Oxford Trial 8s – time change and crew announcement

The Oxford Trial Eights will take place tomorrow, Friday 7th December. Due to the forecasted weather the start times have been revised. The OUWBC Trial Eights will start at 11.10 following by OUBC at 12.15.

This is the only opportunity either side have to race the full course from Putney to Mortlake with the Race Umpires, so provides an important test for rowers and coxes alike; and allows both sets of coaching teams to analyse the progression and potential.

The first Trial Eights race was staged by Oxford 152 years ago in 1859 and Cambridge joined the tradition three years later in 1862.

OUWBC have chosen a Christmas theme and have called their crews Blitzen and Comet. The crew lists are as follows:

Blitzen (white tops)
Stroke. Beth Bridgman
7. Olivia Pryer
6. Amelia Standing
5. Renée Koolschijn
4. Linda van Bijsterveldt
3. Beatrice Faleri
2. Elizabeth Keech
Bow. Juliette Allen
Cox: Michael Hobley

Comet (blue tops)
Stroke. Anna Murgatroyd
7. Tina Christmann
6. Elizabeth Polgreen
5. Katie Anderson
4. Isobel Dodds
3. Poppy Diver
2. Elsebine Bolier
Bow. Matilda Edwards
Cox: Eleanor Shearer

OUBC have named their crews Reggie and Flea. These are the nicknames of the first, Second Lieutenant Reginald Fletcher, and the last, Lieutenant Colonel William Fletcher DSO, Blues to die in World War 1. Studying at Balliol and Christchurch, they raced in the 1890 – 1893 and 1914 Boat Races. These are just two names in a long list of OUBC athletes who we remember 100 years after the signing of the armistice.

Flea (white tops)
Stroke. Augustin Wambersie
7. Luke Robinson
6. Benedict Aldous
5. Achim Harzheim
4. Charlie Buchanan
3. Ben Thomson
2. Charlie Thurston
Bow. Daniel Holod
Cox. Anna Carbery

Reggie (navy tops)
Stroke. Joshua Bowesman-Jones
7. Charlie Pearson
6. Patrick Sullivan
5. Tobias Schroder
4. Ben Landis
3. Nick Elkington
2. Alex Wythe
Bow. Isaac Turner
Cox. Toby De Mendonca

OUBC President, Felix Drinkall, is absent due to injury.