St Cross Rowers Make History at Torpids 2025

torpids 2025 m1 crew

 

St Cross College and Wolfson College share a boat club, competing together as Wolfson Boat Club. This year, the club achieved a remarkable milestone at Torpids, as the Men’s 1st boat (M1) secured Head of the River for the first time in Wolfson Boat Club’s history. The Men’s 2nd boat (M2) also triumphed, earning M2 Headship and Blades after an outstanding performance throughout the week. 

Torpids, one of Oxford’s most prestigious rowing events, is a bumps-style regatta held annually on the River Thames (Isis) during Hilary term. Unlike side-by-side racing, boats chase each other in divisions, aiming to ‘bump’ the crew ahead while avoiding being bumped from behind. Crews that rise in the rankings over multiple days can earn Blades, while the top men’s and women’s crews in the highest division are awarded the coveted title of Head of the River. 

The Wolfson M1 boat made history by bumping Christ Church M1 on the opening day to claim Headship, holding off fierce competition from Oriel M1 over the following races to retain their position at the top of the leaderboard. This marks the first time in Wolfson Boat Club’s history that the Men’s 1st boat has won Head of the River, an achievement that will be celebrated in true rowing tradition. 

St Cross students who were part of the M1 crew include: 

  • Cox: Adam Ferris 
  • Stroke: Thomas Monaghan 
  • 7 seat: David Geldbach 
  • 5 seat: Mantas Drelingas 
  • 2 seat: Mads Hoefer (who completed his master's at St Cross) 
  • Bow: Giovanni Rosso 

The M2 boat also delivered a flawless performance, bumping their way up the rankings each day to secure M2 Headship and win Blades—an extraordinary double victory for the squad. Wolfson Boat Club President Benjamin Hardin, a St Cross student, praised the crews for their determination and resilience throughout the competition. 

The Women’s 1st boat (W1) maintained their position in Division 1, successfully bumping Keble W1 but later being bumped by Wadham W1 in a competitive field. The Women’s 2nd boat (W2) had a mixed week, starting strong with a bump on the first day but facing challenges in subsequent races. Despite this, they remain well-placed in Division 3. The Women’s 3rd boat (W3) held their ground, finishing the week at the top of Division 4 after a determined set of races. 

This year’s Torpids will go down in history for Wolfson-St Cross rowing, with the Men’s 1st boat claiming Headship for the first time and the Men’s 2nd boat winning Blades. The crews plan to celebrate their success at the Wolfson Boat Club Dinner at Wolfson College on Friday, with details of St Cross College celebrations to be announced soon. 

Congratulations to all the crews!