Wadham College Boat Club
Encyclopedia
Wadham College Boat Club (WCBC) is the rowing club of Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The club's members are students and staff from Wadham College and Harris Manchester College. Founded some time before 1837, Wadham has had great success both within Oxford and externally in regattas such as Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. The boat club is based in its boathouse on the Isis
The Isis
The Isis is the name given to the part of the River Thames above Iffley Lock which flows through the city of Oxford. The name is especially used in the context of rowing at the University of Oxford...
, which is shared with St. Anne's College Boat Club and St. Hugh's College Boat Club.
History
The first official record of the boat club’s existence appears in 1837 when the club was officially constituted. The Wadham 1st Eight competed in the first ever race of the Grand Challenge CupGrand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1839, and narrowly lost to Trinity, Cambridge. This defeat would be avenged in the next decade when, in 1849, Wadham raced Trinity, Cambridge and Oriel College in the Ladies' Challenge Plate
Ladies' Challenge Plate
The Ladies' Challenge Plate is one of the events at Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. Crews of men's eight-oared boats below the standard of the Grand Challenge Cup can enter, although international standard heavyweight crews are not permitted to row in the...
and the Grand Challenge Cup on successive days. Wadham won both races with Trinity as the runner up and Oriel in a distant third. It is from this defeat of Trinity that Wadham claimed its traditional right to wear Cambridge Blue as its boating colors, and to this day the 1st Eight Blazers and Ties continue this tradition. The following year Wadham increased its good run by claiming the Headship in Summer Eights, and then reclaimed the Head six years later in 1856. Wadham would return victoriously to Henley in 1908 and 1925 when the 1st Eight won the Thames Challenge Cup
Thames Challenge Cup
The Thames Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's eights at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college or secondary school are not permitted, neither are squad...
in both years. By 1897 Wadham College had emulated the example of the rest of the colleges and invested in a permanent Wadham Barge to serve as a rowing base on the Isis. This barge, moored on the most downstream part of Boathouse Island where Christ Church Boathouse is now located, was sold in 1973 when repairs became prohibitively expensive, and it later burned to the waterline and sank in 1983. A new boathouse was built in 1989, and is now shared with St. Anne's and St. Hughe's colleges. The year 1974 saw the first admission of women to the College, and in 1975 a women’s team was official created. The first year of the women’s club was extraordinarily successful, and the women dominated the university by winning the Christ Church Regatta
Christ Church Regatta
Christ Church Regatta is a boat race in the University of Oxford which is held annually during seventh week of Michaelmas term, in which novice crews representing each college, compete against each other...
and the Lady Margaret Hall Regatta. In 1976 a women’s division was added to the Summer Eights schedule, and following a random draw which placed the Wadham women at 3rd on the river they immediately bumped up to second and first on successive days, and then rowed over on the Friday and Saturday to claim the first Women’s Head of the River. In the past decade the women have competed at Women’s Henley, and the men have qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Recent Summer Eights have seen the women move back up the first division into striking range of the headship, while the men continue their historical positions at the top of the second and bottom of the first divisions. In Torpids
Torpids
Torpids is one of two series of bumping races held yearly at Oxford University, the other being Eights. Over 130 men's and women's crews race for their colleges in six men's divisions and five women's; almost 1200 participants in total...
the men sit tenth on the river, and the women have swiftly moved upwards to third on the river.
Membership
Membership in the boat club is open to all students and staff of Wadham College. Membership is also open to all students and staff of Harris Manchester College following the formal affiliation of their boat club to Wadham in 2003. Honorary memberships are available to all alumni of the boat club, and also to persons who have had a large involvement in the running of the club.Governance
The club is run by a committee of 13 officers elected annually from amongst the members of the club.- Presidents: The Men's and Women's presidents look after the long term interests of the club including coaching matters, sponsorship, and relations with the Boat Club Society.
- Captains: The Men's and Women's captains are responsible for the daily running of the club. They organize water and land training sessions, organize participation in regattas, set crew lists in consultation with the coaches, motivate the rowers, and row in both Torpids and Eights.
- Vice Captains: Two vice-captains are appointed by both the Men's and Women's captains, and their job is to assist the Captains in their duties.
- Secretary: The Secretary chairs all committee meetings.
- Treasurer: The Treasurer looks after the finances of the boat club.
- Captain of Coxes: The Captain of Coxes is responsible for all coxing matters including equipment and training of coxes.
- Bargees: The Bargees are the social secretaries of the club, and are responsible for organizing all social events including Fresher's Cocktails, Christ Church Cocktails, termly Boat Club Curries at Jamal's, the Annual Boat Club Dinner, and the Summer Eights cruise.
- Webmaster: Duties are obvious... obviously awesome!
- King of Crew Dates (unofficial): A member of the club whose job is to organize weekly crew dates with other colleges.
Coaching
Mark "Buzz" Nixon and Liz Nixon have coached the men's squad for the past 10 years. The 1st and 2nd VIIIs are coached by Buzz on the Godstow stretch, while Liz coaches the lower boats and the novices on the Isis.Rod Andrews has coached Wadham for 30 years. He previously coached both the men's and women's squads, but now focuses specifically on the women's squad.
Equipment
Generous funding provided by the Boat Club Society allows Wadham to enjoy excellent world class boats and equipment. New eights and blades are bought on a regular schedule of every three years.Fleet
Men's Boats- 2008 HudsonHudson BoatworksHudson Boat Works is a racing shell manufacturer based in London, Ontario. Founded in 1981, Hudson is currently one of the largest rowing manufacturers in North America. Hudson is the official boat manufacturer for the Canadian and American National Teams....
8+ "A.E. Kitchen IV" - 2005 FilippiFilippi BoatsFilippi Boats are an Italian manufacturer of rowing racing shells. The company was founded in 1980 by Filippi Lido.Today, the running of the boatyard is undertaken by Filippi’s son David, the yard employs 60 technicians and produces just over 1100 boats each year which supply Federations worldwide...
8+ "The Remenham Club" - 2002 Sims 8+ "Sir Christopher Wren"
- 1996 Janousek 8+ "Spirit of Nelson"
- 1998 Janousek 4+ "Omega"
Women's Boats
- 2010 FilippiFilippi BoatsFilippi Boats are an Italian manufacturer of rowing racing shells. The company was founded in 1980 by Filippi Lido.Today, the running of the boatyard is undertaken by Filippi’s son David, the yard employs 60 technicians and produces just over 1100 boats each year which supply Federations worldwide...
8+ - 2005 FilippiFilippi BoatsFilippi Boats are an Italian manufacturer of rowing racing shells. The company was founded in 1980 by Filippi Lido.Today, the running of the boatyard is undertaken by Filippi’s son David, the yard employs 60 technicians and produces just over 1100 boats each year which supply Federations worldwide...
8+ "Sir Stuart Hampshire" - 1997 Janousek 8+ "Mary Margherita"
- 1992 Janousek 8+ "Sir Claus Moser"
- ???? Salters 8+ "Rod"
- 1998 Janousek 4+ "Alpha"
Small Boats
- Aylings 2x "John Flemming"
- Janousek Lwt 1x
- Janousek Hwt 1x
Ergometer room
The boat club has a dedicated ergometet room in Wadham College with 8 concept2Concept2
Concept2 is a manufacturer of rowing equipment based in Vermont, USA. It is best known for its air resistance indoor rowing machines , which are considered the standard training and testing machines for competition rowers and can be found in most gyms...
ergometers
Indoor rower
An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right...
and 2 RowPerfect
RowPerfect
A Rowperfect is an indoor rowing machine designed in 1987; patented in 1988, by Dutchman Cas Rekers. It is designed to accurately simulate the feeling of rowing on the water. Both the flywheel and the seat are free to move on a slide — this is different from the majority of rowing machines...
indoor rowers.
Indoor rowing tank
Plans have been drawn up for a four person indoor rowing tank, and the Boat Club committee continues to consult with college authorities regarding its construction.Training locations
The bulk of novice and lower boat water training occurs on the Isis out of Wadham's boathouse. The Senior squads typically train with their top two boats on the Godstow stretch of the Thames near the Trout Inn. Weight training takes place at the Armed Services Gym, and regular team cycle trips occur on the 'Dark Lane' cycle route. An annual training camp occurs a few weeks before the start of Trinity Term. In previous years the training camp has been held at Molesey Boat ClubMolesey Boat Club
Molesey Boat Club is a rowing club on the river Thames in England.-Location:The Club is situated on a stretch of the River Thames between Molesey Lock and Sunbury Lock...
, and the current committee is actively looking into holding training camp in France or Spain.
Social life
Wadham rowers enjoy a varied and exciting social life within the club. Michaelmas term kicks off with Freshers' Cocktails, and the term finishes with Christ Church Cocktails to celebrate the success of the club's novice boats in Christ Church RegattaChrist Church Regatta
Christ Church Regatta is a boat race in the University of Oxford which is held annually during seventh week of Michaelmas term, in which novice crews representing each college, compete against each other...
. The annual Boat Club Dinner occurs at the end of Hilary Term, and this formal black tie event sees each crew dressed in unique hats and features the famous 'Profiterole' challenge. With the end of alcohol ban following Summer Eights the entire club typically embarks upon a steamer and sets sail down the Thames for an end of the year Boat Club Cruise. Beyond these established club events each term sees a Boat Club Curry night for the whole squad to enjoy some Wadham-Wadham crew dating, and each week the King of Crew Dates is busy arranging new adventures with the other Oxford colleges and societies.
Wadham College Boat Club Society
Wadham College Boat Club Society is the alumni society of the boat club which is open to all supporters and past members of the club. The Society exists to provide support to the boat club, and to foster the enjoyment of rowing and camaraderie amongst its members. The Society provides funding towards the coaching and equipment purchases of the boat club. The Society holds an annual formal dinner and day of fun races on the Isis in September. Recently the Society organized a rowing event to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Wadham College which included races in eights between alumni and current students.Notable Wadham rowers
Recent Captains- 2011 - 2012: Russell Tucker & Honora Spicer
- 2010 - 2011: John Owen
- 2009 - 2010: Paul Wikramaratna & Gabriel Lambert
- 2008 - 2009: Andrew Brown & Mary Gallagher
- 2007 - 2008: Tom Raynor & Stephanie Poulier
- 2006 - 2007: Matt Bull & Lucy Ventress
| OUBC 1st VIII | OUBC 2nd VIII (Isis) | OUWBC 1st VIII | OUWBC 2nd VIII (Osiris | OULRC 1st VIII | OULRC 2nd VIII (Nepthys | OUWLRC 1st VIII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.Wauchope 1849 (Bow) | G.B.Stewart 1986 (Str) | F.B.A.Cotterell 1977 (2) | A.Kukla 1980 (Bow) | D.Boulter 1985 (7) | P.M.Banham 2000 (5) | C.E.Knape 1985 (Str) |
| J.T.Thorley 1856 (Str) | S.Brown 1980 (Cox) | L.Girvin 1980 (2) | A.J.Booth 1986 (7) | D.C.Mountain 1986 (7) | ||
| J.T.Thorley 1857 (Str) | J.Bond 1980 | A.R.Edwards 1989 (7) | P.M.Banham 2001 (4) | D.C.Mountain 1987 (7) | ||
| J.T.Thorley 1858 (Str) | L.M.Cribb 1980 (2) | A.L.Roberts 1989 (6) | A.J.Roberts 2002 (7) | H.Byrne 1990 (3) | ||
| H.R.Medlicote 1861 (3) | S.B.Herring 1981 (Bow) | J.C.Goulden 1990 (Cox) | A.E.Hammacher 2003 (7) | H.Byrne 1991 (7) | ||
| W.Robertson 1861 (4) | A.L.Wood 1987 (Str) | C.A.Tuer 1991 (7) | A.E.Hammacher 2004 (7) | S.Pannell 1995 (Cox) | ||
| S.O.Bridsdale 1861 (Cox) | M.J.Lawford 1988 (Str) | K.Thornton 1995 (4) | O.J.Lough 2007 (1) | C.Chadwick 1997 (2) | ||
| C.R.Carr 1862 (7) | A.R.Edwards 1990 (5) | P.Coates 1999 (7) | O.Dicks 2011 (4) | C.Chadwick 1997 (2) | ||
| C.R.Carr 1863 (7) | S.Waldron 2002 (6) | L.J.Ventress 2009 (7) | Mr T.J.Ryder 2000 (Cox) | |||
| W.R.A.Lambert 1874 (Cox) | S.Waldron 2003 (5) | J.van Campen 2010 (5) | N.A.J.Thomas 2000 (7) | |||
| W.St.L.Robertson 1886 (3) | S.Waldron 2004 (7, President) | N.E.R.Beveridge 2006 (3) | ||||
| T.A.Cook 1889 (3) | K.M.Taylor 2007 (Str) | |||||
| G.C.Drinkwater 1902 (Bow) | K.M.Taylor 2008 (6, President) | |||||
| G.C.Drinkwater 1903 (7) | ||||||
| R.H.Owen 1910 (2) | ||||||
| T.S.Swayze 1960 (3) | ||||||
| C.P.Berners-Lee 1979 (Cox) | ||||||
| Sue Brown 1981 (Cox) | ||||||
| Sue Brown 1982 (Cox) | ||||||
| G.B.Stewart 1987 (Str) | ||||||
| G.B.Stewart 1988 (6) |