Isis Winter League

The Isis Winter League was truly wintery. Unlike other races organised by the University, this one is also open to local clubs and we had lots of juniors entered today.

The day started much earlier though - the weekly Heads races at 7.30am. The tow path was a sheet of ice so I didn't even bother taking the bike. Two hours later the boys quad had managed two 2km lengths of the river and were finishing it off with (of course) bacon butties in the club house. Those of us who had been doing safety duty on the banks were feeling the cold...

Whilst young rowers popped in and out of the house, eating almost the entire contents of the fridge, I arranged to meet up with old friend Kate now back from her 3 month fellowship in Australia where Sydney is reaching all time high temperatures of 46 degrees.

In contrast we had a lovely long walk up and down the towpath for the 2pm races in the falling snow, watching out for Tom and Will who were racing in a double (pictured). A college eight crashed into them (despite having a cox...really!) damaging the boat, but thankfully they didn't capsize - at these temperatures it's about 3 minutes before hypothermia sets in.

Now we're back home at last and suddenly it is 4pm, and the daylight is fading and I feel I've spent most of it sliding up and down the towpath. Tom's watching the weather and hoping school will be cancelled tomorrow, but the snow is so light now you can barely see it..... so he's rather despondent on that front as we wait for the race results to be posted online.