Photography
BENEDICT TUFNELL
Pinned to the board in the changing room of Cambridge University’s Goldie Boathouse is a small wooden cross with a poppy fixed in the middle, a small memorial to the 21 Cambridge blues who lost their lives in the World Wars. It serves as a stark daily reminder of one of the more special aspects of being involved in a Boat Race campaign; upholding the honour of those who have come before. For the past five months, I have been preparing for the 165th Boat Race with the Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC), where we have been training twice a day, attempting to achieve the first back to back Cambridge victories since 1998. It will be no easy feat.
This year at CUBC we are fortunate to have several experienced internationals trialling, including Olympic sculler Natan Węgrzycki-Szymczyk, two-time Olympic champion James Cracknell and U23 silver medallist Freddie Davidson. In the build up to this year’s race there has understandably been a lot of media attention focused on James’ return to rowing, and I did find it daunting the first few times he got into a boat with me. However, boat races aren’t won on past achievements and just like anyone else James has to earn his opportunities and show himself out on the water if he wants to be considered for a seat in the Blue Boat.