Outstanding success for Wolfson at Torpids 2015

Wolfson College Boat Club crews performed outstandingly in this years' Torpids races, with all three Women's teams winning blades. The seven Wolfson crews rose by a total of 25 places, the most of any Oxford College this year. Two boats achieved their highest ranking on record, with W2 placing eighth in Division III, and M1 placing fifth on the river.

Torpids is an annual bumps rowing race between boat clubs. Held on the River Isis over four days, this year from the 4^th to 7^th March, the primary aim is to ‘bump' other boats, and to avoid being bumped. Crews who bump, or cross the finishing line first, every day of Torpids are awarded blades, a set of painted oars with the names of the crew members.

The boat club, which contains members from Wolfson and St Cross College, raced seven crews, the most of any College. The combined gain of 25 places across the seven crews places Wolfson College in a tie with Hertford (1987) for the second most bumps in a single Torpids since ‘records began' in 1980. The crews went up an average of 3.43 places per crew, the second highest this Torpids. It was M2's highest ranking Torpids since 1996, M3's since 1997, and W1's highest ranking since 2005.

Women were first allowed to participate in Torpids in 1978, and Wolfson is only the second College to win triple women's blades in the same year. The W3 crew deserve a special mention as they had to qualify in a time trial to participate in the 'rowing on' divisions, but shone as the third-fastest crew entered. W1 was coached by Thomas Chapman, and W2 and W3 by Iana Alexeeva (a Wolfson DPhil). 

Wolfson students and supporters turned up in droves to cheer on the crews for the final races on Saturday. Wolfson wolves, ‘rabbits' and even blue Wolfson smurfs were spotted in the crowd and on the water. Excellent conditions, beautiful sunshine and some enormous smiles made for a brilliant end to the 2015 Torpids.