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Volume CXXXI, Number 23 |
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CBBs: Cold, bold, and brilliant
ELIZABETH GOTT
STAFF WRITER
It seems to be a pattern: for the last three years, the annual Colby-Bates-Bowdoin
President's Cup has been cold, windy, and spirited. In a tough day of
competition last Sunday, the Bowdoin Navy took on crews from Colby and
Bates in a fierce rowing competition. The water was choppy, the wind was
howling, and the crews were fired up.
In the first race of the day, Bowdoin's novice women rowed past Colby
to claim first place and remain undefeated on the season. When asked about
the conditions, first year Eliza Lende said it was a tough and very tiring
race. Lende and the rest of the novice women had little time to catch
their breath before they hopped into a varsity eights race, joining their
own varsity women in a boat borrowed from Colby.
The Bowdoin women, in a heavyweight men's shell and with only one practice
under their belts as an eight, rowed a tough race against Colby and Bates
(teams that compete in eights on a regular basis). They showed determination
and courage, and claimed that they learned a lot in their first outing
in a bigger boat. Sophomore Katie Chandler said after the race, "The
water was horrible, and I really didn't want to go out again…but
at least we knew how to row it better after that!"
In an exciting and somewhat redemptive race, Bowdoin's first varsity
women claimed a finish-line victory over Colby by less than three seconds.
The boat, stroked by sophomore Sadie Anderson, remained undefeated for
the season. Coxswain Katie Smith '03 is looking forward to this weekend's
New England Fours Championship, where her rowers will face their rivals
from the University of Vermont for the third time this season.
Bowdoin's second women rowed a clean race in the same varsity fours event.
Though they are known as the "mini-mites" of the crew team (none
of the four stand above 5'4"), they displayed good composure in racing
girls nearly six feet tall. The boat consists of five sophomores including
coxswain Lauren Sarno and Mara Partridge, a transfer from the Georgetown
crew.
The men's side of the regatta was equally exciting. First-year coxswain
Ben Needham's boat remained undefeated and beat out other crews with ease
in the varsity men's heavyweight fours event. Rowing became a contact
sport when Bowdoin's second men, forced out of their lane, banged oars
with Bates.
The tangled mess allowed Bowdoin's third men to power by and finish a
strong and somewhat surprising second place. All three varsity men's boats
are looking ahead to the New England Fours Championships, where they are
planning to rack up plenty of points with their depth.
The varsity eight rounded out the men's competition-a crew made up of
Bowdoin's top eight male rowers. Though they had only practiced together
a few times, they rowed well as a group and claimed second place in a
hard-earned finish behind the experienced Colby eight. Coach Gil Birney
said, "After a slow start, the men battled back into it, shocking
Colby and Bates, and the three crews rowed even into the rough water of
the last 500 meters."
He was so excited by this performance that he gave his men the go-ahead
to race the eight at New England Championships…and he likes their
chances for success.
Up next on the radar screen for the Bowdoin Navy is the New England Fours Championships tomorrow, in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Bowdoin rowers have claimed the team trophy for two years running and are looking eagerly for a three-peat.