Over 100 young alumni from Oxford and Cambridge gathered in a lovely Upper East Side penthouse for drinks, hor devours and lively conversation. This was the first in a series of Young Alumni events aimed at bringing together like minded New York City residents in an informal setting.

Thursday 11 October 2007: Dr Christopher Brown, Director, Ashmolean Museum

Dr Brown previewed his talk, "The Rembrandt Debate", which examined issues raised in recent Rembrandt scholarship in the US and abroad. This lecture was to be delivered at the Metropolitan Museum on Sunday, October 14 as part of "The Age of Rembrandt: Dutch Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art". Dr Brown also updated guests on news of the $120 million redevelopment of the Ashmolean Museum.

Wednesday 19 September 2007: Oxford Alumni Association of New York’s Freshers Party, New York, NY

OAANY’s annual Freshers Party gave incoming students a chance to mingle with alumni before heading over the pond. The event proved to be a great success with over 50 attendees, allowing both new friendships and reconnections to be made.

Tuesday 18 September 2007: Alumni Reception with Professor Colin Mayer, Dean of Said Business School, New York, NY

Dean Mayer spoke to a large crowd in Oxford’s North American Office on the evening of September 18. SBS’s accomplishments to date were highlighted and future endeavors were discussed.

Thanks to all of you who came out to row at the 3rd annual alumni boat race on Sat Sep 8th. Three Cambridge alumni drove down from Boston for the event, one of whom had just stepped off the red-eye from the west coast three hours before the race... truly a heroic effort!

The weather was sunny and hot, but unfortunately the wind created unusually rough water conditions. Despite the rough water, no major crabs were caught, and despite the loss of Oxford's rudder in the 3rd race there were no major clashes. We had two coxswains from Oxford, Kajsa McLaren and Ben Crystal, who neatly handled all four races for both universities in difficult conditions.

Photos of the event can be seen at http://web.mac.com/samanmajd/iWeb/Site/Oxbridge%20Alumni%202007.html
... or using the OAANY shared photo links below.

Photos

www.flickr.com More Alumni Boat Race 2007 Photos

On Saturday September 16, 2006, Oxford and Cambridge alumni gathered at the Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport CT for the 2nd Annual Oxford-Cambridge Alumni Boat Race.

The weather cooperated with us, and we had an enjoyable afternoon watching three crews race, followed by a BBQ at the Club enjoyed by 70 Oxford and Cambridge rowers and supporters.

Faced with a big imbalance in the number of rowers from each university, we ran a women's race in coxed fours, a men's race in eights (though Cambridge, having only 7 men present, had Julia Henderson double up in the eight as well as the women's four), and a mixed Oxford eight.

Cambridge won the women's fours and Oxford won the men's eights. Our hosts, Saugatuck, entered a fast men's eight that raced our mixed eight and also the Oxford eight, winning both races. In addition to providing the venue, Saugatuck provided boats, umpires in launches and four coxes who were familiar with that stretch of water.

We plan to hold this event next year at around the same time (early September). We will send out an announcement some time next spring... in the meantime get out on the water and/or the erg!

Special thanks to:

Nicoleta Mantescu, General Manager, Saugatuck Rowing Club

Saman Majd, Race Director (Christ Church, Oxford)
Widge Devaney, Cambridge Alumni Team Captain (Hughes Hall, Cambridge)

John Tepper Marlin, Tshirt Sponsorship Coordinator (Trinity, Oxford)
Nautica, Tshirt Sponsorship

Photos

www.flickr.com More Alumni Boat Race 2006 Photos

Plus more photos from Saman Majd:

http://web.mac.com/samanmajd/iWeb/Site/Oxbridge%20Alumni%20Boat%20Race.html

The Oxford - Cambridge golf match took place on Wednesday May24 at the Tuxedo Park Golf Club in Tuxedo Park.

We gathered to do battle in the almost Annual Oxford Cambridge Golf Challenge. The course was exceptionally beautiful set against rolling green hills and the weather was perfect with sun shining on the many little lakes and perfect green fairways.

Oxford University team:

Team members - left to right:
Daniel Arnow (Corpus '58) Spectator, subsequently score keeper.
Guy Spier (Brasenose, '88) Golf handicap 36
Gary Webber (Wadham '87) Golf handicap 15

Cambridge University team:

We also looked hard for the Cambridge team, but could not find anyone from Cambridge anywhere within Tuxedo Park. Side captain Spier reported to the group that Cambridge had agreed as to time, date and location of the match.

One possible location of the Cambridge team on match day.

Rather than declare an immediate forfeit, Spier designated his guest Dan Moore to represent the Cambridge side.

Substitute Cambridge team

Daniel Moore ('93 Hamilton College) with Cambridge team-mate.

Scoring system

The decision was unanimously accepted and approved by all Oxbridge graduates present.

Play

Oxford and Cambridge teams after the 9th hole.

At this point, it was becoming clear that Cambridge did not have much of a chance.

Oxford took an early lead in the match play and stayed there. Even though the Cambridge team had the low overall raw score, including a birdie two on the back nine, Moore's excellent play, however, was unable to overcome Oxford's rather more mediocre showing, given the state of the relative handicaps.

Score

After the match both sides gathered on the veranda overlooking the scenic eighteenth hole with it’s two ponds and many sand traps set between tree lined hills to have some pints and grapes and cheese.

Oxford team captain Spier said,

"Although it was a glorious day, and the weather conditions were perfect, Oxford's prospects took a major turn for the worse when it emerged that 'tab substitute player was an excellent golfer and that the Oxford team was mediocre at best. At this point, I was expecting some tough play ahead."

To the victors, the spoils....

Oxford University seated from Left to Right: Guy Spier (BNC '88), Gary Webber (Wadham '87), Daniel Arnow (Corpus '58)

Spier added:

"However, just as play was about to start, I hit on the idea of penalizing the Cambridge 11 handicap points for failing to field a team. This seemed to offend Cambridge substitute Moore's sense of fairness. For my part, I was sure that the Cambridge captain was in agreement. Furthermore, I decided to put it to a vote: All Oxbridge graduates present ruled unanimously (3-0) in favour, as did a majority (2-1) of all the players.

I thought of adding in extra penalties, but decided that I did not want to push my luck. Furthermore, with an 11 point disadvantage, I was pretty sure that the Cambridge team was licked. I'm glad to say that my lousy golf was saved by the skill with which I negotiated with the Cambridge side."

Dan Moore (Hamilton, '88) shares a toast with his team:

The Cambridge team captain was not available at the match to comment.

Selection here:

www.flickr.com

http://education.guardian.co.uk/businessofresearch/story/0,,1722084,00.html

Photos from the event...

We were then treated to a q & a session with Steve Malin - who in addition to working at the Fed, teaches at Barnard College.

Photo's are not allowed in, near, or around the Federal Reserve Building, so these photos of some of the members of the group were taken at the Starbucks down the road..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41246470@N00/sets/1168054/show/

To see the New York Fed's website goto http://www.newyorkfed.org

Michael has also sent us a couple of pieces: One, below on Alan Greenspan's future successor. The other, from the Fed's website on William McDonough's testimony to the House Banking and Finance committee on the Fed's role in the recapitalisation of LTCM.

http://www.newyorkfed.org/newsevents/speeches/1998/mcd981001.html

The play is well worth seeing. What made it more special was that the entire cast stayed after the play for a very interesting Q&A. We learnt about the transition they had to make to bring the play to New York. They learnt from the audience where the best supermarkets were in New York!

Thanks, as always, to Erin Burns for organizing. Watch out for our next theatre event.

Photos...