Catz students set the pace for the University’s rowers

Four St Catharine’s students were selected for crews entered by the Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) for the Fullers’ Fours Head of the River ­– three of them in the stroke seat:

• James Hunter (an MBA student) was the stroke for the CUBC Men’s Coxless Four (A), who came sixth in their race
• Matthew Edge (a fourth-year Natural Sciences undergraduate) was the stroke for the CUBC Lightweight Men’s Coxed Four (A), who finished seventh in their race
• Tom Heppel (a first-year Psychological & Behavioural Sciences undergraduate) was the stroke for the CUBC Lightweight Men’s Coxed Four (B), who came tenth in their race
• Clare Hole (a second-year Natural Sciences undergraduate) was in the three seat for the CUBC Women’s Coxed Four (B), who finished seventh in their race

The race was the first competitive test of the 2022 Boat Races campaign, with 14 CUBC crews entered in total. They faced the best rowers from across the country, including crews from Leander, Oxford Brookes and the University of Oxford. Provisional results have been published on the race website.

James, who represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, commented:

“Racing on London’s famous tideway for the first time was a special experience, and to watch 400 other crews take on this challenge with us was an impressive sight. After three years away from the sport, the weekend’s race served cleared a few cobwebs away and set a solid marker for the rest of the season – onwards and upwards!”