Wadham College Boat Club
Wadham College Boat Club (WCBC) is the rowing club of Wadham College, Oxford, in Oxford, United Kingdom. The club's members are students and staff from Wadham College and Harris Manchester College. Founded circa. 1837, Wadham has had success both within Oxford and externally in regattas such as Henley Royal Regatta.
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.svg.png.webp)  Wadham College boathouse (right) (building shared with St Hugh's & St Anne's) and the rowing blades | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°44′19.3″N 1°14′47.0″W | ||||||||||||||
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| Home water | Isis | ||||||||||||||
| Founded | c. 1837 | ||||||||||||||
Key people |
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| University | University of Oxford | ||||||||||||||
| Colours | |||||||||||||||
| Affiliations | British Rowing (boat code WAD) Christ's College BC (Sister college) | ||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||
The boat club is based in its boathouse on the Isis, which is shared with St Anne's College Boat Club and St Hugh's College Boat Club, as well as in Godstow.
History
The first official record of the boat club’s existence appeared in 1837 when the club was officially constituted. The Wadham 1st Eight competed in the first ever race of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1839, and narrowly lost to Trinity College, 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 and the Grand Challenge Cup on successive days. Wadham won both races with Trinity as the runner-up and Oriel in a distant third.[1] It is from this defeat of Trinity that Wadham claimed its traditional right to wear Cambridge Blue as its boating colours, and to this day the 1st Eight Blazers and Ties continue this tradition.[2]
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.[3] A new boathouse was built in 1989 and is now shared with St. Anne's and St. Hugh's colleges.
The year 1974 saw the first admission of women to the College, and in 1975 a women’s team was officially created. The first year of the women’s club was extraordinarily successful, and the women dominated the university by winning the Christ Church Regatta 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.[4]
Recent form
In recent years, Wadham College Boat Club has achieved great successes in and out of Oxford rowing.
The Women's side last gained Torpids headship in 2019 with their first boat and had their most recent blades win in 2022, again with the first boat. The Eights headship was won in 2017 by W1, the fourth year in a row. External successes include a 4+ composed of W1 members racing at Women's Henley in 2022.
Currently, W1 sits 8th on the river for Torpids and 5th on the river for Eights, both in Division 1. W2 is in Division 4 for both and W3 is in Division 7.
The Open side of the club (formally called the Men's side) has also seen success with their most recent blades win being in Torpids 2023 with the second eight crew, also gaining 2nd VIII headship.
O1 sits 11th on the river for Torpids and 10th on the river for Eights, both in Division 1. O2 is in Division 3 for Torpids and Division 4 for Eights.
Membership
Membership in the boat club is open to all students and staff of Wadham College and Harris Manchester College.
Wadham College Boat Club Society is made up of Wadham College Boat Club current members and alumni. The society plays an active role in the running of the club. The highlight of the year is the annual Society boat race, with mixed crews racing against each other in 4+'s, and then a formal dinner in Hall. Society members also receive the "Wadham College Boat Club Society" newsletter, published yearly.
Equipment
Fleet
Men's boats
- 2022 Filippi 8+ "Spirit of Niccolo"
- 2018 Salani 8+ "Sir Ralph Waller"
- 2016 Filippi 4+ "Paul Bowen"
- 2014 Filippi 8+ "Kristanne Claire"
- 1996 Janousek 8+ "Spirit of Nelson"
Women's boats
- 2022 Filippi 8+ “Dorothy Wadham”
- 2018 Salani 8+ "Spirit of 76"
- 2016 Filippi 4+ "Alpha Lau"
- 2014 Filippi 8+ "Rod Andrews"
- 1997 Janousek 8+ "Mary Margherita"
- 1992 Janousek 8+ "Sir Claus Moser"
Small boats
- 2017 Falcon 1x "Vere Ducker"
- 2016 Falcon 1x "Dorothy"
- Pre 1994 Aylings 2x/2- "John Fleming"
- Pre 1994 Janousek 1x "Harry Fawcett"
- Pre 1994 Janousek 1x "Ben Arber"
Ergometers
The boat club has a dedicated ergometer room in Wadham College with 8 dynamic concept2 ergometers and 8 static ergometers in Wadham College Boathouse.
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.
Social life
Wadham rowers enjoy a varied and exciting social life within the club with Torpids and Eights dinners, Society dinner as well as 'Captains' Cocktails', 'Presidents' Prosecco', crewdates and much more.
Notable Wadham rowers
| 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) | L. Corrigan 2022 (Cox) | S.Brown 1980 (Cox) | L.Girvin 1980 (2) | A.J.Booth 1986 (7) | T. Hackler 2011 | D.C.Mountain 1986 (3) |
| J.T.Thorley 1857 (Str) | L. Corrigan 2023 (Cox) | J.Bond 1980 | A.R.Edwards 1989 (7) | P.M.Banham 2001 (4) | D.C.Mountain 1987 (7, President) | |
| J.T.Thorley 1858 (Str) | L.M.Cribb 1980 (2) | A.L.Roberts 1989 (6) | A.J.Roberts 2002 (7) | H.M.E.Byrne 1990 (3) | ||
| H.R.Medlicote 1861 (3) | S.B.Herring 1981 (Bow) | J.C.Goulden 1990 (Cox) | A.E.Hammacher 2003 (7) | H.M.E.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 (Bow) | 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) | T.Hackler 2012 (5) | Mr T.J.Ryder 2000 (Cox) | ||
| W.R.A.Lambert 1874 (Cox) | S.Waldron 2003 (5) | J.van Campen 2010 (5) | E. Campbell 2021 (Bow) | N.A.J.Thomas 2000 (7) | ||
| W.St.L.Robertson 1886 (3) | S.Waldron 2004 (7, President) | E. Campbell 2022 (7) | N.E.R.Beveridge 2006 (3) | |||
| T.A.Cook 1889 (3) | R.J.Pawley 2012 (6) | K.M.Taylor 2007 (Str) | ||||
| G.C.Drinkwater 1902 (Bow) | M.Badcott 2015 (5) | K.M.Taylor 2008 (6, President) | ||||
| G.C.Drinkwater 1903 (7) | M.Badcott 2016 (7, President) | A. Robotham 2016 (Bow) | ||||
| R.H.Owen 1910 (2) | J. Blyth 2022 (6) | |||||
| T.S.Swayze 1960 (3) | J. Blyth 2023 (5) | |||||
| C.P.Berners-Lee 1979 (Cox) | ||||||
| Sue Brown 1981 (Cox) | ||||||
| Sue Brown 1982 (Cox) | ||||||
| G.B.Stewart 1987 (Str) | ||||||
| G.B.Stewart 1988 (6) |
| Year | Men's Captains | Women's Captains | Men's President | Women's President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006/2007 | Matt Bull | Lucy Ventress | ||
| 2007/2008 | Tom Raynor | Steph Poulier | ||
| 2008/2009 | Andrew Brown | Mary Gallagher | ||
| 2009/2010 | Paul Wikramaratna | Gabriel Lambert | ||
| 2010/2011 | John Owen | Lauren Pringle, Hannah Tickle and Hannah Nugent | ||
| 2011/2012 | Russ Tucker | Nora Spicer | ||
| 2012/2013 | Niccolo Torrigiani | Hannah Lewis | ||
| 2013/2014 | Tom Johnes | Steph Hall | ||
| 2014/2015 | Joe Emsley | Lia Orlando | ||
| 2015/2016 | James Évry | Joseph Reason | ||
| 2016/2017 | James Évry (Michaelmas) and Nicolas Basty | Olivia Weatherhead | ||
| 2017/2018 | Jacob Scorey | Francesca Murphy | ||
| 2018/2019 | Jackson Cooper-Driver | Kate Aston and Zara Shepherd-Brierley | ||
| 2019/2020 | Aidan Gallagher | Jovana Pepić | Jackson Cooper-Driver | Eloise Stark |
| 2020/2021 | Morten Lindholt Pahus | Isla Henderson and Charlotte Bogle | Aidan Gallagher | Jovana Pepić |
| 2021/2022 | Freddie zu Wied | Alice Edwards (Michaelmas) and Jovana Pepić | Aidan Gallagher | Charlotte Bogle |
| 2022/2023 | Conor McMahon | Nova Bish (Michaelmas) and Georgina Remmer | Isabelle Legge | |
| 2023/2024 | Joshua Seed | Lucy Back | David Sun | Leah Harper |
Honours
Henley Royal Regatta
| Year | Races won |
|---|---|
| 1849 | Grand Challenge Cup, Ladies' Challenge Plate |
| 1908 | Thames Challenge Cup |
| 1909 | Thames Challenge Cup |
Torpids
| Year | Results |
|---|---|
| 2012 | M2 Blades |
| 2013 | W2 2nd VIII Headship |
| 2014 | M2 Blades |
| 2015 | W1 Headship, M3 Blades (3rd VIII Headship), W2 Blades (2nd VIII Headship) |
| 2018 | M3 Blades |
| 2019 | W1 Headship |
| 2022 | W1 Blades |
| 2023 | M2 Blades (2nd VIII Headship) |
Summer Eights
| Year | Results |
|---|---|
| 2013 | W2 Blades (2nd VIII Headship) |
| 2014 | W1 Headship, W2 2nd VIII Headship |
| 2015 | W1 Headship, W2 2nd VIII Headship |
| 2016 | W1 Headship, W3 Blades |
| 2017 | W1 Headship |
Michaelmas Novice Regatta (Formally Christchurch Regatta)
| Year | Results |
|---|---|
| 2016 | NM1 Winners |
| 2017 | NW1 Winners |
| 2018 | NW1 Winners |
Oriel Regatta
| Year | Results |
|---|---|
| 2013 | W1 W 8+ Winners |
References
- Wells, J (1898). Wadham College: College History, (London).
- "Wadham At Henley". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- Sherriff, C. (2003). The Oxford College Barges, (London).
- "The History of Wadham College Boat Club". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
External links
Rowing at the University of Oxford | ||
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| College Boat Clubs |
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