St Cross College, Oxford

Summer Eights, the annual inter-collegiate bumps rowing regatta, gets under way this week with a very impressive show of St Crossers (asterisked in the lists below) as members of the Wolfson-St Cross rowing crews.

The bump races will take place from Wednesday 1 June to Saturday 4 June on the Isis, that stretch of the River Thames at the far end of Christ Church Meadow. Do go along and show your support if you can.

Wednesday's racing times are below and more information can be found on the Boat Club's Website.

Good Luck to all involved!

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Daily Reports from Rebecca Schneider and photos by Esther Horowitz.

Wednesday 1 June - Race Report

Summer Eights is off to a fast start for Wolfson and St Cross rowers. Unfortunately, the first day was not meant to be for our Men's 3rd VIII, Women's 2nd VIII, and Women's 1st VIII. Each of these races ended in a klaxon. However, the Men's 3rd was closing on St Antony's 2nd in the gut and was a 1/2 length off before the klaxon. The Women's 2nd was in clear water and poised to row over, with LMH bumping out ahead of them and St Antony's chasing them from behind at 7 lengths. The Women's 1st boat was poised for a bump in the gut, chasing Linacre - however, a pile up created in front of them caused the race to be klaxoned. Better luck in the next races!

Our Men's 2nd boat bumped quickly, setting off near the top of their division and chasing St Peter's 2nd. They bumped St Peter's in the middle of the gut! Our Men's 1st also bumped, chasing Balliol. Our Men's 1st is quickly becoming a powerhouse and moving up in Division 1.

Great rowing from all of our team!

Thursday 2 June - Race Report

Day Two of Summer Eights was definitely exciting for Wolfson and St Cross rowers. Starting with our Men's 3rd VIII, they bumped St Antony's 2nd VIII in the gut in a good show of strength. Our Men's 2nd VIII, had a more difficult race. They were trying to bump Merton 2, and raced the entire length of the river, with less than a 1/2 length between them. M2 rowed over in good style, however, and we look forward to seeing them move up today (to the head of division V). Our Men's 1st VIII, bumped St Catz and moved up one more place in Division I - which they are steadily climbing. M1 is currently now at position 6 in Division 1 rankings. Congrats boys!

Our women, had both triumphs and frustrations. Women's 1st VIII had an excellent race. They moved on Linacre just past Donny Bridge and had gotten the bump entering the gut. Our women's 2nd VIII, was in a chase between St Antony's from behind and Christchurch ahead. Antony's crashed into the bank, and Wolfson went in for Christchurch. Unfortunately, St. Peter's did not clear the racing line ahead of Christchurch, and both the Wolfson and Christchurch coxes had to take a wide (and creative) line to avoid mishap. The race was klaxoned right as Wolfson had overlap on Christchurch. This is the second day of klaxons for Women's Division III. Better luck next time!

Congrats to all the crews that bumped on Thursday! We look forward to seeing St Cross and Wolfson supporters come down to the boathouse!

Friday 3 June - Race Report

Today was another great day for Wolfson with bumps for M1, M2 and W1, setting us up for a fantastic end to the week tomorrow.

M1 bumped Hertford halfway down the Green Bank, and tomorrow take on Univ from bungline 5. M2 bumped Hertford II at the top of Div V, and then rowed over as the sandwich boat in Div IV after the crews ahead bumped out. M3 unfortunately lost a blade, but managed to put it back in (impressing the marshalls!) and went on to row over. W1 bumped St Catherine's just after Donnington Bridge in a bit of a tangled bump (yes, everyone is ok, thanks to all who have been asking) and W2 were unfortunately bumped by Wadham II, but fired up for revenge tomorrow!

Saturday 4 June - Race Report

Saturday of Summer Eights racing ended well for Wolfson crews. After 4 intense days, bumps were had, victory was felt, and coxes got thrown into the Isis.

For our men, a huge Congratulations to M1! They had an epic race to catch University in the Men's Division 1 final. Already chasing them about 1 1/2 lengths off at Green Bank, they passed the boat houses closing in at 1 length. A push right after the boathouses meant that Wolfson had secured their bump at the very final seconds of the race. Amazingly well done boys! M1 has received Crossed Blades, or when a team gets blades in both Torpids and Summer Eights. What a season!

Our M2 rowed over at the top of Division V. They then bumped St John's M2, to secure a solid position in Division IV. Congratulations for moving up a division! Our M3 in Division VI, stayed at position 11 and rowed over.

Our women were equally as strong. In Division II, W1 moved up a spot each day. They ended on a high note, bumping Keble College only a few strokes into the race and before Donny Bridge. Fast work girls! Unfortunately, their chances at blades were foiled by a klaxon on the first day of racing. Next year, they will be at position 3 in Division II. Our W2 rowers had their patience tested each day. Not only was there a klaxon that foiled their attempts on Wednesday and Thursday, but once again - on Saturday - a klaxon was fired after the first crews in the division bumped. But, W2 had a very fast start and were taking a great line on Wadham and no where near being caught from behind by Hertford. Thus, W2 rowed over for 3 days out of 4. Hopefully, Women's Division III won't be plagued by an unusual amount of trouble next year.

Congrats to all the rowers, coxes, coaches and supporters. We all enjoyed a great Summer Eights!

  Crews:

M2

W1