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Eights Week

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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
Summer Eights May 2009 Men's Division 1, showing racing between (from front) Keble College, New College, St Edmund Hall.

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.

Overview

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A busy riverbank scene as a boat is returned to one of the college boathouses in Summer Eights 1982.
The scene at Boathouse Island during Summer Eights 2005, crammed with spectators awaiting the next race.

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]

History

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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.

Head of the River – Summary table (excluding World War 2 races)

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Blade College Men Women Headships[10] Longest time held - Men Longest time held - Women Last Headship – Men Last Headship - Women
Oriel College Boat Club Oriel 35 - 35 1978–84 & 1996–2002 - 2023 -
Christ Church College Boat Club Christ Church 33 1 34 1828–32 2023-24 2017 2024
Brasenose College Boat Club Brasenose 24 - 24 1888–91 & 1928–31 - 1931 -
Magdalen College Boat Club Magdalen 20 - 20 1892–95 & 2004–07 - 2007 -
New College Boat Club New College 16 2 18 1896–99 2004–05 1986 2005
University College Boat Club University 13 1 14 1896–99 - 1991 2022
Trinity College Boat Club Trinity 13 - 13 1869–71 - 1949 -
Balliol College Boat Club Balliol 10 2 12 1859–60 & 1955–56 2010–11 2008 2011
Pembroke College Boat Club Pembroke 4 6 10 2013 2000–03 2013 2018
St Edmund Hall Boat Club St Edmund Hall 5 4 9 1959–61 2006–09 1965 2009
Keble 8 - 8 1967-1970 - 2018 -
Somerville College Boat Club Somerville - 8 8 - 1990–93 - 1993
Wadham College Boat Club Wadham 2 6 8 - 2014–17 1856 2017
Exeter 7 - 7 1882-84 - 1884 -
Osler Housea - 5 5 - 1988–89 & 1994–95 - 1995
Osler-Greenb - 4 4 - 1996–99 - 1999
St Hugh's College Boat Club St Hugh's - 4 4 - 1982–84 - 1984
The Queen's College Boat Club Queen's 3 - 3 - - 1957 -
Corpus Christi College Boat Club Corpus Christi 2 - 2 - - 1885 -
Hertford College Boat Club Hertford 1 - 1 - - 1881 -
Lady Margaret Hall Boat Club Lady Margaret Hall - 1 1 - - - 1977
Merton College Boat Club Merton 1 - 1 - - 1951 -
St John's - 1 1 - - - 2013
Wolfson College Boat Club (Oxford) Wolfson - 1 1 - - - 2019

[11][12][13]

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]

Head of the River – Men

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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]

The earliest-known scene of a race between two eight-oared boats at Oxford University. It has been suggested that the picture shows the "disputed bump" of 1822 in a race between Jesus College and Brasenose College, but this is uncertain.
Stephen Hawking coxing the University Men's 1st VIII in 1963.
An example of a 'poleman' manoeuvring a boat into a good alignment to start. This is something unique to bumps racing.
Jesus College Men's 1st VIII 1993. The original University College Boathouse which burnt down in 1999 is visible in the background.
Balliol College Men's 1st VIII rowing to take the Headship in 2008.
Exeter Men's 1st VIII bump St Anne's Men's 1st VIII in 2017 to reach Division II.
Balliol Men's 1st VIII bump Magdalen Men's 1st VIII in 2017 to secure blades. An example of the potential risks involved with bumps racing.
University Men's 1st VIII bump Magdalen Men's 1st VIII in 2024.
Year College Year College Year College Year College Year College
1815 Brasenose 1816 Brasenose 1817 Christ Church 1818 Christ Church 1819 Christ Church
1820 - a 1821 Brasenose 1822 Brasenose 1823 - b 1824 Exeter
1825 Christ Church 1826 Christ Church 1827 Brasenose 1828 Christ Church 1829 - c
1830 Christ Church 1831 Christ Church 1832 Christ Church 1833 Queen's 1834 Christ Church
1835 Christ Church 1836 Christ Church 1837 Queen's 1838 Exeter 1839 Brasenose
1840 Brasenose 1841 University 1842 Oriel 1843 University 1844 Christ Church
1845 Brasenose 1846 Brasenose 1847 Christ Church 1848 Christ Church 1849 Christ Church
1850 Wadham 1851 Balliol 1852 Brasenose 1853 Brasenose 1854 Brasenose
1855 Balliol 1856 Wadham 1857 Exeter 1858 Exeter 1859 Balliol
1860 Balliol 1861 Trinity 1862 Trinity 1863 Trinity 1864 Trinity
1865 Brasenose 1866 Brasenose 1867 Brasenose 1868 Corpus Christi 1869 University
1870 University 1871 University 1872 Pembroke 1873 Balliol 1874 University
1875 University 1876 Brasenose 1877 University 1878 University 1879 Balliol
1880 Magdalen 1881 Hertford 1882 Exeter 1883 Exeter 1884 Exeter
1885 Corpus Christi 1886 Magdalen 1887 New College 1888 Magdalen 1889 Brasenose
1890 Brasenose 1891 Brasenose 1892 Magdalen 1893 Magdalen 1894 Magdalen
1895 Magdalen 1896 New College 1897 New College 1898 New College 1899 New College
1900 Magdalen 1901 New College 1902 University 1903 New College 1904 New College
1905 Magdalen 1906 Magdalen 1907 Christ Church 1908 Christ Church 1909 Christ Church
1910 Magdalen 1911 New College 1912 New College 1913 New College 1914 University
1915 - d 1916 - d 1917 - d 1918 - d 1919 Magdalen
1920 Magdalen 1921 New College 1922 New College 1923 Magdalen 1924 Christ Church
1925 Christ Church 1926 Christ Church 1927 Christ Church 1928 Brasenose 1929 Brasenose
1930 Brasenose 1931 Brasenose 1932 Magdalen 1933 Oriel 1934 Oriel
1935 Oriel 1936 Oriel 1937 New College 1938 Trinity 1939 Trinity
1940 Trinity & Balliol 1941 New College & Magdalen 1942 Brasenose, Christ Church, & Pembroke 1943 - e 1944 Magdalen
1945 Magdalen 1946 Trinity 1947 Trinity 1948 Trinity 1949 Trinity
1950 New College 1951 Merton 1952 Balliol 1953 Magdalen 1954 Magdalen
1955 Balliol 1956 Balliol 1957 Queen's 1958 Christ Church 1959 St Edmund Hall
1960 St Edmund Hall 1961 St Edmund Hall 1962 Christ Church 1963 Keble 1964 St Edmund Hall
1965 St Edmund Hall 1966 Oriel 1967 Keble 1968 Keble 1969 Keble
1970 Keble 1971 Christ Church 1972 Keble 1973 Christ Church 1974 Christ Church
1975 Christ Church 1976 Oriel 1977 Keble 1978 Oriel 1979 Oriel
1980 Oriel 1981 Oriel 1982 Oriel 1983 Oriel 1984 Oriel
1985 Christ Church 1986 New College 1987 Oriel 1988 Oriel 1989 Oriel
1990 University 1991 University 1992 Oriel 1993 Oriel 1994 Oriel
1995 Pembroke 1996 Oriel 1997 Oriel 1998 Oriel 1999 Oriel
2000 Oriel 2001 Oriel 2002 Oriel 2003 Pembroke 2004 Magdalen
2005 Magdalen 2006 Magdalen 2007 Magdalen 2008 Balliol 2009 Christ Church
2010 Christ Church 2011 Oriel 2012 Oriel 2013 Pembroke 2014 Oriel
2015 Oriel 2016 Oriel 2017 Christ Church 2018 Keble 2019 Oriel
2020 -f 2021 - g 2022 Oriel 2023 Oriel 2024 Oriel

[11][12][13]

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


Head of the River – Women

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Oriel Women's Second Eight bump Magdalen Women's Second Eight on the third day of Summer Eights, 2005.
University Women's 1st VIII bump Wolfson Women's 1st VIII for Headship in 2022.


Year College Year College Year College Year College Year College
1976 Wadham 1977 Lady Margaret Hall 1978 Wadham 1979 St Hugh's 1980 Somerville
1981 Somerville 1982 St Hugh's 1983 St Hugh's 1984 St Hugh's 1985 Osler House
1986 Somerville 1987 Somerville 1988 Osler House 1989 Osler House 1990 Somerville
1991 Somerville 1992 Somerville 1993 Somerville 1994 Osler House 1995 Osler House
1996 Osler-Green 1997 Osler-Green 1998 Osler-Green 1999 Osler-Green 2000 Pembroke
2001 Pembroke 2002 Pembroke 2003 Pembroke 2004 New College 2005 New College
2006 St Edmund Hall 2007 St Edmund Hall 2008 St Edmund Hall 2009 St Edmund Hall 2010 Balliol
2011 Balliol 2012 Pembroke 2013 St John's 2014 Wadham 2015 Wadham
2016 Wadham 2017 Wadham 2018 Pembroke 2019 Wolfson 2020 - a
2021 - b 2022 University 2023 Christ Church 2024 Christ Church 2025

[11][12][13]

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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Anu Dudhia, Eights 2022, retrieved 28 May 2022
  2. ^ "OURCs: Historical Eights Results". ourcs.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Oxford Bumps". bumps.live. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  4. ^ Peter Musson.
  5. ^ Norfolk Chronicle, 16 July 1808.
  6. ^ Jackson's Oxford Journal, 25 March 1769.
  7. ^ O'Chee, W.G. (4 February 2015). "Brasenose College and the Origins of Oxford rowing". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b Woodgate, W.B. (1888). Boating. Longmans, Green, and Co. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Oxford Bumps Charts". eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Number of Headships".
  11. ^ a b c "Oxford Bumps". bumps.live. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "OURCs: Historical Eights Results". ourcs.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "Eights 2024". eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Sherwood, W.E. (1900). The Eights. Oxford and London: Henry Frowde. p. 109. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  15. ^ O'Chee, W.G. (4 February 2015). "Brasenose College and the Origins of Oxford rowing". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  16. ^ O'Chee, W.G. (26 January 2018). "Rowing's Continuation and Resilience in Wartime Oxford". Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Eights 1829". eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
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