Summer Eights | |
Head of the River | |
Oriel College Men [1] | Christ Church Women [1] |
![]() | ![]() |
Highest 2nd Eight (Men) | Oriel College (Division II) [1] |
Highest 2nd Eight (Women) | Wolfson College (Division II) [1] |
Course | Isis (upstream) |
Course length | c. 1800m |
Note: Last Eights 22 May – 25 May 2024 | |
OURCs - Summer Eights |
Eights Week, also known as Summer Eights, is a four-day regatta of bumps races which constitutes the University of Oxford's main intercollegiate rowing event of the year. The regatta takes place in May of each year, from the Wednesday to the Saturday of the fifth week of Trinity Term. Men's and women's eights compete in separate divisions for their colleges.
The racing takes place on the Isis, a length of the River Thames, which is generally too narrow for side by side racing. For each division, twelve boats line up at the downstream end of the stretch, each cox holding onto a rope attached to the bank, leaving around 1.5 boat lengths between each boat. The start of racing is signalled by the firing of a cannon, each crew attempting to progress up their division by bumping the boat in front, while avoiding being bumped by the boat behind. Once a bump has taken place, both of the crews involved stop racing and move to the side to allow the rest of the division to pass. It is possible to "over bump" if the 2 crews in front of your boat bump (and so drop out) and your boat can catch the boat that was in front of them. They then swap places for the next day's racing, whether that be the calendar day or the first day of racing in the next year's competition. [2]
The ultimate aim of a crew is to become "Head of the River" (top of the first division) and stay there. This entitles the winning crew to commission trophy oars in their college colours with the names and weights of the successful crew on them — commonly called "winning blades". As this is only possible for crews already near the top of division one, another way to win blades is to bump on each day of the competition. [3]
The "Double Headship" is an accolade awarded to any college finishing with both their men's and women's crews at the "Head of the River" in their respective divisions. This feat has only ever been achieved once, by Pembroke College in 2003. A silver "Double Headship Trophy" was commissioned from the silversmith Peter Musson in 2003, to commemorate the historic occasion. [4]
Although regular races between professional watermen had been known since 1715 when Doggett's Coat and Badge was instituted, amateur racing was unknown before 1808. [5] Meanwhile, recreational rowing had begun in Oxford very much earlier, with students rowing in single wherries at least as early as 1769. [6]
The first amateur races between organised clubs which prepared and trained for the event began in Oxford in 1815. In this year, crews from Brasenose College and Jesus College raced for the Head of the River, from Iffley Lock to Mr King's Barge, which was moored near the current Head of the River hotel. The event is also notable for the fact that both crews rowed in eight oared boats, specially built for the purpose. Such recreational as occurred at this time was usually conducted in pairs, or four or six oared cutters. The fact the racing was conducted in eight oared boats gave rise to the event being known as Eights. [7]
Brasenose College and Jesus College recontested the event in 1816, with Brasenose again triumphing. Christ Church joined in the event from 1817, when they went Head, a position they retained until 1819. [8] : 289 Christ Church did not row in 1820. The next recorded races, between Brasenose and Jesus, were in 1821 and 1822. A dispute about professional watermen being allowed in college crews precluded racing in 1823. Until this time, Jesus and Brasenose had each used paid coaches who rowed in the stroke seats of the crews. [9]
From 1824, Christ Church and Exeter College began racing, with Exeter going Head in that year. A rule banning the use of "out college men" (i.e. men from other colleges) rowing in college crews saw the entry of Worcester College in 1825, University and Balliol Colleges in 1827, and Oriel and Trinity Colleges in 1828. [8] : 317
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Summer Eights were cancelled for the first time since the Second World War. In the year after, Summer Eights were replaced by Summer Torpids, which was held instead because the 2021 Torpids races were also cancelled due to the pandemic response. Both Summer Eights and Torpids resumed as regular in 2022, using the college rankings from the end of 2019. In 2023, the Brasenose-Peter's composite crew became the first composite crew to qualify in the history of Summer Eights as well as the first to ever get a bump.
Blade | College | Men | Women | Headships [10] | Longest time held - Men | Longest time held - Women | Last Headship – Men | Last Headship - Women |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Oriel | 35 | - | 35 | 1978–84 & 1996–2002 | - | 2023 | - |
![]() | Christ Church | 33 | 1 | 34 | 1828–32 | 2023-24 | 2017 | 2024 |
![]() | Brasenose | 24 | - | 24 | 1888–91 & 1928–31 | - | 1931 | - |
![]() | Magdalen | 20 | - | 20 | 1892–95 & 2004–07 | - | 2007 | - |
![]() | New College | 16 | 2 | 18 | 1896–99 | 2004–05 | 1986 | 2005 |
![]() | University | 13 | 1 | 14 | 1896–99 | - | 1991 | 2022 |
![]() | Trinity | 13 | - | 13 | 1869–71 | - | 1949 | - |
![]() | Balliol | 10 | 2 | 12 | 1859–60 & 1955–56 | 2010–11 | 2008 | 2011 |
![]() | Pembroke | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2013 | 2000–03 | 2013 | 2018 |
![]() | St Edmund Hall | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1959–61 | 2006–09 | 1965 | 2009 |
![]() | Keble | 8 | - | 8 | 1967-1970 | - | 2018 | - |
![]() | Somerville | - | 8 | 8 | - | 1990–93 | - | 1993 |
![]() | Wadham | 2 | 6 | 8 | - | 2014–17 | 1856 | 2017 |
![]() | Exeter | 7 | - | 7 | 1882-84 | - | 1884 | - |
Osler House a | - | 5 | 5 | - | 1988–89 & 1994–95 | - | 1995 | |
Osler-Green b | - | 4 | 4 | - | 1996–99 | - | 1999 | |
![]() | St Hugh's | - | 4 | 4 | - | 1982–84 | - | 1984 |
![]() | Queen's | 3 | - | 3 | - | - | 1957 | - |
![]() | Corpus Christi | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 1885 | - |
![]() | Hertford | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 1881 | - |
![]() | Lady Margaret Hall | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1977 |
![]() | Merton | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 1951 | - |
St John's | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 2013 | |
![]() | Wolfson | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 2019 |
a Since 2008 this crew composition does not exist any more. Prior to the foundation of Green Templeton College members of Green College raced with Osler House whereas members of Templeton College raced with Hertford College.[ citation needed ] |
b Prior to the composite crew with Green College and after the foundation of Green Templeton Boat Club, Osler raced as an independent crew formed of clinical medical students.[ citation needed ] |
Summer Eights has been held since 1815. [14] [15]
No racing occurred during World War I. In World War II, though college rowing continued, there were insufficient students for normal racing between colleges to be maintained. As a consequence, most colleges competed in composite clubs, and the number of crews competing was greatly curtailed. After the war, normal racing continued, and in 1946 college crews started in the order in which they finished in 1939. [16]
a Unknown whether any racing occurred [14] |
b No racing took place owing to a dispute over whether professional watermen were legitimate crew members [14] |
c No racing owing to the first varsity boat race [17] |
d No racing owing to World War I |
e No racing owing to World War II |
f No racing owing to the COVID 19 Pandemic |
g No racing owing to the postponement of Torpids to Trinity Term caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic |
Year | College | Year | College | Year | College | Year | College | Year | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | ![]() | 1977 | ![]() | 1978 | ![]() | 1979 | ![]() | 1980 | ![]() |
1981 | ![]() | 1982 | ![]() | 1983 | ![]() | 1984 | ![]() | 1985 | Osler House |
1986 | ![]() | 1987 | ![]() | 1988 | Osler House | 1989 | Osler House | 1990 | ![]() |
1991 | ![]() | 1992 | ![]() | 1993 | ![]() | 1994 | Osler House | 1995 | Osler House |
1996 | Osler-Green | 1997 | Osler-Green | 1998 | Osler-Green | 1999 | Osler-Green | 2000 | ![]() |
2001 | ![]() | 2002 | ![]() | 2003 | ![]() | 2004 | ![]() | 2005 | ![]() |
2006 | ![]() | 2007 | ![]() | 2008 | ![]() | 2009 | ![]() | 2010 | ![]() |
2011 | ![]() | 2012 | ![]() | 2013 | ![]() | 2014 | ![]() | 2015 | ![]() |
2016 | ![]() | 2017 | ![]() | 2018 | ![]() | 2019 | ![]() | 2020 | - a |
2021 | - b | 2022 | ![]() | 2023 | ![]() | 2024 | ![]() | 2025 |
a No racing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
b No racing due to the postponed of Torpids to Trinity Term caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. |
A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each crew attempting to catch and 'bump' the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind.
Torpids is one of two series of bumping races, a type of rowing race, held yearly at Oxford University; the other is Eights Week. Over 130 men's and women's crews race for their colleges in twelve divisions: six each of men's and women's; almost 1,200 participants in total. The racing takes place on the Isis, usually in the 7th week of Hilary Term on four successive days from Wednesday to Saturday.
The Lent Bumps are a set of rowing races held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887, after separating from the May Bumps, which are bumping races held in mid-June. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827. The races are open to all college boat clubs from the University of Cambridge, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin Boat Club. The Lent Bumps take place over five days at the end of February / start of March and are run as bumps races.
Pembroke College Boat Club (PCBC) is the rowing club for members of Pembroke College, Oxford, one of the college boat clubs in Oxford.
Jesus College Boat Club is a rowing club for members of Jesus College, Oxford, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. The club was formed in 1835, but rowing at the college predates the club's foundation: a boat from the college was involved in the earliest recorded races between college crews at Oxford in 1815, when it competed against Brasenose College. In the early years of rowing at Oxford, Jesus was one of the few colleges that participated in races. Neither the men's nor the women's 1st VIIIs have earned the title of "Head of the River", which is gained by winning Eights Week—the main inter-college rowing competition at Oxford.
Brasenose College Boat Club (BNCBC) is the rowing club of Brasenose College, Oxford, in Oxford, England. It is one of the oldest boat clubs in the world, having beaten Jesus College Boat Club in the first modern rowing race, held at Oxford in 1815. Although rowing at schools such as Eton College and Westminster School predates this, the 1815 contest is the first recorded race between rowing clubs anywhere in the world.
University College Boat Club is the rowing club for all members of University College, Oxford ("Univ"). UCBC is based out of the college's own boathouse on the towpath side of the Isis.
Balliol College Boat Club (BCBC) is the rowing club for members of Balliol College, Oxford, England. It is one of the college boat clubs at the University of Oxford.
The Queen's College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of The Queen's College, Oxford. It is one of the oldest boat clubs in the world, having been founded in 1827.
Exeter College Boat Club (ECBC) is the boat club of Exeter College, Oxford, England. The club trains on the Thames on the Isis stretch in Oxford and at Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
St Edmund Hall Boat Club is a rowing club for members of St Edmund Hall, Oxford. It is based in its own boathouse on the Isis.
Keble College Boat Club (KCBC) is the rowing club of Keble College, in Oxford, United Kingdom. The boat club is based in its boathouse on the Isis, which is shared with Jesus College. Most of the year is spent training at the boat club's second facility at the Godstow stretch to the North.
Regent's Park College Boat Club is the boat club of Regent's Park College, Oxford, a permanent private hall of the University of Oxford. It is based in New College Boat House which it shares with New College Boat Club.
St Peter's College Boat Club (SPCBC) is the rowing club for members of St Peter's College, Oxford. Founded in 1929, it is now based in the University College Boathouse on the southern bank of The Isis. The Boat Club competes in Torpids and Summer Eights bumps races in Oxford. Notable St Peter's oarsmen include Mark Stanhope, former Bishop of Oxford John Pritchard, former World Champion Mike Blomquist and Karl Hudspith and Roman Röösli.
Wolfson College Boat Club is rowing club for the members of both Wolfson College, Oxford and St Cross College, Oxford. The club has competed since 1969 and takes part in the collegiate competitions Torpids and Summer Eights. Due to the membership being drawn from graduate colleges, the club races actively during the vacation periods at external races. Both squads also participate in the annual head races in London on the tideway.
St Hilda's College Boat Club, Oxford (SHCBC) is a rowing club part of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded between 1893 and 1896, and competes primarily in the Torpids and Summer Eights bumps races in Oxford.
Lady Margaret Hall Boat Club (LMHBC) is a rowing club for members and staff of Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), Oxford. It was founded in 1976, when a women’s division was finally established. As the senior women’s college, LMH were placed at 1st on the river for the inaugural women’s bumps races and obtained Headship in 1977. The first men’s crew was established in 1980 following the admission of male students into the previously all-women’s college.
Somerville College Boat Club (SCBC) is the rowing club of Somerville College, Oxford. The club was formed in 1921 as one of the first women's clubs on the Isis, however was unable to compete in bumps until 1969. The women's team has won the title Head of the River eight times in Summer Eights and five times in Torpids, more than any other women's rowing team from the University of Oxford.
Oriel College Boat Club (OCBC) is the rowing club of Oriel College, Oxford. Rowing at Oriel is carried out from the college's own boathouse across Christ Church Meadow, on Boat House Island.
St Benet's Hall Boat Club is a rowing club in Oxford. It used to be the boat club of now defunct St Benet's Hall, Oxford. It is based on the Isis at Boathouse Island, Christ Church Meadow, Oxford.