848. This year the race was moved to the centre of the ancient town of Pavia as the University was celebrating its 650th anniversary. Raced over 500m upstream there were to be semi finals between Oxford and Cambridge before a final where the the winner would race the winner of Pavia vs. Pisa.
Oxford fielded an experienced team of Henry Morris (Isis 02, 05, Blue 03, 04) Nick Tuppen (Isis 03, 04) Phil Killicoat (Isis 06) Justin Hutchinson (Isis 02, 03) Jonny Mathews (Isis 04, 05), Tom Parker (Blue 06), Robin Bourne-Taylor (Blue 01, 02, 03, 05), Jo von Maltzahn (Blue 05) and Seb Pearce (Blue 06) alongside a crack support team of Chris Reeve and Nick Brodie. Arriving at Heathrow Friday night saw a level of intensity set that would characterise the whole weekend. Keen to acclimatise as much as possible to the new surroundings a solid performance was shown by all rounding things out with a high carb local pizza meal at 4am. Particular mention must go Robin Bourne-Taylor in setting a new benchmark of 10 alco-pops in 6 minutes at 2.45am.
Cambridge took advantage of their student status by coming out to Italy a day before allowing them to maximise their advantage by cleaning the oar handles and the bottom of the boat. With a crew of current Blues, Goldie oarsmen and a sprinkling of lightweights the fitness advantage would be with them and it was clear that their approach was serious as whenever our paths crossed they would be sat in studious silence checking Facebook in the hotel lobby on their laptops. However, come race time we had a clear plan to take the fight to them and use our experience and our significant weight to our advantage.
Due to unfair stations the race was to be in two parts with cumulative times taken. The first race Cambridge had the favoured station and looked to eke out an early advantage by immediately false starting. Called back the race was swiftly underway. A rough but powerful start saw Oxford take a 2 seat lead within the first 20 strokes and hitting the rhythm we took a further two. Keeping tight to the moored boats occasional eddies knocked us in the second half, but we hung tough and covered the course half a length ahead of our opposition. First blood taken and with the advantage of the favoured station to come we returned confident for the second half of the semi-final. However, aware that our opposition were at their physical peak we knew aggression remained key and from the start we took half a length which we soon extended to open water within 40 seconds. A final push past the crowds saw us extend it to a length and a half. Considering some of the crew hadn't been in a boat for 6 years it was reassuring to know that lining up against tab green was enough to rekindle the racing skill and raw power of the Oxford system.
Back to the start we lined up against the Pavia team which boasted several current internationals and a strong pedigree of oarsman. Feeling the effects of the previous 2 races and the previous evening's exertions we stuck to the plan of going off as hard as possible. On the un-favoured station we still managed to hold them off the start, but by the time the line was reached the Pavians had stolen 2 lengths on us. The following race saw us muscle an early lead as upping the rating became a priority, but sadly the lack of (any) training began to tell and we conceded the final by 1.5 lengths. A solid performance where Pavia showed their strengths, but one we feel we levelled at the dinner where a further boat race was one by a comfortable 4 seats.
Thanks must go to the organising committee from Pavia for making it an exceptionally smoothly run and enjoyable weekend for the Oxford, Pavia and Pisa crews.
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