College Record 2013

Boat Club
This has been another triumphant year for the Club, which culminated in both the
men’s and women’s first VIII achieving the first division of Summer Eights.
The year began with a Men’s IV and Women’s IV competing in two categories at
Henley Town and Visitors Regatta in July 2012. This initial success was followed
by Oxford City Royal Regatta, in which Wolfson won no fewer than 24 pots, with
a men’s coxed IV and men’s VIII winning their category on both days, a great
achievement.
The momentum was carried forward into a strong recruitment drive. Both freshers
fairs showed there is great interest in the Club, and a large number signed up,
resulting in several novice crews training to compete in Christ Church Regatta.
Although the regatta was rained off, this did not stop the Wolfson rowers. An erg
regatta was held between all colleges of the University Boat Club, and our women
were victorious. During Michaelmas term, the senior crews were also training hard,
entering the IWL head races between the colleges, despite sub-zero temperatures.
Weeks of flooding throughout Hilary Term prevented our crews from training
on the Isis, but many hours were spent on the erg and in the gym, in addition to
many weekend outings to Dorney, the rowing venue of the 2012 Olympic Games.
This training paid off in another very successful Torpids. Five crews (three men’s
and two women’s) competed in exciting intercollegiate bumps racing: Wolfson,
with a total of eight bumps over the four days, was ranked eighth on the river. The
Women’s first VIII moved up two places to the top of Division 2, just missing a
place in Division 1. The Women’s second VIII also moved up two places, and are
now top of Division 4. The Men’s first VIII had a more difficult week in the top half
of Division 1: despite a very strong performance each day, they slipped two places.
The Men’s second VIII moved up five places during the four days, and the Men’s
Third VIII moved up four.
In March two of our rowers, Cynthia Eccles and James Kirkbride, represented
Oxford against Cambridge in the lightweight crews. 41 Wolfson students, MCR
and friends, braved the Arctic cold to enjoy the spectacle. James rowed at bow in the
OULRC boat which beat Cambridge by 1⅔ lengths, and Cynthia rowed at two in
the OUWLRC boat which beat Cambridge by 4¾ lengths. We toasted their victory
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