Record Participation and Double Blades for ECBC in Summer Eights
Exeter Open boat bumping Brasenose
Summer Eights 2025 is now completed, with this year’s bumps campaign a very successful one for Exeter College Boat Club!
We entered seven boats, the second-highest number of boats from any college this Summer Eights, and the joint highest number of boats ECBC has ever put out. This is a testament to the work put in by our captains, Emelia Leng (2024, Medicine), Evariste Moquet (2022, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry) and Alec Harwood (2023, Engineering Science), for their effort in recruitment, and building such a positive atmosphere in the boat club, which made people keen to join.
Our Open Third and Fourth boats and Women’s Third boat were made up mostly of novices, who have learnt to row this term and put on a fantastic performance. We even had the pleasure of the College Rector, Dr Andrew Roe, rowing with the O4 on two of the days – don’t get him started on his blisters!
Our Open Second boat had a tough start due to being chased by Reuben College, a First eight fighting for promotion into fixed divisions, but after being bumped on the first day they had a strong row-over on day two followed by two bumps to push them to the top of division V. They came agonisingly close to an over-bump on Saturday, which is especially tough in Summer Eights, and whilst they weren’t quite able to manage to get into a fixed division (division IV) this year, they are now perfectly positioned to bump up next year!
Our W2 had an exceptional campaign this Summer Eights. Despite being one of the fastest crews qualifying in Torpids, the flooding restrictions prevented them from competing. This clearly motivated them, as they qualified third of the rowing-on crews at Summer Eights, and proceeded to storm their way up division VI and into division V – collecting five bumps in the process and achieving blades!
Our W1 had a tough start to the bumps campaign by being bumped by Linacre College – the first time the W1 has been bumped in Summer Eights in years. This did not stop them, however, with a hard-fought row-over on the Thursday, and a speedy bump on the Friday. Despite getting painfully close to a bump on the Saturday, the crew rowed over, maintaining their historic highest spot on the river in Summer Eights.
Our O1 was out for revenge after getting spoons at Summer Eights last year, and that energy carried them comfortably out of division III on the Wednesday. Despite two days in which they were chasing a crew who had overlap on the crew in front of them, the O1 managed to bump every day, achieving blades for the first time in 26 years!! These were the highest non-headship blades achieved at this year’s Summer Eights, so well done to the O1!
We are so proud of all of our rowers, coxes (all of whom also rowed) and coaches this year – and thanks to everyone who came down to support us!
Exeter Women’s catching St Anne’s
