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Mallory Club Winter Update

Welcome to the first newsletter of the year from the Mallory Club, and here's hoping 2021 will bring a return to some sense of normality for everyone on and off the water! In this newsletter, we'll be heading through the imaginative ways Magdalene Boat Club has carried on throughout social distancing and lockdowns in preparation for a triumphant return to rowing as usual.

MBC back on the water

Back on the Water

Michaelmas is traditionally a time when the MBC senior squads train in IVs, with a view to providing a good technical base for the Lent Term when they transition into VIIIs. With the addition of recent extremely generous donations, MBC benefits greatly from the ability to send out 6 IVs simultaneously some of which can also be rigged as quadruple sculls. COVID has delayed yet again plans for a naming ceremony for the recent additions to the fleet.

MBC back on the water

MBC has recently seen multiple novices go on to compete for the University where demonstrating technique and power in single sculls accounts for much of the initial selection process, especially in the lightweight squads. A 4x+ provides a stable platform for rowers learning this new style while a cox means reduces the pressure from worrying about steering. 

MBC back on the water
 
The IVs also have the added benefit of improving COVID-related safety during these times of minimising interaction at the boathouse and in the boats themselves. Masked coxes, staggered outings and thorough sanitising of equipment has allowed rowing to continue for as much of the term as possible when not in full lockdown.

SFR rigged as a coxed quadruple scull, finely displaying the new lavender blades
SFR rigged as a coxed quadruple scull, finely displaying the new lavender blades

Novices 2020

The Mallory Club was keen to help support MBC with the annual novice intake, especially with the added hindrance of COVID possibly threatening new members of College taking up the sport. Providing new joiners with an MBC T-shirt has been a great success with immediately providing a sense of belonging and unity in their crews.

The new Swift training pair out in action, COVID precautions in place
The new Swift training pair out in action, COVID precautions in place

This has been greatly aided by the replacement of the veteran MBC tub with a Swift training pair. The previously unwieldy and heavy tub was a potential source of significant injury, even with two rowers and a cox lifting in and out of the river. The new pair has been extremely useful for training novices as well as honing finer technique with seniors and is far easier to transport in and out of the boathouse. Once again, having this vital resource during COVID times has allowed us to minimise the number of interactions at the boathouse while still keeping up training. Yet another boat to be named!

MBC-RxCelerate Relationship Extension

If 2020 has taught us anything, it has certainly shown the invaluable nature of scientists working flat out to help deliver a vaccine. The Club is very excited to report on an extension to the relationship with RxCelerate, a local drug discovery and development company, for a further 4 years. The initial trial period has proved very successful for both parties, with RxCelerate founder and Chairman Dr David Grainger commenting, "RxCelerate depends on its talented and committed team, drawn from the Cambridge community and we are constantly looking for ways we can give back to that community. We hope that a young company, growing rapidly, and a sporting club dating back almost 200 years can each teach the other something useful, as we work together over the long term on our shared aspiration to be the best and have fun in the process". 

The relationship with RxCelerate provides continued opportunity for all members of College to row at every level as well as keeping our equipment maintained as MBC expands as a Club. Even during a difficult year like 2020, MBC membership has continued to grow and the student committees have worked tirelessly to provide the facilities and assets to sustain this. 

Both Magdalene Boat Club and the Mallory Club look forward to continuing this growth in tandem with RxCelerate in the future!

Student & Athlete: The Boat Race

Online Virtual Event - 31 March 17:30-18:30

"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats"

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to balance the pressure of competing in an iconic sporting event watched by millions across the world with academic studies? Join Magdalene Fellow-Commoner and alumna Pat Marsh (1997), former Chair of the Cambridge University Women's Boat Club as she talks to three Magdalene (and Mallory) members about their experience of The Boat Race.

Patrick Elwood (2012) read Natural Sciences followed by a PhD in Physics. He was part of the Goldie reserve crew in 2016 and 2017 before helping row Cambridge to victory in the 2018 Blue Boat.

Patrick Elwood (2012)
Patrick Elwood (2012)

Daphne Martschenko (2015) completed a PhD in Education, and competed in the 2015 and 2016 Boat Races, before beating Oxford in the 2018 Blondie Boat. She was also President of CUWBC.

Daphne Martschenko (2015)
Daphne Martschenko (2015)

Susannah Cass (2006) read Natural Sciences, before undertaking a PGCE. She was part of the 2009 Boat Race, and is currently Head Coach of the Magdalene Boat Club as well as Chair of the Mallory Club. She also set a world record as the youngest female Pacific ocean rower, as part of the first mixed four ever to row the Pacific Ocean in 2014, and in 2016 was part of the first mixed team to row the Atlantic Ocean from mainland Europe to mainland South America.

Susannah Cass (2006)
Susannah Cass (2006)

Register for Student & Athlete: The Boat Race

Easter Term & Henley

While we most certainly are not out of the woods yet, the pandemic situation does seem to be improving although we do not yet know if the May Bumps will go ahead. However, there are rumours of a Henley campaign so watch this space for more details.

MBC winning the final at Henley on 1st July 1967. Bow: Geoffrey Lubbock (steers), 2: Michael Davis, 3: Robert Crichton, Stroke: Francisco de Sola.
MBC winning the final at Henley on 1st July 1967. Bow: Geoffrey Lubbock (steers), 2: Michael Davis, 3: Robert Crichton, Stroke: Francisco de Sola. 

Vacancy: Club Archivist

With the construction of the new Library, MBC will soon have dedicated space in the College Archives. As materials are unearthed and transferred over, we are seeking expressions of interest in a potential new co-opted Committee position of Club Archivist. This role would suit anyone with a passion for MBC history and an interest in collating the ever growing collection, with an idea to create a more accessible permanent online record. Ideas, stories, reminiscences and artefacts to be added to the club archives would also be warmly welcomed! If this sounds interesting please get in touch via info@malloryclub.com.

Lents 1982
Lents 1982

Tub Still in Search of a Loving Home

In order to make space in the boathouse for some of MBC's new shells - including a brand new Swift training pair - the veteran MBC tub has finally been retired after many decades of service teaching numerous generations of novices to row. The boat is currently in 'barn storage' thanks to MBC President Henry Reynolds, but we would be delighted to hear from any members who might be interested in giving all 27' of MBC history a new home and new lease of life in exchange for a small contribution to MBC.

Tub Still in Search of a Loving Home
Tub Still in Search of a Loving Home

Badges and Sign-Up

If you're reading this email having recently signed up to be on the Mallory Club mailing list, then congratulations on such an excellent decision. However, you may wish to take this a little further by becoming a Mallory Club member with a regular monthly contribution from as little as £2 a month (less than a coffee) to help support MBC. It's important to note that the Mallory Club does not support the day-to-day running of the MBC but does assist with large investments such as training camps, large equipment purchases and most recently providing novices with their first piece of MBC kit to make them immediately feel part of the Club. The Mallory Club has regular meetings to review spending and is always open to scrutiny on how your subscriptions are spent in aiding MBC and maintaining the history of rowing at Magdalene.

Mallory Club Badges
Mallory Club Badges

Other notable benefits of being a member of the Mallory Club are priority booking and avoiding a surcharge for Mays Dinner, kit and regalia as well as waived entry fees for racing on the Cam in events such as the Fairbairn Cup, Pembroke Regatta, City Sprints and potentially even the possibility of entering Town Bumps . . .

To sign up for a subscription, please visit www.malloryclub.com and scroll to the bottom of the homepage to see the different plans available. If you'd like a one-of-a-kind Mallory pin-badge, please email and we'll send one to you in exchange for 5 of your finest lavender pounds.

We hope you have enjoyed hearing about the latest exploits of the Mallory Club, and if you are keen to become more involved then please get in touch!

We are also always keen to hear more about the post-Magdalene adventures of our members, and would welcome submission for future editions via info@malloryclub.com.

GTF,

The Mallory Club


This article first appeared in the Mallory Club Winter Newsletter update. Sign up at www.malloryclub.com to receive the newsletter directly to your email inbox.