The Queen's College Record 2023

The men can be immensely proud both of their performance and of setting a high
standard for the more novice members of the club to aspire to.
An honourable mention this year must be given to W1 for breaking two QCBC
Women’s Side records during their 2023 season. Firstly, they climbed +6 during
Torpids, not only winning blades and entering the next division but setting a new
QCBC Women’s record for the number of bumps in one campaign. The crew rowed
with admirable ferocity and were coxed with calm expertise. W1’s victorious streak
made a comeback in Summer VIIIs where they broke the second record of their
season by winning blades twice in one year. This ‘Double Blades’ year is the first in
the history of the Women’s Side. The club could not be prouder of their achievement,
made all the more impressive by the fact that a vast majority of this crew learnt to
row at Queen’s and are still in their first year of the sport – a real testament to the
talent and hard work of QCBC’s members.
Reports and College Activities
None of the achievements of the club would be possible without the generous
support, both financial and moral, of the College and the 1837 Alumni Society. In
particular, the club is thankful for the two new boats in our fleet, the Queen Elizabeth
II and the Spirit of ’57. As per tradition, a naming ceremony was held for these boats,
with the Chaplain coming down to the boathouse to bless them and the Provost
coming to sprinkle them with Champagne. Having the opportunity to row in boats
of such high quality is a privilege, and one that the rowers do not take lightly. In fact,
it could be said that W1 are more often found cleaning their boat than rowing in it!
This year the club has been lucky enough to venture beyond the parameters of the
Isis. In Hilary the club went to race in Pembroke College, Cambridge’s annual regatta
– after which we were kindly invited to attend Pembroke’s celebratory formal dinner.
Over Easter Vacation a training camp was held in Peterborough in preparation for
Summer VIIIs. The week started off with an erg test and ended with mix-gendered
races down the rowing lake; it goes without saying that the rowers took these said
‘friendly’ races much more seriously than the erg test.
2022-23 has without doubt been a standout year for QCBC, with profuse thanks
due to each and every rower, cox, and committee member for giving their time
and energy to the sport. The members celebrated their successes by holding their
annual Boat Club Dinner, and then again with a supplementary dinner in recognition
of W1’s Blades triumph. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate one another
and enjoy each other’s company perfectly showcases the high levels of success
and camaraderie the club has to offer.
College Record 2023 | The Queen’s College 61