The Racing River
The course used for racing at Cambridge has altered from ROWING] time to time. In its early days the racing commenced in the stretch of water which is now the finish of the course. A little above "Charon's" ferry were the Chesterton locks, and above these locks the boats were stationed in order. The leading boat stopped rowing at the Jesus locks, which were then situated in the position now occupied by the Caius boat-house. After the abolition of the Chesterton locks the course was changed. The boats in both the Lent and May races now lie before the start in a long line between Baitsbite and a point but little short of First Post corner.
The corners in the course are its great disadvantage, although the oarsman may learn some watermanship thereby. At First Post corner the river turns sharply to the right, at "Grassy" a long bend to the left takes us to Ditton; there another corner carries us into the Long Reach, where the hardest struggles frequently take place. Above the railway bridge are two more slight curves, and the leading boats stop rowing by the ferry known as the "Big Horse Grind." in a gig pair or "tub," and taught, if he knows them not already, the rudiments of oarsmanship. He will next be placed in one of the numerous freshmen's eights, from the crews of which the Lent boats that are to represent the college will be selected.
Then come the Lent races, to be followed, if he has acquitted himself well, by practice for the May races. Possibly, if he still progresses rapidly in the art, he may find himself in October included in one of the two trial eight crews from which the university eight is chosen. That a novice, without experience previously acquired at a boating school, will obtain his "blue" his first year is of course unlikely, though by no means impossible.