Wadham College Boat Club

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Wadham College Boat Club
                       
The flag of WCBC flying at their boathouse.
LocationBoathouse Island, Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, England
Coordinates51°44′19.3″N 1°14′47.0″W / 51.738694°N 1.246389°W / 51.738694; -1.246389
Home waterIsis
Foundedc. 1837
UniversityUniversity of Oxford
Colours     
AffiliationsBritish Rowing (boat code WAD)
Christ's College BC (Sister college)
Websitewww.wadham.ox.ac.uk/current-students/wadham-college-boat-club
AcronymWCBC

Wadham College Boat Club (WCBC) is the rowing club of Wadham College, Oxford in Oxford, England. The club is composed of students and staff from Wadham College and the adjacent Harris Manchester College.[1] The club was founded in about 1837 and has since been successful both within Oxford college rowing and in external competitions such as Henley Royal Regatta.

The boat club is based in its boathouse on the Isis, shared with St Anne's College Boat Club and St Hugh's College Boat Club. Training also takes place in Godstow from St Edward's School's boathouse.

History

The earliest surviving record of the boat club's existence are accounts for 1837, although evidence suggests it was founded during the early 1830s.[2] Wadham competed in the first Grand Challenge Cup in 1839, losing to Trinity College, Cambridge.[3] In 1849, Wadham competed against Trinity and Oriel College, Oxford in the Ladies' Challenge Plate and the Grand Challenge Cup. Wadham won both races with Trinity coming in second.[2] It is said this victory led to Wadham's right to use Cambridge's blue-green for first VIII colours instead of its traditional light blue,[3] although this is debated.[2]

Wadham began boating from a hired barge near the mouth of the Cherwell in 1886,[2] and permanently purchased a barge in 1897. It was sold in 1973,[4][5] and the current boathouse was built in 1989.

Women were first admitted to the college in 1974, and the first women's crew was formed in 1975. After successful performances within Oxford and externally that year, the crew proceeded to win Head of the River in the first ever women's Summer VIIIs in 1976. [5] The current women's third VIII is named the Spirit of '76 in honour of this event.[6]

Recent form

Training at Godstow

In recent years, Wadham has remained successful both within Oxford rowing and externally.

The women's first VIII last gained Torpids headship in 2019 and last won blades in Torpids in 2022. They also held headship in Summer VIIIs from 2014 to 2018. They currently sit 8th on the river for Torpids and 2nd for Summer VIIIs.[7] They also frequently compete in external regattas such as Henley Women's Regatta, which was most recently entered in 2024.[8]

The open (formerly men's) first VIII also remain in Division 1 for both Torpids and Summer VIIIs, currently in 11th position for both. The open second VIII won blades in Torpids 2023 and are currently the highest second VIII on the river.[7] The open side last competed externally at the Head of the River Race in 2024.[9]

Club life

Membership

Membership of the boat club is open to all students and staff at both Wadham College and Harris Manchester College.

Additionally, both current boat club members and alumni make up the Wadham College Boat Club Society (WCBCS). The Society provides support to the boat club including advice, fundraising and donations. It also runs an annual regatta and President's Dinner, as well as an annual newsletter.[10]

Social events

Beyond the aforementioned President's Dinner, members of the boat club enjoy a variety of social events. Both Torpids and Summer VIIIs are typically appended with formal dinners. Frequent informal social events occur throughout the year including "Captains' Cocktails", "Presidents' Prosecco" and crewdates with other colleges.[11]

Equipment

Fleet

Wadham M1, Summer Eights 2022

Source:[6]

Open boats

  • 1996 Janousek 8+ "Spirit of Nelson"
  • 2014 Filippi 8+ "Kristanne Claire"
  • 2016 Filippi 4+ "Paul Bowen"
  • 2018 Salani 8+ "Sir Ralph Waller"
  • 2022 Filippi 8+ "Spirit of Niccolo"[12]
Wadham W1, Summer Eights 2023

Women's boats

  • 1997 Janousek 8+ "Mary Margherita"
  • 2014 Filippi 8+ "Rod Andrews"
  • 2016 Filippi 4+ "Alpha"
  • 2018 Salani 8+ "Spirit of 76"
  • 2022 Filippi 8+ “Dorothy Wadham”

Small boats

  • Pre 1994 Janousek 1x "Harry Fawcett"
  • Pre 1994 Janousek 1x "Ben Arber"
  • 2016 Falcon 1x "Dorothy"
  • 2017 Falcon 1x "Vere Ducker"
Ergs in the College Gym

Ergometers

The boat club has eight dynamic Concept2 ergometers in the Wadham College gym,[8] and eight static Concept2 ergs in its boathouse.

Wadham College Boat Club at Eights Dinner 2023

Honours

Boat Race representatives

The following rowers were part of the rowing club at the time of their participation in The Boat Race.[13][14][15][16]

Men's boat race

Year Name
1849D. Wauchope
1856J. T. Thorley
1857J. T. Thorley
1858J. T. Thorley
1861H. E. Medlicott
1861W. Robertson
1861S. O. B. Risdale (cox)
1862C. R. Carr
1863C. R. Carr
1874W. F. A. Lambert (cox)
1886W. St L. Robertson
1889T. A. Cook
1902G. C. Drinkwater
1903G. C. Drinkwater
1910R. H. Owen
1979C. P. Berners-Lee (cox)
1981S. Brown (cox)
1981S. Brown (cox)
1987Gavin B. Stewart
1988Gavin B. Stewart
2019Patrick Sullivan

Women's boat race

Year Name
2015Maddy Badcott
2016Maddy Badcott

Men's boat race (Harris Manchester)

Year Name
2006Tom Parker

Women's boat race (Harris Manchester)

Year Name
2021Georgina Gran

Henley Royal Regatta

Wadham Women at Henley Women's Regatta 2022
Year Races won
1849Grand Challenge Cup
1849Ladies' Challenge Plate[2]
1908Thames Challenge Cup
1909Thames Challenge Cup

Torpids

Wadham W1 winning Division 1 blades in Torpids 2022
Year Results
2012M2 Blades
2013W2 2nd VIII Headship
2014M2 Blades
2015W1 Headship, M3 Blades (3rd VIII Headship), W2 Blades (2nd VIII Headship)
2018M3 Blades
2019W1 Headship
2022W1 Blades
2023M2 Blades (2nd VIII Headship)

Summer Eights

Wadham M2's 'Wizards' at Summer VIIIs 2023
Year Results
2013W2 Blades (2nd VIII Headship)
2014W1 Headship, W2 2nd VIII Headship
2015W1 Headship, W2 2nd VIII Headship
2016W1 Headship, W3 Blades
2017W1 Headship
2025 W3 Blades, M3 Blades

Tamesis Regatta

Novice Men's A Boat during Michaelmas Novice Regatta 2022
Year Results
2016NM1 Winners
2017NW1 Winners
2018NW1 Winners
  • Formerly Christchurch Regatta or Michaelmas Novice Regatta

Oriel Regatta

WCBC Mixed Crew at Oriel Regatta 2021
Year Results
2013W1 W 8+ Winners

Autumn Fours

Year Results
2025 W1 Winners[17]

References

  1. "b.Respective college". OURC. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  2. Wells, J. (1898). Wadham College. London: London, F. E. Robinson. pp. 194–202.
  3. Reid, Ben. "Wadham At Henley". Wadham College Boat Club. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  4. Sherriff, Clare (2003). The Oxford College Barges: Their History and Architecture. Unicorn Press. pp. 85–87. ISBN 9780906290712.
  5. Reid, Ben. "The History of Wadham College Boat Club". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  6. Andrews, Rod; Legge, Isabelle (24 September 2023). "Fleet on Fleek". Wadham College Boat Club Society News (50).
  7. Vaas, Chris. "Oxford Bumps". Oxford Bumps. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. Back, Lucy (11 September 2024). Legge, Isabelle (ed.). "Women's Captain's Report". Wadham College Boat Club Society Newsletter (51).
  9. Seed, Joshua (11 September 2024). Legge, Isabelle (ed.). "Open Captain's Report". Wadham College Boat Club Society Newsletter (51).
  10. "Boat Club Society". Wadham College. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  11. Legge, Isabelle (11 September 2024). "WCBC Committee". Wadham College Boat Club Society Newsletter (51).
  12. Owens, John (24 September 2022). "Niccolò Boat Naming" (PDF). Wadham College Boat Club Society News (49).
  13. "Crews & Results". Oxford University Boat Club. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  14. Dodd, Christopher (1983). The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  15. Wimbledon-Hill, William (1929). Oxford & Cambridge Centenary Boat Race. The Albion Publishing Company.
  16. Drinkwater/Sanders, G.C./T.R.B. (1929). The University Boat Race Official Centenary History. Cassell & Company Ltd.
  17. "Autumn Fours 2025". OURCs. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.