A Record Number of Crews: Pembroke College Boat Club Reflects on 2015-16 Successes

Alex Swift (History and English, 2014) is a Development Officer for Pembroke College Boat Club (PCBC). Here, she gives us an overview of the club's memorable year on the water in 2015-16.

'Pembroke College Boat Club has fought through a year of tough campaigns in our annual bumps races. Beginning with a strong returning senior base, an enthusiastic 60 novice rowers joined the club in Michaelmas (October) 2015. By the following May, the club had a record number of crews on the river for Summer VIII's.

Key highlights of the season have to include the historic success of achieving two boats in Division One in Torpids, with the Men's Second VIII bumping up on the final day of races, and the Men's First Eight retaining the Torpids Headship.

Summer VIII's had mixed results across the board, with the Women's First Eights' headship thwarted by a klaxon and M1 moving holding off challenging opposition at the top of Division One. Success for the lower boats came in the form of W3's strong campaign: the crew bumped six times, rowed over once and were bumped once. PCBC are proud to have a breadth of abilities, and successfully placed both women's and men's novice Eights in the lower divisions. 

Pembroke College Boat Club's tradition of Blues rowers has continued this year, with six members racing for the university. David Grant rowed in Isis for the second year running, and again delivered a win in a close race.

PCBC President Kate Erickson rowed in Osiris, and Anastasia Chitty won her fourth Boat Race in a row. Flo Pickles' season was brought to an abrupt end due to injury, but we're confident we'll see her compete in dark blue on the Tideway next year.

Pembroke's Oxford rowers also had a strong showing at Henley, with the Henley Women's Regatta. Kate qualified in the 1x, Imogen Cowley reached the finals in the Development Squad 8+ and Anastasia won her 2- event in an Oxford/Reading composite. PCBC has been represented in the Oxford University Women's Lightweight's Rowing Club by Alex Swift, who rowed in Tethys in the Women's Head of the River on the Tideway and who competed at the British University and College Sport Regatta with the Lightweights, winning both silver and bronze medals.

Pembroke College Boat Club is keen to develop alumni relations and encourages as much support and involvement of past members as possible. If you are interested in joining an independent PCBC mailing list, you can sign up here.

Dates of the next season's events will be circulated on our social media pages and via email. Like us on Facebook at Pembroke College Boat Club and follow us on Twitter at @PCBCOxford.'