Oxford University Boat Club has announced the names and provisional crew lists for Trial VIIIs on Friday 19 December 2025.
Women’s Trial Eights
OUBC’s women’s Trial Eights are named after inspiring female athletes – swimmer Katie Ledecky, tennis legend Serena Williams, gymnast Simone Biles and rugby union player Ellie Kildunne.
The squad explained, “Through these names, we want to celebrate their excellence, resilience and extraordinary performances, as well as recognise them as powerful role models. We aim to embody their qualities as we train and race, and hope to inspire future generations of female athletes.”
Women’s ‘A’ Trial Eights Race
Start Time: 11:24
Umpire: Claire Harvey
| Ledecky | Seat | Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Phoebe Forward University |
Bow | Sian Dennett Keble |
| Liv Pegge University |
2 | Amelia Mills Pembroke |
| Catherine King Balliol |
3 | Hermione Warr Lady Margaret Hall |
| Tina Macaulay Merton |
4 | Flo Brooke Brasenose |
| Juliette Camahort Green Templeton |
5 | Kyra Delray Wolfson |
| Lilli Freischem Reuben |
6 | Esther Briz St Edmund Hall |
| Sarah Marshall Nuffield |
7 | Emily Mollins St Hilda’s |
| Heidi Long (Women’s President) Lady Margaret Hall |
Stroke | Annie Anezakis Pembroke |
| Louis Corrigan Green Templeton |
Cox | Daniel Orton Merton |
Women’s ‘B’ Trial Eights Race
(Lightweights/Openweights)
Start Time: 11:44
Umpire: Sarah Langslow
| Biles | Seat | Kildunne |
|---|---|---|
| Lucy Buchanan Balliol |
Bow | Kathleen Meerscheidt Balliol |
| Ava Milne Exeter |
2 | Stephanie Connell Somerville |
| Clara Lijle New |
3 | Katie Doig Pembroke |
| Seren Ford Keble |
4 | Kelly Brown St Edmund Hall |
| Hana Sway Queen’s |
5 | Catherine Stephenson Somerville |
| Harriet Thomas Somerville |
6 | Louisa Kotzee St John’s |
| Ophelia Lanfranchi St Catherine’s |
7 | Pippa Harkin Merton |
| Dorothea Stark Magdalen |
Stroke | Georgia Marshallsay St Edmund Hall |
| Gillian Sellig Kellogg |
Cox | James Rumsey Wadham |
Men’s Trial Eights
The OUBC men’s squad named their Trial Eights crews after characters in the classic 1980s action film, Top Gun. This sees two pilots – Maverick and Iceman – clash as rivals before ultimately uniting against their enemy. They say, “We like the parallel with our own Trial Eights in which fierce internal competition pushes the whole team on as we prepare to race external opposition.”
The names of the crews in the ‘B ‘ race are taken from the recent film sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Once again, the dynamic between the lead aviators – Rooster and Hangman – shifts from antagonism to mutual respect as they realize they need each other to succeed.
Men’s ‘A’ Trial Eights Race
Start Time: 12.24
Umpire: Ciaran Hayes
| Maverick | Seat | Iceman |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Lohan St John’s |
Bow | Ben Atkinson New |
| Evan Albers Reuben |
2 | Paolo Cicuta Worcester |
| Will Randell St Edmund Hall |
3 | James Doran (Substitute) |
| Jonny Gondzic St John’s |
4 | Fergus Pim New |
| Nic Nicolaou Mansfield |
5 | James Fetter Oriel |
| Felix Crabtree Hertford |
6 | Julian Schöberl Green Templeton |
| Theodore Siri Heath Keble |
7 | Alexander Underwood Pembroke |
| Carter Dickinson Christ Church |
Stroke | Harry Geffen Keble |
| Jessica Ward New |
Cox | Tobias Bernard (Men’s President) Magdalen |
Men’s ‘B’ Trial Eights Race
Start Time: 12:00
Umpire: Caroline Lytton
| Rooster (Lightweight) |
Seat | Hangman (Openweight) |
|---|---|---|
| Bertie Parkes Christ Churcj |
Bow | Noah Lowery Hertford |
| Jack O’Connell Worcester |
2 | Marek Grzesiuk Christ Church |
| Elias Arie Balliol |
3 | Zaal Contractor Lincoln |
| Harry Prior Balliol |
4 | Kurtis Roethlisberger Pembroke |
| Felix Gibbons New |
5 | Rowan Flanagan Queen’s |
| Shea Heaney St Hilda’s |
6 | Finn Bannister (Substitute) |
| Rex Batt St Edmund Hall |
7 | James Hopkinson Queen’s |
| Sebastian Harker St Edmund Hall |
Stroke | Dylan Schmidt Wadham |
| Simran Gill University |
Cox | Elisabeth Edwards Corpus Christi |
Crews updated Thursday evening, 18 December 2025.