Senior Rowing
Captains’ Welcome
Welcome to the section of the UCBC website for experienced rowers and coxes. It is the goal of the club to have as many high performing crews as we can, but there are always lower commitment options available. So whether you are looking to push yourself to be the best athlete you can be, or just enjoy some fresh air and good company on the river, UCBC is the place for you.
Rowing in the top VIIIs at Univ is an excellent opportunity. You will have a fantastic time and make lifelong friends, with access to individual coaching, small boat rowing, and personalised support tailored to your fitness goals. If you’re interested in racing outside of the Oxford bubble and would like to take your rowing or coxing to the next step, contact our captains for more information.
- Tara Narayan and Alex Jones (Women’s Captain)
- Greg Cuff (Men’s Captain)
Rowing in UCBC’s first VIIIs
Being in the first VIIIs is a step up in terms of commitment from the lower boats but is more than worth it for the rewards you get. You train in a set and committed crew from early on each term, with the most experienced rowers in the club, and have more opportunity to compete outside of Oxford in races such as Henley Royal, Henley Women’s and the big Head races. Aside from this, you get to compete in bumps racing for the college, which is one of the most adrenaline-filled types of racing out there as senior rowers who join UCBC from other boat clubs in the UK can attest! We have a very experienced coach, Jono Cheesman, who dedicates a significant amount of time to our senior rowers, both in the bigger boats and in smaller boats, as well as sculling.
There is a dedicated land training programme including weights training and cardiovascular training, largely on the erg. Not only is Jono an experienced coach, he has been with us for a few years now and has a good understanding of what it takes to do an Oxford degree at undergraduate and graduate level. He and our captains provide support enabling any athlete who would like to aim for making the 1st VIIIs during their time at Univ to have more than a decent chance at achieving that goal, provided they are committed, regardless of their sporting background.
The First VIIIs - Summer Eights 2023
Rowing in UCBC’s second VIIIs
With the recent successes of the first VIIIs on both the Men’s and Women’s sides of the club, there is incredibly fierce competition for seats in the first boats. This has really brought on the quality of the second eights, with M2 and W2 as the 4th and 3rd highest second eights on the river. We see this as a massive selling point over some of the other colleges who may have good first boats, but lack the depth to provide fun, competitive and successful lower boats. At Univ we are hugely enthusiastic about developing athletes into first boat rowers, and having strong lower boats is key to this. This development is exemplified in our 2023 eights, where 11 of the 16 rowers learned to row at Univ.
The opportunity for external racing is also not limited to the first boats. In the 2022/23 season both second eights competed at Bedford Regatta, as well in smaller boats for Fours Head. The general ethos is that if the crews are committed and competitive, they’ll be entered into just as many external races as the first boats.
The Second VIIIs - Summer Eights 2023
Recent Achievements
We are a competitive rowing club within Oxford and also externally. Our current positions on the river for Summer Eights and Torpids can be found on OxBump. Pandemic allowing, we regularly enter external regattas and this year sent crews to Met, Marlow, Henley Women’s and Henley Town and Visitors. Our M1 crew recently won first place at Henley T&V as a composite crew with Wolfson College Boat Club (pictured above), and are preparing to enter time trials for Henley Royal Regatta.
Racing Information
UCBC enters various external regattas throughout the year. Previously, our first VIII’s have placed in the top 100 in the national Head of the River Races on the tideway. We also enter some fun races over the summer vacation for those who live in Oxford all year round! If you are in a crew that is entering an external regatta you will need a British Rowing Membership. You should purchase the ‘Student RACE membership’ here.
Small Boat Training
As a member of UCBC you will also have the opportunity to learn to scull and row in our impressive fleet of small boats. These additional sessions are optional but highly encouraged and a great way to fast track your progress in rowing! There are dedicated small boats coaching sessions throughout the year that can accommodate anyone from complete beginners to experienced scullers. To be able to participate, you will have to complete a capsize drill, more information can be found here.
Training Information
Our first VIIIs are successful because they train effectively and consistently. Securing a seat in one of our top boats will require commitment to training but this is something that all past students have managed expertly, and is more than possible across virtually all degree programmes at the university. Your captains are also students and will build training schedules that allow you to train while maintaining good academic standing. You may have to be slightly more organised than coursemates with fewer commitments, but rowing is something that many of us finds helps to structure our day and provides vast mental and physical health benefits. Training varies by term due to different training locations, weather restrictions, and crew members. A rough outline of what to expect is included below.
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Michaelmas Term
Training as one senior squad rather than in crews:
2-4 water sessions per week.
1-2 weights sessions per week.
1-2 erg sessions per week.
Outdoors mixed circuits on weekends.
The balance of water/land sessions will depend on weather and river restrictions.
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Hilary Term
Training in set crews:
4 water sessions per week.
1-2 weights sessions per week.
1-2 erg sessions per week.
Training camp/crew selection is usually in week -1 or week 0.
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Trinity Term
Training in set crews:
6 water sessions per week.
Weights/erg sessions optional but encouraged.
Crew selection is usually in week -1 or week 0.
Univ Women Compete in Henley Women’s Regatta 2021
