W1

After their success at Bedford Regatta, W1 were eager to show off the speed and tech that they had developed over the past year at VIIIs. Day 1 saw us lining up in front of Mansfield and behind Somerville, a boat with multiple OUBC members. Immediately leaving Mansfield in the dust off the start, we chased Somerville down, coming within a quarter length before they unfortunately bumped Merton, leaving us to hunt down the overbump on Anne’s. Unfortunately, we did not have enough river to get the overbump, with Anne’s bumping out along BHI, leaving us with a row over. On Day 2, we started behind Merton, gaining on them immediately off the start and chasing them down the whole course with overlap, but they refused to concede, just about holding us off, leaving us with another row over. We knew that day 3 would be difficult, with Merton in front of us chasing Hertford who were on for spoons, so decided that our best chance was to send it off the start. That we did, again coming within a quarter length of Merton before they bumped out, so we had another row over, easily holding off Catz despite winding down a bit for the second half of the course. Day 4 had us chasing down Hertford, who were still on for spoons, meaning we knew that we could catch them quickly. And catch them quickly we did, getting a speedy bump before Donny Bridge and luckily before our division was klaxoned. Although the starting order didn’t go our way, W1 has continually proven throughout the year that we are one of the fastest college first boats and every member of the crew should be proud of our results all year, culminating with a positive bumps campaign, with a final result of +1.

With three women’s crews competing in VIIIs, the most since 2017, and positive results all round, this was an amazing season for the women’s side, and everyone involved should be very proud. A massive massive thank you to our coaches: Molly, Benjamin and Harry, who made all this possible!!

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​M1

M1 came prepared: After a tough Hilary of indoor training, and a training camp in Seville over Easter, there was serious competition for seats in our first boat! From indoor training to get some of their fastest 2K scores yet, to regular outings to prepare on water for seat races, every member of M1 brought the best they could to their seat, and then to training together for VIIIs. On the first day, M1 was bumped by Worcester as Hertford escaped them, bumping out on Jesus. However, they held out on day two with an impressive row over. On the third day, M1 again rowed over, escaping St. Hughes while chasing their old adversaries at Jesus. On the Saturday,M1 couldn’t deny the Exeter blades campaign, as despite being neck and neck with Jesus yet again, they were bumped just after the gut. Fortunately, to salve their tough luck, the rowers got to enjoy Pimm’s at their boat house, finally breaking their drinking bans for VIIIs dinner that night!

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W2

Having qualified as the 9th fastest crew in Rowing On, W2 were very ready to take on the challenge of bumps. Day 1 saw a rapid bump on Mansfield II, with W2’s hard work this term paying off (even if the speed of the bump meant that they didn’t even need to show off their stamina!). Day 2 saw a similar story, with a speedy bump on Queen’s II, showing the high calibre of rowing from this crew. Once again on day 3, W2 bumped Catz II before the gut, which was particularly impressive considering that Catz had rowed on in 4th place! Coming into day 4 not yet having rowed through the gut, W2 were chasing Balliol II, eager to display their hard work to everyone on BHI. Another speedy start saw W2 gaining before the gut, coming to within a canvas of Balliol until Balliol unfortunately managed to pull away along Greenbanks, ultimately ending with a row over for W2. The overall result of +3 was a testament to the whole crew’s hard work and dedication over this term and every member should be incredibly proud of this brilliant result!

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M2

This Trinity term, both our M1 and our M2 raced in Summer VIIIs for the first time since 2023. M2 had a mix of alumni, seniors, novices who had rowed all year, and even a novice who joined in Trinity! Under the tutelage of our new coach, Marίa, this ragtag, but no less dedicated team, stormed through rowing on for the first time in three years! On day one, M2 was caught by Univ before they could bump Brasenose. No matter! On the second day, we rowed over, in spite of the previous day’s misfortune: most rowers of M2 rowing the full course at race pace for their first time ever. On the third day, most of M2 got their first ever bump! Catching St. Hilda’s before Donnington Bridge, the pursuant Christ Church boat were denied their chance at blades. Finally, on the Saturday, M2 were on the cusp of giving Queen’s College a new set of spoons, just as a Klaxon ended the race, and with that, their first 8’s was over.

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W3

After their success at Rowing On, qualifying despite the field being more competitive than we’ve ever seen, with 51 boats racing for 36 spots in VIIIs, W3 were eager to put their hard work to the test in bumps. Day 1 saw this crew put on an amazing performance to hold off Wadham IV and chase down Brasenose III, who unfortunately bumped out before we could catch them, leading to a row over. Considering that this was 7 members of the crew’s first bumps race, and some members’ first race ever, this was an extremely impressive result! Day 2 saw us hunting down Hilda’s III, with a bump right under Donny Bridge. However, due to Hilda’s unfortunately not clearing the racing, we were given a row over alongside Hilda’s and Magdalen III. The next day, W3 were finally rewarded with a clean bump on Hilda’s in the same place as the day before, making us all the more eager for Saturday’s racing. Day 4 saw W3 gain on Brasenose III before ultimately rowing over, with four crews bumping out ahead of us. Overall the crew went +1, an amazing result for a crew with several members who only started rowing this term and with a different lineup each day of racing, and the all the more impressive considering how stiff the competition was just to qualify for VIIIs this year!!