‘Torpids” is an annual rowing competition held in Oxford and this year was a big one for Brasenose, celebrating ‘200 years of oar-some’ - as our crew t-shirts will tell you! For those of you foreign to the world of rowing, Torpids is a series of ‘bumping races’ across five divisions, held over four days in 7th week of Hilary term (our name for the term after Christmas). In real terms, it is the light at the end of a tunnel filled with 5:30am alarms, 2k erg tests (don’t ask!), deadlifts, squats and a “drinking ban”. It is the adrenaline rush from the start gun that we rowers live for.
This year, the women were under the new leadership of our formidable coach, Howard – or ‘big H’ – and the direction of our wonderful captain, Molly Ludlam-Steinke. In the run up to Torpids, we kept to strict erg schedules and, if ever eating out of college, only ate in restaurants with at least a 4 star hygiene rating, under Howard’s guidance. The frequency and intensity of training during the term really allows for all the crew members to come together as a strong team, working together to improve as one boat, with one stroke.
Over the course of the competition, the Women’s First VIII bumped four times and moved up into Division Two for the first time in a decade – a huge success for the girls! Alas, trouble struck the Second VIII however, with the dastardly rules of Torpids obstructing a row to victory. During the race, a crew must keep rowing until it has bumped a crew in front, even if it has already been bumped! This allows more bumps to occur than in the following competition, ‘Summer Eights’, which takes place in Trinity term. On the second day of racing in Torpids, the Womens' Second boat had a beautiful start, leading the charge in Division Five. Unfortunately, this only lasted for thirteen strokes until the poor crew crashed into the bank and the entire division rowed past them. Official verdict? We were the worst women’s crew on the river – not the news we were hoping for. Despite this however, our beloved W2 picked themselves up and made for easy bumps on the following days, leaving smiles all round by the end of the week.
On the men’s side, our Second VIII achieved blades – the official term for bumping everyday! – and struck fear into rival crews on the Isis (what we sometimes call the River Thames in Oxford). The First VIII also performed extremely well, holding their strong position in Division Two over the course of the week. Fresh from the library, Brasenose students flooded the boathouse on the last day to join in the celebrations with the rowers, appreciating all our hard work and basking in the glorious sun. When you don’t want to wake up at 5:45am on that Monday morning, you need only think ahead to the feeling of a well-deserved win on the water. A great end to a rewarding week and a brilliant term – bring on Summer Eights!
By Jess Freedman (Second Year Maths) and Esme Ash (Second Year History)