Wolfson College Record 2021

Clubs and Societies
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seniors, by holding a mix of virtual and Covid-secure in-person events. Covidrestrictions
and rising river levels made the training of novices a challenge, but the
captains did their best to get new members out onto the water. Outings were
supplemented with socially distanced training on the rowing machines to help novices
develop their technique, and with virtual circuits. Senior training continued alongside
novice training and crews were able to compete in a time trial race here in Oxford,
the Isis Winter League. The men’s side achieved the fastest two times with crews
from the top squad and the women’s side did the same, also achieving the fastest two
times for women’s crews. As well as larger boats, the Club entered a women’s pair,
which finished faster than many singles, doubles, quads, fours and even two women’s
eights; and a men’s single which came second in its category.
Then the pandemic struck again, closing the boathouse for several months and causing
the much anticipated Michaelmas novice regatta to be cancelled for the second year
in succession. The captains organised virtual training sessions instead, and during
Hilary Term a ‘Lockdown Challenge’ in which members travelled virtually around the
world – almost 9500 kilometres in six weeks – in running, cycling and circuits. Prizes
were awarded to the top contributors at a virtual social event organised to coincide
with the week when Torpids would have ended in a normal year.
As the world slowly reopened, so did the boathouse. The Club was able to begin
training for Summer Torpids, a ‘bumps’ regatta held at the end of Trinity but under
‘Torpids’ rules for safety’s sake. We entered eight crews, three men’s and five
women’s. It had been two years since the last bumps regatta (Summer Eights 2019),
so the Club was ready to make up for lost time. The results were: W5 -1; W4 +1;
M3 -6 (spoons); W3 +4; M2 -2; W2 0, M1 -3; W1 +4 (Headship blades). After
reinserting crews that did not enter this year into the finish order, Wolfson crews
were 1st in WDivI; 7th in MDivI; 11th in WDivII; 10th in MDivIII; 12th in WDivIII;
10th in MDivV; 1st and 6th in WDivVI.
Not only did W1 bump every day to go Head of the River, but in Torpids the Club
also had the highest W2, W3, W4 and W5 on the river. Some crews were bumped
more than they would have liked, but everyone was delighted to be back racing.
W1’s Headship means that Wolfson W1 now holds both the Torpids and Summer
Eights Headships, a double which was last achieved by a women’s crew in 2005
(New College).
Over the summer the crews have been enjoying the quieter river, entering a few
external regattas and getting ready for another excellent year of rowing in which
the Club will remind other colleges once again to fear the Wolf.
Karen Heathcote
Boat Club President
college record 2021