It was a tense day for those at the Head of the River yesterday.
While Christ Church men held their lead, fending off Pembroke’s advances with a more comfortable gap than Wednesday’s close finish, the Magdalen boys were in hot pursuit. The Headship remains up for grabs.
Magdalen women have also been on top form, closing the gap with St Catherine’s earlier in the afternoon.
After a long struggle up the division, their bump with Christ Church on Wednesday put headship in the Magdalen girls’ sights, and they will be upping the pressure on St Catz this afternoon.
Yesterday, Magdalen were just a hair’s-width away as the klaxon went and St Catz were saved by the bell. Not so lucky were the four other boats who were bumped in time, seeing Wadham, New, SEH and Balliol move on up the division.
The klaxon had been rung after a Hilda’s rower caught an ejector crab and was propelled into the water right in front of Balliol’s boat. St Catz cannot rely on that sort of luck to keep their place in the lead.
The competition so far has also seen impressive form from both St John’s and Hertford men.
Having both moved up a position on Wednesday, Thursday saw John’s bump New within the first 35 seconds of the race, Hertford taking Exeter seconds later.
Balliol will have to watch out today with John’s right behind them.
