Let Them Eat Cake!

What do ski jackets, goggles, golf shirts and balloons all have in common? How about Dr. Seuss’ Thing 1 and Thing 2 (or in this case, Things 1 to 9)?   Well, these were just some of the chosen costumes for Brentwood’s 24th annual Cake Race.   Upon arriving on campus in September, I heard about the Cake Race within days of my arrival and saw the pictures adorning the hallway of the boathouse. As Resident Assistants, Miss Niblett and I were entrusted with setting the crews for the 10 eights that were to race side by side over 1500m on the last rowing session of the first term. Juniors, seniors, girls and boys were thrown together into scratch crews, whilst the coaches had their fingers crossed that the coxes would not play bumper cars with the finest shells in the boathouse. Conditions stayed calm and crews were boated smoothly under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Whitney and Miss Niblett. Mr. Carr and Mr. Carr Senior were expert race starters and the other coaches acted as a flotilla of marshals following the race down the course.  Fortunately Miss Niblett’s and my very scientific method of crew selection produced matched crews which resulted in a close finish.  As well as a prize for winning the race, there were also prizes for best dressed, as judged by Mrs. Pennells, who followed the race in the safety boat along with the Director of Athletics, Mr. Medina. Gift vouchers were handed out to the winning crew captains, but of course the biggest prize for all the competitors was the chocolate frosted cupcakes provided by the Brentwood kitchen.   The annual Cake Race provides a fantastic opportunity to bring the various training groups together and end four months of solid training with some side-by side racing before the boathouse disperses for Christmas Break; this year’s race did not disappoint. Thank you to all the staff and students who helped, judged and enthusiastically participated. Ms St. John