Blues – Wolfson College Boat Club, Oxford

Two WCBC Rowers in Henley Boat Races 2013

Webmaster — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:59:24 +0000

The Varsity races for openweight women, lightweight men, and lightweight women take place each year at the Henley Boat Races*. This year, as flood conditions moved the races from its traditional course at Henley-on-Thames to the Olympic course at Dorney Lake, Oxford routed Cambridge in all of the Blues rowing fixtures, and two of our strongest Wolfson rowers fought for that victory.

OUWLRC celebrates after defeating Cambridge.

Cynthia Eccles, a longtime member of WCBC, rowed from the 2 seat in the OUWLRC Blue Boat this year. Though Cambridge took a slight lead off the start of the women’s lightweight race, Oxford recovered to even by 500m into the 2k race. Both crews kept up a pace of 34 throughout the race, but Oxford fared better in a gusty quartering headwind, and had taken a length out of the opposition by the halfway mark. They continued to outpace the Tabs, claiming victory by 4 3/4 lengths.

OULRC celebrates their victory over Cambridge.

James Kirkbride, after learning to row with Wolfson in the autumn of 2010, this year earned the bow seat in the OULRC Blue Boat. Both men’s lightweight crews had flying starts, but Oxford managed to gain a bit of a lead in the first quarter of the race. Oxford’s more deliberate cadence proved valuable in rough water, as they extended their lead to 3/4 a length at the halfway point rating 34 compared to Cambridge’s 39. Oxford continued to push off the Tabs, crossing the finish line 1 2/3 length ahead.

Oxford also won the openweight women and openweight women reserve races, and would go on to win the openweight men’s Boat Race in London.

* 2014 will be the last year that the openweight women compete at the Henley Boat Races. Starting in 2015, they will compete on the Tideway in London alongside the openweight men.

Three Wolfson Rowers in Tethys WeHORR VIII

Webmaster — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:59:11 +0000

Lea Carrott, Laura Hawkins and Aurelie Cuenod competed in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race with Tethys (OUWLRC) this year, and came 60th of 302 competitors in a time of 20:12. Well done!

Three WCBC Rowers in Henley Boat Races 2012

Webmaster — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:59:32 +0000

The Varsity races for openweight women, lightweight men, and lightweight women take place each year at the Henley Boat Races*. This year, two of the strongest Wolfson rowers fought valiantly against the Tabs in beautiful conditions at Henley-on-Thames.

Aurélie (L) and Jill celebrate.

Aurélie Cuénod (bow) and WCBC President Jill Betts (stroke) earned seats in the OUWLRC Blue Boat after a grueling trialing season. Months of training paid off for the lightweight women, as Oxford took the lead over Cambridge off the start of their race. Though both crews rowed crisply with rates over 40 well into the race, Oxford gained clear water 600m into the race. As Cambridge struggled in the choppy water of OUWLRC’s wake, Oxford continued to push ahead, crossing the finish line 1 1/3 length ahead of the Tabs.

Tyler Spencer‘s race from the stroke seat of the OULRC Blue Boat was much more gutting. Cambridge picked up a slight lead off the start, but the Oxford lightweight men pushed back aggressively. Holding a powerful rate 35 compared to Cambridge’s frenetic 39, Oxford continued to challenge the Tabs throughout the race. Umpire Sir Matthew Pinsent warned both crews as blades clashed. In the end, Cambridge maintained their lead, crossing the finish line 3/4 length ahead of the Dark Blues.

Oxford also won the openweight women reserve race, while Cambridge won the openweight women’s contest.

* Beginning in 2015, the openweight women will compete on the Tideway in London alongside the openweight men.

Wallingford Head 2010

Webmaster — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:15:14 +0000

Our boat club’s president and our women’s captain (Jill and Amanda) who are trialling with OUWLRC won the Women’s IM2 4+ event in the Wallingford Head of the River race this afternoon. Congratulations girls!