[CUCBC Captains] Boat Race Timekeeping Volunteer

[Michael Thornton]

Please see below from Rachel Quarrell

In London on Sunday 27th March and want to help with the Boat Race flags?



Dear Cambridge college rowers and coxes,

 
This is a request on behalf of the Boat Race organisers and timekeepers.

 
In 2013 the Boat Race finish judge Ben Kent and I instituted a new system at the Boat Race finish post.  The finishline flag, dropped as the first crew passes and then again for the second crew, is now repeated by a shadow flag-waver onto the Surrey bank, so that the timekeepers can see it from the following launches even if they are a long way behind a losing crew with a large margin.  We have started a new tradition of recruiting a college rower or cox to do it each year, alternately from the two universities, and this time since it's an even year we are looking for a Cambridge rowing person.  No varsity squad connection is needed, but it needs to be someone who is a current CU student, and has rowed or coxed for their college, preferably this season.

  
So:

- Are you currently in the UK and thus quickly contactable for arrangements?

- Are you already planning to be in London on Sunday 27th March 2016?

- Would you be willing to change your plans and spend the Women's Boat Race (15:10) Osiris-Blondie race (15:25), Isis-Goldie race (15:40) and the Boat Race (16:10) helping by acting as the shadow flag-waver near Chiswick Bridge?

- Can you guarantee to turn up when asked to (you may need to allow substantial travel time on Boat Race day)?

- Can you keep your head under pressure? (the flag-waver will need to mirror the opposite flag, the official one, very precisely.)

If yes to all of those....

- You would need to be free in London from some time earlier on race day (to be briefed) until after the end of the main boat race, which should be approx 4:30-4:40pm.  Briefing and duty times will be organised by finish judge Ben Kent and may include the morning (tbc).

- No expenses paid, I'm afraid, but you will have a grandstand view of the finish line for all four races and the satisfaction of knowing you helped the day go smoothly.  The other 2016 finish flag-wavers will be Cambridge Blues, but we keep this job for a college boatie and you will be part of the team.

 
Names submitted before 10am on Monday 21st March 2016 will be passed on by me to the race organisers, who will have the final say.  I won't reply directly, but the person invited will be contacted by the race officials.  If you don't hear back from anyone it's probably because someone else got there before you.  If the top person can't help after all, we will work down the list.  We had a huge response from Oxford college rowers last year and Cambridge rowers the year before, so don't bother emailing after the deadline.  You must be a current student and we will prioritise those who answer promptly and have competed recently for their college. 

 
If you can answer yes to all the above questions and are interested, please email me back at rq at rowingservice.com <mailto:rq at rowingservice.com>, stating your name, mobile phone number, which college you rowed or coxed for and in which year(s).  
 
Thanks very much,
 
Dr Rachel Quarrell
Telegraph rowing correspondent and official Boat Race timekeeper.
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