We Rode at Dawn...

In great anticipation and excitement, we set off with four sandalos, one skiff and a punt—overtaking as many boats as we could en route. On arrival there was the usual rush to secure a good spot under Magdalen Bridge.

On arrival, Sandy Nairne (with his family in the punt), masterfully managed to somehow persuade all the other surrounding boats to make way for us to moor close to his so we could all be together. It worked perfectly!

The Magdalen Choir Concert

Thus the die was cast, we had a great view and the choristers began. Our attention, however, wasn’t fully on the singing as a late-arriving paddle boarder, keen to get close to the action, kept wobbling violently, and narrowly avoided falling in!  

The singing and whole event were sublime, but over far too quickly, so we headed off for a short row up the Cherwell before returning to the clubhouse.

A Well-earned Breakfast

The boats put away, we gathered upstairs for a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs (thank you, Julie!), smoked salmon, toast and marmalade—all efficiently co-ordinated by Pauline.

It was a very jolly and relaxed affair made even more so by the presence of a fun variety of guests, and the delicious Buck’s Fizz libations so kindly provided by Sandy.  The annual May Morning Marmalade Competition, judged expertly by David Knowles with reference to some obscure new scoring system(!) was hard fought, but eventually won by Penny and Sandy! 

It was truly spectacular morning all around, and reminded us yet again how lucky we are to be Venetian rowers in Oxford.

—Katie Balfour