Women's rowing team takes Head of the River

Following a nearly two-year hiatus, bumps racing finally returned to Oxford. Torpids and Summer Eights, respectively held in Hilary Term and Trinity Term, are the highlight of the collegiate rowing calendar. Over 150 crews from some 35 college boat clubs enter to race over a four-day period, setting off single file with just 130ft of clear water between them and attempting to 'bump' the crew in front before the boat behind catches up. 

The Wolfson College Boat Club entered eight crews in total: three into the men's division and five into the women's division—a Club record! All of our crews rowed hard and fought valiantly, with our Womens 1st VIII bumping their way up the rankings every day. This is the first time that Wolfson has held a Torpids Headship, and only the second time in the history of women's Torpids that a crew has bumped every day (referred to as winning 'blades') in order to achieve the coveted position.

This year, Torpid rules and standings were adopted for the summer races on the grounds of safety, as only one crew stops rowing after a bump is achieved - the 'bumping crew' - rather than both.

Photo credit: Gareth Ardron Photography