On Saturday, Cambridge University Athletic Club sent a 90-strong team to Iffley Road, Oxford, in a bid to repeat the 4-0 Varsity whitewash of 2011.

The day got off to a perfect start. In the Men’s Blue match, Rhys Hodnett won the Hammer Throw with 46.20m, his maiden blues standard, and Christian Roberts triumphed in the opening track race over 400m Hurdles with a 55.37s season’s best. Matthew Houlden won the Long Jump before Onakeno Mario-Ghae produced the performance of the day in the High Jump. Having to equal his personal best of 1.95m to stay in the competition after Oxford’s jumper took the lead, he then nailed 1.98m, 2.01m and finally 2.04m to rapturous applause.

Jonathan Cook cruised to an effortless victory in the 800m, before facing off, two hours later, in the Mile against Oxford’s Shelley and Frith. He faced stiff competition from experienced runners who hadn’t yet raced that day. In completing the double win for Cambridge, Jon added another chapter to the history of epic Mile races at Iffley Road, and now aims for GB selection in the European Championships to be held in Helsinki in June.

Jonathan Cook of Jesus completes a historic 800m-Mile double victory in 1:52.15 / 4:13.09.

As the afternoon progressed, Oxford tried to mount a comeback. Tom Watkins won the 3000m steeple chase with a personal best, and Matt Houlden, with the wind behind him, set his new personal best to win the Triple Jump. Toby Haseler and David Allwood rounded out the field events with wins in the Shot Put and Discus Throw.

The Men’s Blues match, which had remained finely poised throughout the day, finally went the way of Cambridge by 105 points to 99 after a victory in the 4x100m relay. Oxford were favourites in this race, and had the faster runners on paper, but Amin Ahmadnia, Onakeno Mario-Ghae, Matt Houlden and Ross Elsby had worked on their changeovers for over a month, organising extra training sessions to search for those precious tenths of a second. Make no mistake; those extra tenths were what won us the Varsity Match.

Blues 4x100m relay: Changeovers win Championships.

The Women’s Blues Match began with Aussie postgrad Jennifer Lovell, fresh from breaking the CUAC record in the pole vault at BUCS, winning with an outstanding vault of 3.30m. Women’s Captain Rose Penfold led from the front on the track, easing to victory in the 800m. CUAC poster girl Lizzie Thompson had a day to remember winning the Long Jump, Triple Jump and High Jump with new personal bests of 5.08m, 10.67m and 1.55m, as well as coming second in both hurdles races. CUAC’s throws squad leader Helen Broadbridge won the Discus Throw and Hammer Throw comfortably.

 Jennifer Lovell of Jesus clearing 3.30m to take victory in the Women’s Pole Vault.

Despite winning fewer events overall than their Oxford counterparts, the determination and depth of the women’s blues team was evident in their picking up enough 2^nd and 3^rd place points throughout the day to keep the competition alive. Heading into the final event, the 4x400m relay, the match still hung in the balance. Despite a storming final leg from Helena Wace, the women’s team was beaten on the line by just a quarter of a second, and they lost the overall match 102-97.

Lizzie Thompson of Trinity Hall, who won three events, en route to second place in the 400m Hurdles.

The Men’s Second Team Match was won by Cambridge 109-103, with Felix Schaaf winning the High Jump and Discus Throw. Angus Fitchie won the Javelin Throw with a 48.65m PB – a mark that would’ve been good enough for second place in the Blues match. The Women’s Second Team was beaten 115-85, with Sarah Williams setting a new match record in the Pole Vault with 2.50m.

With pretty bleak conditions but no rain, the Cambridge Ninety Nines regatta allowed for some gutsy side-by-side racing. With quite a few returning blues, it provided a final indication of colleges’ progress before bumps.

Though this was a shorter course, most colleges looking to bump will be aiming to do so less than a kilometer into the races. The side-by-side element this weekend also showed which crews can respond to the direct competition they’ll face in less than a month.

Selwyn M1 beating Lady Margaret Boat Club M1

The regatta experienced a fairly unenthusiastic turnout from many colleges, allowing relatively weaker crews a chance in many of the finals. With both Caius and Downing M1s absent, LMBC and Selwyn were able to push through to the men’s final, where Selwyn won by a persuasive length – incredibly promising as they stand a staggering 17 places below LMBC in the bumps positioning. They will also have gained even greater security from the regatta, having beaten Caius II in the semi-finals, who will be chasing them on the first day of bumps.

In the men’s second division Christ’s M2 triumphed over Sidney Sussex (M1) by canvas, which also bodes well for their chances of moving out of the sandwich-boat position in bumps.

On the women’s side competition was equally depleted, with reasonably predictable outcomes from the various races and little indication of what will happen around the top-end of the bumps tables. Emmanuel, who start fifth this Mays, rowed well but were beaten in the final by a tough Caius crew.

The latter repeated the success they’d seen at the Cam’s last side-by-side races, – Pembroke regatta – winning the final by a length. The rest of the division entrants are clustered together, one after another, in the line-up for bumps, ranking low. There may be a bit of re-shuffling, but the final this weekend was a relatively unsurprising one.

Caius W1 

Murray Edwards II won the women’s second division – a strong result considering six of the seven boats competing with them are ranked above them in bumps. Racing against them in the final was Queens II, who were beaten convincingly by two and a half lengths.

With the absence of a lot of the Cam’s top-ranking crews, the 99s regatta still leaves a lot to be guessed at in the run-up to bumps.

May Bumps will begin on Wednesday 13th and run till Saturday 16th June.

After racing for the team that lost the 2011 Boat Race, George Nash decided that wasn’t enough. Taking a year out, he decided to trial for the Great British team. He now returns to Cambridge in October to captain CUBC, but not before competing in the 2012 Olympics.

Congratulations on your recent election, how does it feel to be returning to the Boat Race?

It feels pretty exciting to come back for one more crack at the boat race, it’s a unique rowing race and one that I’m hugely honoured to have been a part of. The last one I raced I lost so I see next year as a great opportunity to put that right. I also have a solid appreciation of Cambridge life having taken a year away from it, so it’s amazing to be able to return to the University.

Speaking of 2011, how was it teaming up with your former opponent Louloudis so soon after the race?
Teaming up with Constantine was slightly awkward initially, but we rowed together the previous summer and are pretty good mates so it wasn’t a huge deal. We had a fantastic summer season last year and have both ended up on the Olympic team this year, so it worked out pretty well.

You recently won Silver at the World Cup in Belgrade, how’s the preparation going for the Olympics?
I’m rowing with Will Satch at the moment in the pair and we’ve been putting in some hard yards recently. We had a great race in Belgrade, but there are a few really fast pairs that weren’t there who will be at the next race in Lucerne. We’re trying as hard as we can to raise our game every day to step up to the challenge.

George Nash – Winning

How’s it been rowing in a squad of characters like Greg Searle?
There are a lot of interesting characters on the team all bringing something slightly different to the table. Greg was rowing in an era when British rowing wasn’t anywhere near the kind of well drilled machine it is now so he brings a lot of positive vibes to the group when the program gets tough. For the most part though, the social dynamic is similar to that of a group of chimpanzees to be honest.

Which do you think is harder: rowing in the GB squad or balancing Blues with your degree?
I think I found balancing Cambridge rowing with a degree was significantly harder than rowing full time. I put in similar training hours at the moment to what the guys do in Cambridge but in between I nap and eat cookies and watch telly instead of stressing out over academic deadlines and trying to stay awake in lectures.

Do you reckon you’ll trial again when you finish your time at Cambridge?
Full time rowing is about having the motivation and desire to physically and mentally better yourself. As long as I have that I will carry on.

How does it feel to be returning to the Boat Race?

The last one I raced I lost so I see next year as a great opportunity to put that right. I also have a solid appreciation of Cambridge life having taken a year away from it, so it’s amazing to be able to return to the University.

How was it teaming up with your former opponent Louloudis so soon after the race?

Teaming up with Constantine was slightly awkward initially, but we rowed together the previous summer and are pretty good mates so it wasn’t a huge deal.

You recently won Silver at the World Cup in Belgrade, how’s the preparation going for the Olympics?

I’m rowing with Will Satch at the moment in the pair and we’ve been putting in some hard yards recently. We had a great race in Belgrade, but there are a few really fast pairs that weren’t there who will be at the next race in Lucerne.

How’s it been rowing in a squad of characters like Greg Searle?

Greg was rowing in an era when British rowing wasn’t anywhere near the kind of well drilled machine it is now so he brings a lot of positive vibes to the group when the program gets tough. For the most part though, the social dynamic is similar to that of a group of Chimpanzees to be honest.

Which do you think is harder: rowing in the GB squad or balancing Blues with your degree?

I think I found balancing Cambridge rowing with a degree was significantly harder than rowing full time. I put in similar training hours at the moment to what the guys do in Cambridge but in between I nap and eat cookies and watch telly instead of stressing out over academic deadlines and trying to stay awake in lectures.

Do you reckon you’ll trial again when you finish your time at Cambridge?

Full time rowing is about having the motivation and desire to physically and mentally better yourself. As long as I have that I will carry on.

In the face of a raging headwind, Champs head went ahead yesterday with Caius winning M1, and Downing winning W1.

The weather finally sorted itself out and remembered that it’s Easter term and the crews were treated to a day of racing in the sun. As most of the Blues have returned, the race is seen as a good indicator of who might have what it takes to bump in May.

At the top of the men’s side, Head of the River Caius stated their intentions, clocking in at 4:35.6 and earning the prize for best men’s start of the day. Second place Downing, racing two divisions later, came in with a time of 4:51.6 in the face of a strong headwind.

Fresher Pete Dewhurst following in the  former Captain’s footsteps

In the Mays second division, Girton continued their utter dominance of the field, posting in with the third fastest overall time of the day, a result which means they will definitely be aiming for Blades. Among the actual second boats, LMBC posted a respectable time of 5:05, making them almost as fast as the Jesus boat that their M1 will be chasing, which bodes well for their squad depth.

On the women’s side, Downing put paid to any whispers of complacency at the top by winning their division with a time of 5:52.6. Queens, who raced in the morning, came in second with a time of 5:54.3. However, without LMBC W1 (who are going off ahead of them in Mays) having entered, it’s difficult to tell whether this will translate in five weeks time. With Christ’s and Emma both posting times within 2 seconds of each other, there’ll be all eyes on what could be a very exciting race.

In the second division Kings posted a strong time, beating Pembroke W1′s time of 6:09, which should ensure that they feel little threat from Pembroke W2 who will be starting behind them. Sidney Sussex, who start behind Pembroke W2, also came in at 6:06.9 meaning they could be looking for an early bump.

Caius Captain Gordon Beck showing how much it means

This year Champs have introduced two cups for the first time to commemorate two recently deceased members. On top of their selection of novelty prizes, the fastest men’s and women’s boats will now be the proud keepers of two sizeable cups for the next year.

There will be more college racing next weekend with Cambridge Ninety Nines regatta.

Zafar Ansari is in no way a normal Cambridge student. For some, the pressure of Tripos is enough to contend with for most of the year, the bottle is the best way to escape that pressure, and playing for their country is merely a dream. Not for Ansari.

Laying into the Oxford side

Having won a professional contract with Surrey County Cricket Club, Ansari has grown used to balancing professional cricket with politics essays: ‘They help each other, really,’ he suggests, ‘I train for a couple of hours a day and work that much harder to make up. The cricket makes me focus when I work. Thankfully, politics is only one lecture or so a day so I can train before it in the morning.’

It is certainly an unusual schedule he keeps. Having played against Somerset in May, Surrey asked him to travel and play Scotland two days later. He said he’d better get back to Tit Hall: ‘Five days away would have meant I’d miss too much.’ His feet are firmly grounded.

Ansari is not quite the typical cricketer either. ‘I get ribbed a bit when I get caught with the crossword out in the dressing room.’ Perhaps it’s not surprising, but he thinks there’s ‘an aura around people who go to Uni, particularly somewhere like Cambridge.’ Did this help when he first started training with the Surrey first team? ‘Performing well in my first few games helped earn people’s respect’, as did having played in the County’s academy with other first-teamers.

Ansari is very optimistic about this year’s Blues: ‘We have a really good side. It would probably compete with a county reserve side. There’s a very good core.’ In 2011, the Light Blues beat Oxford in the 4-day game, in the 50-over match at Lords and in the Twenty20, and this year ‘we should win the respective matches. Oxford are a decent side but lack the depth and if we win all three matches, that’d assert our dominance over Oxford.’

Ansari does admit that it’s quite hard to keep stepping between university cricket and the professional game. After playing for Surrey, ‘the motivation isn’t quite the same’ but the history of the Varsity match gets his adrenaline flowing. In any case, he says, ‘you’re doing it for your friends [when you play] for the Blues because you know them much better.’ Does he feel more pressure when playing for the Blues? ‘I feel less nervous playing for Surrey. As a young player, you feel freedom to express yourself. There are more expectations when I play for the University or for the MCCU [the combined team of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin].’

Man of the Match in his debut against Essex

Ansari, however, is nothing if not ambitious. ‘I am planning to play international cricket. That’s certainly my aim.’ Having seen players just a bit older than him like Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow break into the England team, he feels it’s ‘not that far away. When you see players you’ve played with and know personally, you feel very close.’

Yet despite the great leaps he has made towards his goal in the last year, Ansari doesn’t ‘feel very different to how I felt this time a year ago.’ He recognises that it’s going to be difficult to break into the first-class team for Surrey. ‘There are six or seven top-class batsmen ahead of me whenever I play. The aim is to play as much one-day cricket as possible and take all the opportunities when they come.’ In the winter, Ansari toured South Africa with the England development squad and obviously he wants ‘to maintain that position. To be in the England set-up is great.’

‘Great tekkers’

Ansari started playing early at aged six or seven with his older brother Akbar, who has returned to Cambridge to do an MPhil (and to play Blues as well). He is surprisingly modest about his success – although he thinks he was ‘pretty outstanding’ when he was young, he reckons he’s ‘kind of declined since then.’ He puts sporting success down to hard work and luck, ‘with an emphasis on the luck. There are plenty of people of similar talent who’ve missed out because of a lack of opportunities. It’s like Cambridge in that way.’ With daddy Ansari having played professional cricket in Pakistan and England, a wealth of opportunity and talent were always open to him.

Calm, collected, modest yet ambitious. Zafar Ansari’s my new hero. Who knows, one day he might well be a national one too.

This weekend saw the annual BUCS Track and Field meet, which was particularly special this year: it was held at the Olympic Stadium. BUCS was the first competitive event to take place at the Olympic Stadium, and, with a high standard at the event, it was christened with a fitting competition.

However, the grand venue and the importance of this inaugural competition didn’t intimidate the Cambridge University athletes, who rose to the occasion showing their prowess.

The women’s 4×400 team

The women led the way, with Rebecca Moore finishing 4th in the 10,000m final in a time of 35:10.74, a spectacular time that, cruelly, would’ve been well worthy of a medal in previous years. Emily Dudgeon showed great form to battle through heats, semi-finals and finals to take the silver medal in the 800m with a fantastic time of 2:06.

Start line for the 5000m

Polly Keen, despite having been plagued by injuries for a year and unable to run for the last 3 months, she managed 5th in the 2000m Steeplechase finals. Jocelyn Trayler-Clarke was placed 11th in the 2000m Steeplechase in the overall classifications. Recognition must also go to Joanna Mobed, who ran 19:30 in the 5000m heats, and Annabel Sheperd-Baron, who ran the 1500m heats in 5:12.

On the men’s side, William Mackay came 4th in the 10,000m finals, in the face of stiff competition. Over in the 5000m, both Chris Bannon and Robin Brown gained PBs with times of 14:39.9 and 15:18.19 respectively, showing the fruits of their winter training and putting them in a good position to go forward. Sam Ashcroft also ran well, clocking a respectable time of 15:39. Mention must also go to Matt Grant’s and Tom Watkins’ running in the 3000m steeple chase, coming in close together at 9:38 and 9:47, and Llody Hilton, who posted a time of 1:58 in the 800m heats.

These results should put the squad in prime position looking ahead to the Track and Field Varsity Match on the 19th May, which is being held in Oxford, where Cambridge will be looking to retain the trophy from last year.

One small team are making huge waves in the world of water polo this weekend. The Trinity Hall water polo team has been the cause of much hype recently, with their team photo stunt drawing much female attention from all around Cambridge. One female student claimed that the athletes are “too sexy to be Cambridge students”.

Tit Hall’s Team showing their guns

The team, which has come together in the past months under the captaincy of Matthew Walton (University squad and Jailbreak Winner) are regarded as the underdogs of the competition, which takes place over three days this weekend at the Leys pool.

 The group stages

With the transfer window opened for teams to recruit blues players whose colleges are not entered, Catz and Queens have quickly jumped to the favourites, snaring the Blues Captain 2011/12 Dan Woolcott and Hamish Crichton [Captain 2012/13].

When asked to comment on the negotiations, Woolcott described them as  “intense” and “hilarious”. Trinity Hall, despite losing their bids to capture Hamish, managed to poach 3 players from Pembroke. Josh Hirsh Witz, James Robson and Rob Sanders have all jumped ship. Matt is confident this will ensure their victory.

When Josh H was asked what made him steer clear of the industrial and faceless teams who waved around large budgets in the negotiations he replied, “Water polo is a game about heart and unlike other blues players, who chased lucrative contracts, bright lights, hollow victories and fickle fans, I followed my heart minnows and joined the underGODS.”

Now the pub-based negotiations are over, Trinity Hall looks to be truly shaking the foundations of its rivals, with brand new stash, brand new players, and the uninterrupted drive to win.

We talked to Matt about the intense training his team and the Pembroke three had been enduring in the weeks up to their big games. He said, “I think everyone has pushed themselves to their limits, Josh has been working hard on his throwing ‘Lat’, and most of the team may have completed a press up in their own time. I couldn’t be more impressed with them all.”

When we asked Matt about rumours that their goalkeeper needed arm bands to stay a float he simply replied “please, that’s only when he’s in the deep end, and no other teams will be coming anywhere near our goal in any case.”

Other teams are more sceptical. Owen Waugh, player for John’s and waterpolo blue told The Tab: “I’m sure their pride will be as easy to puncture as their arm bands.”

The cuppers take place, Friday 9-10pm, Saturday 4-5pm, and Sunday 11-12am. I know which team I’ll be rooting for.

Last weekend four of Cambridge’s finest windsurfers hit Calshot hard for the BUCS Windsurfing Nationals.

Windsurfers racing for the line

This event happens once a year and, unlike other events organised by the Student Windsurfing Association, it’s a little more serious. After a very wet journey down on the Friday evening, free t-shirts were gathered and tents erected before there was time to have a drink or two and catch up with friends from other universities. The wise opted for a tactical early bed, while others enjoyed themselves until the wee hours of the morning.

The next day was for individual racing and, with a whole host of awesome prizes up for grabs and some shiny medals for the winners, the standard was very high. The racing took place on longboards – heavy and very wobbly but much quicker upwind than conventional ones. Steph Willis and I both sailed in the advanced fleets and did well, battling with tricky tides (and hangovers). However, the racing was dominated by sailors from Exeter and Solent universities and we both placed in the bottom half of the fleet.

Fresh back from the club’s Easter trip to Dahab, Pete Bunch and Zephyr Penoyre were ready to cut swathes through the intermediate fleet. Despite some promising results early on, Zephyr didn’t manage to hold on to his early advantage and ended up middle of the field.

SWA events are renowned for the Saturday night party and nationals were no exception, seeing a few hundred students and industry representatives don their best fancy dress and descend on a ferry to party the night away on the waters of the Solent.

Team racing and freestyle competitions were held on Sunday, and after a strong second place in the first round, Cambridge had to settle for a close fought 5th place in the team racing. Then it was up to Steph Willis and Henry Maxfield (Alumni) to compete in the freestyle. Despite falling in during every trick, Steph still got 3rd place in the Women’s competition and Henry was 4th in the Men’s with a dazzling display of Vulcan and Loop attempts.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xkqf0WJ4-Y

Windsurfers - “go wild or go home”

The next event will be Aussie Kiss 11 down in Devon in October, but the Cambridge club remains very active throughout the Easter term (the sea is warmer!) with beginner/intermediate trips to Grafham water and advanced trips to the coast when it’s windy.

Anyone interested should contact Aidan Hopkins (adh41) or Emily Guest (emg49).

Amidst cold but quick conditions the Head of the Cam went ahead on Saturday, with Caius winning Men’s and Women’s divisions.

As the first race after the boat race, and over approximately the same course as Bumps, the Head of the Cam is often seen as an early indication of how clubs are going to settle their new returners into their Lents boats ahead of May Bumps. For those without returners, it’s a chance to show off the fruits of their labour during the holidays.

At the top of the men’s division Caius solidly maintained their hold of the river, finishing 10s clear of Downing, who’ll be chasing them come Mays. On the men’s side, the upset of the day goes to Kings M1, who after a spoon-worthy Lents campaign, finished 4th – a result that should put them in good stead for the term ahead.

Not one to jump the gun, Conor Burgess of Kings M1 said “It was a great race but it’s a long way ’till the Mays!”

On the flip side Queen’s M1, missing their captain to injury, looked to be having a difficult time, slipping away from rivals LMBC, who reinforced their Lents campaign coming in just one second behind Downing. LMBC also put 30s on Pembroke, who are starting 2 places ahead of them in Mays, which bodes well.

Peter Mildon, Captain of Queens, spoke to the Tab: “[Being injured] is very frustrating but I was very pleased with our M2 result today, and impressed by the fresher novice who stepped up to take my seat”.

On the women’s side, Caius W1 put in a strong performance beating the current Head of the River  - Downing W1 – by 4 seconds more than their men, repeating their success from Pembroke Regatta last term. With both boats still missing a member a piece to CUW, neither is at full strength yet and should provide some exciting racing in future.

Pembroke, who’ll be chasing Downing come Mays, were absent from the days racing, so it fell to First and Third to provide an indication of the field. However, with 40s separating them, Downing are looking pretty safe up at the top of the charts, with Caius starting 9 places behind them.

Next weekend sees many crews venturing further a field to Dorney for Wallingford Regatta for some side by side racing.