A Historic Headship for Pembroke W1: Torpids 2025

A rainy few days and rising river levels were cause for concern about yet another Torpids cancellation. A little rain, however, could not keep Pembroke College Boat Club away from the river last week. 

Whilst our lower boats were unfortunately not allowed to row, our M2 started Torpids off with the rain pouring down on them, chasing Corpus Christi and forcing them to concede halfway through the Gut. As PCBC President Cian Lomax put it – “Corpus had no chance!” Our M1 also got their bump on Day One, closing in on Christ Church towards the end of Greenbank. In her eponymous new Empacher 8+ christened last term, Pembroke alum and Paralympic Gold medallist Erin Kennedy OBE steered our powerful W1 to Headship, bumping University just before Boathouse Island. Due to river restrictions, Erin jumped in for W1 cox Nik Baya who has been training with the women in preparation for Torpids. Bumps all around for the first day of Torpids!                      

Day Two of Torpids was just as successful for PCBC, with W1 maintaining their Headship for another day (partly thanks to a klaxon-inducing swan)! Whilst our M1 were able to creep up behind Oriel in the Gut, they scared them off a little too much with Oriel managing to hold them off, resulting in a strong row over. Another bump for M2 on Day 2 – “a bump so fast the coach didn’t even see it. So much so, that he was screaming at the crew to keep rowing!”, shared PCBC’s President. 

Another day of Torpids, another day at the Head of the River for W1, anticipating what was to come on the Saturday of Torpids. Once again closing in on Oriel to less than half a length in the Gut, M1 rowed over on Day Three. Continuing their bumping streak, our powerhouse M2 bumped Linacre, the latter’s collision with a houseboat being only partly responsible. Alas, on Saturday, M2 were bumped by St Hilda’s - but no one can take their three bumps from the rest of the week away from them! Another row over for M1 on Saturday has left them in a very strong position for securing a Torpids Headship next year – just two boats away from the Head of the River!

Finally, the news we had all been anticipating throughout this year’s Torpids: W1 won Headship! Whilst W1 have won quite a few Eights Headships in their time, this is their first Torpids Headship. 

"This is a huge moment in the history of PCBC and the crew will be remembered for years to come. We are all very proud of W1 and this is testament to the hours and hours of hard work they put in to be the quickest women’s crew in Oxford college rowing," shared PCBC's President Cian Lomax.

We are incredibly proud of the team and their hard work and determination. We cannot wait to see them defend Headship at next year’s Torpids! Congratulations to all the boats that rowed this year; a very strong performance from PCBC. We hope to see W2 and M3 row next year too.

To celebrate W1’s historic achievement, a boat burning will take place on Wednesday 12th March at 17:45 in North Quad.