The Queen's College Record 2023

Reports and College Activities
Credit: Gareth Ardron
QUEEN’S COLLEGE BOAT CLUB
Captains: Charlotte Wheatley, Antonia Johnson, Tom Batchelor
The past academic year was a momentous one for QCBC. It was wonderful to
see the substantial growth of the club on both the Men’s and Women’s sides. An
impressive six boats qualified for Summer VIIIs, with over 50 members competing.
Furthermore, an inspiring dynamic of support between the two sides has been
cultivated at the boathouse this year, which is sure to lay secure foundations of
collaboration and friendship between the Men’s and Women’s sides in the years
to come.
A standout achievement of this year’s club is the success of the new cohort of
novices. The Michaelmas Novice Regatta gave them the opportunity to gain race
experience; by the time Torpids rolled around, many of these rowers and coxes were
competing in first and second boats alongside the seniors. The commitment of the
novices stood the club’s second boats in good stead for bumps racing, with M2 and
W2 both successfully rowing on. It is the first time since 2009 that W2 has qualified
for Torpids which is a significant achievement in itself, but the crew was not satisfied
with that alone, so rowed determinedly and went on to go +4 across the week!
The club’s returning rowers played a pivotal part in the training of new members,
giving their time to the novices as well as committing themselves wholeheartedly to
the intensive senior training schedule. Moreover, M1 were successful in maintaining
their place in the prestigious Second Division in both Torpids and Summer VIIIs.
60 The Queen’s College | College Record 2023