Summer Eights came to an exciting finish on Saturday as thousands of people descended on the banks of the River Thames to see the rowing. The weather held off as the barbecues on Boat House Island were lit and the Pimms flowed, the spectators eager to see the final day of Trinity term’s bumps.
Men’s division 1 saw Oriel bump both Christchurch and Pembroke on their way to winning headship, with a dominant row over on Saturday to seal it. No crew managed to get blades or spoons in division 1 this year, Trinity and Keble both came close to the former. Had Keble not had to attempt to overbump Worcester on day 1 or had Trinity had Oympian Constantine Louloudis in the boat rather than injured, then the result might have been different. Wadham made it into division 1 on the penultimate day at the expense of Hertford.
Wadham secured headship in women’s division 1 by bumping St John’s on Thursday and rowing over on the final two days. The middle of the division remained in a similar order, with Wolfson climbing three places only to be denied blades by a quick Keble crew. Somerville bumped into division 1 at the expense of Merton who received spoons.
To many of the rowers, Saturday brings mixed feelings. To some they know that if they bump the crew in front, they will earn blades and be immortalised in chalk on college walls. However others are acutely aware that if they get bumped, they will receive spoons – the least impressive of all rowing’s many trophies.
In total 16 crews earned blades, 10 in men’s divisions and 6 in women’s, and 19 received spoons, 7 in men’s divisions and 12 in women’s. St Peter’s were the highest ranked men’s crew to get blades by climbing from the bottom of division 2, an impressive feat. Exeter on the other hand were the most senior crew to receive spoons and now sit just one place above division 3, some way below 3rd places in division 1 where they sat 10 years ago.
On the women’s side the highest ranking blades were for University II. The feat is made especially impressive by the fact that University III received spoons and are three divisions below. Particular mention must go to St Hugh’s Boat Club who were +11 between their three women’s boats. They only missed out on an incredible third set of blades for the squad because they could not quite manage to complete the overbump to Linacre on Thursday.
The happiest overall colleges will be Wadham with their women’s headship and M2 blades, and Green Templeton and St Peter’s, who both managed to earn blades in men’s and women’s divisions. Pembroke by contrast received spoons for both M3 and W3, and Exeter received spoons for every boat they entered in the competition and will be hoping for much better at Torpids 2015.
