the photolog

Welcome to the July Race 2005 Photolog!!!

This is one of the pages where the most loved memories have been created, and as I have mentioned before, this Photolog is to create something to look at when we're missing the rowing, missing the boat, missing each other, and all tt we have left are pixelated evidence of events long past.

For some of us, especially the juniors, the July Race has been what's kickstarted our love for the sport, or rather, our love for the team. Through the trainings, the sessions, the zhuaings and the scoldings and the tears and the jokes and pranks and even laughter, it's introduced the elusive concept of what makes a team to us. And for the rest of us, the seniors, the July Race is our swansong. Our farewell, and what we have to contribute to a tradition tt started before we came in and will go on long after we've left... but a tradition tt we know our palm prints will always remain on.

Okay. Enough yabber-jabber. On to the photolog! (Warning: Picture-intensive)

2 July 2005 - Day 1

The day starts early in the morning. I'm talking "god-forsaken early". We meet at the MRT - breakfast has already been eaten at home (or you can *not* eat at your own peril)... and thus begins the long trek to the race site.



Above: That's us walking through Citilink mall. And yes, you're not mistaken. We haven't received our race singlets yet; tt's why we all seem to be wearing different stuff.

Race site = Marina Promenade, btw. Oh yeah. The place of *many* memories. HEH.

We set down our stuff, change, and well... get ready.



See, the thing is, Day 1's a little anti-climatic? How so, you ask?

Well.

Because we only have 1 set to race. Technically, it's 2 sets. 2 Heats for the Women's Opens coz we want to send in 2 teams for them. But because we have a nice round number of 20, we can send in 10/10, such tt everyone only has to row 1 set.

Aha. So you see...?

Well. Anyway to cut a long story short, only 1 team got through to the Semis. The other team... we kinda missed the cut. It was actually pretty emotional, coz we felt like we screwed up. But then again it was no one's fault and everyone's fault, and sometimes you just have to take these things in your stride and focus on what you can learn and what you can improve on.



That was the kinda emotional briefing. But well. Like I said, we're a team. We go through ups and downs together.

In any case the mood was later cheered up with the more positive debrief and the famous presents-giving session! We all had so much stuff it was as if our birthdays were all celebrated on this day itself! Wahaha. But nope. No pictures here. You can get them off Wenya's blog... ;) Her's has the full entry of presents. :)

...So tt sums up the number of pics I have for Day 1. Let's move on to Day 2. Now THAT'S where all the pics are.

3 July 2005 - Day 2

Aha! Day 2 is a little more *normal*. Coz we get to eat MAC'S BREAKFAST!!!

...Oops! I'm getting ahead of myself.

First. We gotta meet at the MRT.

Now. Let's c.f. to LAST June.



Above: Last June. Meet at MRT.



This July. Also meet at MRT.

Anyway Mac's is where we kick off the eating of Hotcakes and Big Breakfasts, and start the TP ball rolling.



Mac's is also where Vic CHARGES UP!!!



...And where I take this race's inaugural 'Best Friends' photo. Wahaha.

And then, it's tt long walk to the race site. Yes yes. We walk far and often.



If the back view is not enough...



...There's the front view!



...And the close up! Yeah, I know. Damn intimidating right? Wahaha. That's yet another reason why I love my girls.

We intimidate. Period. :)

Okay. So now we set down our barang-barang. Aka bags, sponges, paddles...



Then we prepare the traditional offering to Qu Yuan.



Yes yes. "We do our best, you do the rest." That's *really* what it says!



And there goes the offering! In sync! Whoopee!

And then it's time for all the funny pictures.

Well. Actually we start off with the team pictures. All because we happen to be under tt NUS banner thingy.

So yeah. Everything below is self-explanatory. Only different poses.











Oh yar. This is also where we take the "similar attributes" photos.



Like similar sports bras... Aka Nike.



Or similar erm... permament beauty marks. Like tattoos.

Ooh. Okay. So after Photo Taking Frenzy #3 (okay... maybe #3+++), it's back to the bags...

To take MORE SI GEENA PHOTOS!!!

Like the Rowers' photos!



Us Righties!



Erm... Us Righties again!



The Lefties!



Not to be outdone, the Lefties Whoosh! (Yeah. That's their traditional Lefties pose)



And um... Everyone traumatising Wendy!



And AGAIN!!! (Yeah. They love to do tt. Can you tell?)



Okay! Inaugural Rock Chicks photo!

Oh yeah. And how can we forget?

Logo pic.



CF: Last year's.



...To this year's.

Speaking of *Cross-Referencing*...

Below: CF Last Year.



...To this year.



And again.



And again...



And again...



And again (new angle even!).



Hmm. How about CF from the front?



Yes. That's the period with the fucking orrrbit jacket and cap get-up.



This year from the front...



And again...



And again.

Nope. We *don't* get tired of taking photos, if tt's what you're asking?

And if you're wondering why our photos seem to be missing 2 Very Important People...

Well. That's because they are here. Below.



Discussing race strategy. Of course. And yes. The photos were taken with neither their knowledge nor their approval. But not tt they should mind. They both look so PRO here. Wahaha.



Ooh. Anyway this current place gives us a good vantage view. And yeah. It makes for EVEN MORE photo-taking opportunities (just when you thought we couldn't get any worse) when the Zheng He boat comes around!!!



Wendy! Meiping! ZHENG HE LAI LE!!!

Heh.

Anyway crazy photo-whore TP moments don't last forever. Soon we gotta start preparing ourselves.



So here's us walking to warm up.



And stretching our deltoids.



And side stretch.

First race: Women's Opens semis. Then Mixed IVP.

After an adequate warm-up, we board the boat...



Set out...



...And row.



And like they say, the rest, is explanatory.









We came in second for this race. Lost to NTU by 0.33s (I think). It was a fucking close fight. I know some of us were quite upset by the end result. I know I was.

But we know we put up a good fight.



...Walking up from the boat.



The next race after tt was the climax: the Women's IVP.



The NUS Whoosh.

We started out at the back, again. It was like deja vu... But we put up one hell of a fight. Sped from 4th to 2nd... We ended up with a Silver, 2nd to NTU. But we were damn happy with what we'd put in. And tt's all tt matters.

A good set. Not many people understand tt. But it's really just tt. A good set.



Emotional moment.

Oh. Then come all the happy Post-Race pics! :)





Ooh. And Peiwen - our ex-captain! - came down to support us! So we took pics with her too. :)





Anyway the guys were having their PM Cup race with NTU, which was the last event of the day. So we went down to support them.



Yeah. That's us waiting for their race to start.

Anyway they won the challenge, which wrapped up the events for the day.

So it's time for medal-collection and victory pics!

Below: Us girls!



Us girls with Seetow and Sean (sorry lah. I don't know why I uploaded so many. Aiyoh).







Then we took pictures with NTU!



So much for rivalry. HEH. We call this "Sportswomanship".



Oh. And the guys as well. Yeah. That's the full TeamNUS for ya.



Ooh. So, now tt race is over...

It also means ORD LOH!!!



So our cap and vice-cap are bouncing around! Totally ecstatic tt they're no longer bonded as cap and vice-cap to the team!

How cute. Heh. And yar lah. At least they're bouncing around now. So they can lose all credubility and still be okay.

Then comes yet another tradition.

THROW THE CAPTAIN!!!



"Help!!!"



"No! There is no escape for you! Muahaha!"

Okay. Show over. Now on to the last most-eagerly anticipated moment of the day:

Food ban lifted.



AKA FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!!!



Oh yeah. Hell of a way to end a race, end a season, celebrate freedom, the team, and well...

Being "sisters from different mothers."

As my chick would say. :)

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