Summer VIIIs Roundup 2022
After a tough Torpids 2022, SEHBC needed to prepare for our first Summer VIIIs in 3 years. To do this, we held a week-long Easter training camp on the Isis to gel crews together and to get rowers and coxes alike up to standard. Additionally, both our W1 and our M1 competed in WeHoRR and HoRR over the Easter holidays, and gained some crucial external racing experience. This year we entered 6 crews into Summer VIIIs, 3 men’s crews and 3 women’s crews. Sadly our M3 didn’t make it past a very competitive rowing on, and therefore only M1 and M2 raced in Summer VIIIs on our men’s side. Women’s division I finished the day, the first time this has ever happened in Summer VIIIs!
Day 1; Wednesday
Our W2 and W3 crews started the day off in women’s division VI. W3 were sadly bumped by a very strong Univ W4 and are looking for some strong races for the rest of the week.
Our W2 raced at the top of division VI and after a strong row over, they were the sandwich boat for women’s division V. They had a speedy bump on Corpus W2 before Donnington Bridge and are ready for some more bow-on-stern action tomorrow. M2 were bumped by a strong Linacre M1, and they’re looking to stay in a very competitive men’s division III.
M1 started the week off at 5th on the river in men’s division I. They had an incredible row over and held off stiff competition from Wadham M1. A speedy start from W1 at 6th on the river in women’s division I proved they were quicker than Keble behind them. A klaxon before they reached the gut meant an easy row over.
Day 2; Thursday
W3 started the day off in women’s division VII with high hopes of a row over but were sadly bumped by a stacked Wolfson W4.
W2 had an incredibly quick start and bumped Mansfield in their start sequence before a klaxon following an ejector crab sounded. They’re hoping to continue on their hunt for blades this week… M2 were chased by a very strong GTC M1 and were bumped in the gut following a great row.
M1 held off a very fast Wolfson for as long as they could with some fantastic rowing, but were bumped in the gut. W1 had a strong start from 6th on the river and bumped Pembroke in the gut and are now 5th on the river!!!
Day 3; Friday
W3 started out the day with an impressive row over at the top of women’s division VII and rowed over again at the bottom of women’s division VI!
W2 had deja-vu today with another klaxon, but luckily a penalty bump on Keble W2 meant that our W2 go +1 and are on for blades! M2 were sadly bumped by a very fast Univ M2, and are hoping to row over tomorrow! M1 had a very strong start and managed to hold off Wadham until the end of Greenbanks in a 3 boat sandwich. Unfortunately Wadham managed to bump our M1 before Balliol could get them.
Our W1 had a strong row over, with the 4 boats in front of them bumping out early meaning that they rowed at the head of the river for a day!
Day 4; Saturday
W3 started our final day of Summer VIIIs, and were bumped by Osler W2. They avoided spoons, and finished the week with -3.
W2 had a close call with a 3 boat sandwich, but got their bump on Catz W2 at Donnington Bridge, meaning they have won BLADES!!! M2 finished the week with another bump, meaning they went -4 and earnt themselves spoons! M1 had a strong row to Greenbanks but were chased by a strong Balliol M1 and were bumped, meaning they finished the week -3 at 8th on the river in men’s division I.
W1 had a fantastic row over, pushing Pembroke away by multiple lengths and holding on to Wadham all the way to the finish. They finished the week +1 at 5th on the river in women’s division I!!! This is the highest our W1 have been since 2015!
Totals
Here is an overview of SEHBC’s movement this Summer VIIIs:
W1 +1
M1 -3
M2 -4
W2 +4 BLADES
W3 -3
India Brough (President 2021/22)