Five Brasenose crews took to the water for this years’ Summer Eights bumps competition last week. For many this was their first set of bumps races, after Torpids 2024 was cancelled due to the weather earlier this year. For the thrilling format, BNCBC was pleased to enter three women’s boats and two men’s boats. The top four boats entered holding their positions from the end of Summer Eights 2023, and the women’s third boat qualified through rowing on, with an initial position of footship.
The following report has been prepared by outgoing women’s captain and incoming co-President, Daga Nogal.
Day 1
W1
The weather was gorgeous (it rained the whole day), W1 had no technical issues (the cox box didn’t work for the whole race), and they rowed well (they actually did!!!). The girls unfortunately didn’t manage to catch St Peter’s ahead of them, however, they didn’t manage to pull away until the gut where W1 took a bit of a wide line. The rudder was a little strong but the crew was stronger!
W1 escaped the gut without contact with any trees, and with the crew behind being bumped, they settled into the race at a steady rate with clear water behind them. They will be chasing Peter’s again tomorrow – this time with a working cox box, and a strong belief that they can catch them. W1 will be getting their legs down for an early bump!
M1
After a cancelled torpids, the men of M1 were hungry for a chance to prove themselves once and for all. Full onboard camera footage available here. But, in summary…
A quick start from the Childe of Hale with an eager St John’s chasing behind, the boys powered through the water hunting down Worcester. With a solid row until boathouse island the men stepped it up and gained a length and a half, closing the gap to Worcester inch by inch. Unfortunately the Worcester boat narrowly escaped and the men of Brasenose were left with a row over.
W2
Day one of bumps started with torrential rain: the girls were bailing water out of the boat before they even started. The entire boat was new to bumps so nerves were high. A strong start saw W2 get within a canvas of St John’s in the first 3 strokes, when unfortunately their stroke seat’s blade came out of the gate.
They continued rowing with 6, and did not lose any distance on John’s but were sadly caught by Pembroke as they rowed under Donnington bridge. The mood was low but the row back to the boathouse was nice and clean. They’ll come back even stronger tomorrow ready to chase Worcester.
M2
M2’s race today was a thing of beauty. Picture the scene: the 1 minute gun goes with a massive crack and immediately, the heavens open up, drenching the boat. 30 seconds to go – their blades were wet, but heads were in the boat. The gun went and within 6 strokes, M2 gained on Regent’s Park to the point of 2 whistles (1/2 a boat length). 20 seconds later, Regents conceded and immediately stopped in the racing line. Bump for M2!
W3
They bumped! Taking only 40 seconds before they bumped New College after a really connected, powerful start and a speedy base pace resulted in success. They could tell that they were getting to New College as the usually calm and collected cox Alex started shouting “CONCEDE! CONCEDE! CONCEDE!” – the girls agree that this was the best part of the race (“ it’s giving Gandalf” – Anna Croft 2024).
The excitement about the bump was so huge that even coach Tim (usually a man of constructive criticism) was lost for words, saying: “that was …. yeah”! All in all, it was the best way to kick off Summer 8’s for the Boat Club and they are all super excited going forwards to see what else they have in store!
Day 2
W1
A frustrating race. After a good start (with the cox box working!) W1 quickly ended up in a tight sandwich between Peter’s ahead and Merton behind. Having agreed to empty the tank at the start, confident in catching Peter’s before the end of the gut, an early power ten pushed them to half a length off of Peter’s but it wasn’t enough to pull away from the incoming Merton crew. BNC conceded to Merton upon entry into the gut. They’ll chase them tomorrow with vengeance!
M1
After a laboured start M1 strode into the course with St Johns in pursuit. After rowing solidly all the way past the gut, St John’s pressed forwards and unfortunately the boys could not adjust in time and got bumped. The boys look ahead to prove themselves tomorrow.
W2
The sunshine today made for a nicer row to the start for W2. They shot off reaching rate 39, and gained well on Worcester in front of them. Unfortunately, John’s caught a massive crab and allowed Worcester to bump them, who then failed to clear the racing line. The girls kept their cool and despite having to stop and restart due to the obstructing crews (both of whom were later fined for the incident) were able to get back locked in for a very strong row over, reaching a boat length from the overbump and gaining over six boat lengths away from the crew behind.
M2
Despite river levels reaching a high light blue flag alongside high crosswinds, M2’s spirits were high. Following 2 excellent starts, the crew lined up on bung line 10. The gun went and Brasenose M2 saw an explosive start, together, in time which rocked the audience on the bank. As a result, the crew were able to catch St Catherine’s M2 in 30 seconds- a 2nd bump for M2!
W3
W3’s race today was a bit of a rollercoaster! They rowed on, staying at the +1 status, but were so close to bumping Exeter W3 for the entire race, especially near the end where they started to overlap! Just then, a couple of crabs were caught and the girls lost their momentum. Their spirits remain high for tomorrow’s race!
Day 3
W1
Today, W1 set off under the watchful gaze of Brasenose’s principal peering down from the boat club balcony; the pressure was on. With a last minute substitution due to illness they had an unusually strong stroke side so the rudder was on from the start. As a result, despite their strong start, they were soon being hunted down by Worcester. They held them off longer than they held off Merton yesterday but were forced to concede at the start of the gut. For a final day of racing tomorrow absolutely nothing will be left on the water as W1 hunt down Worcester to regain the bump lost.
M1
Eager to prove to themselves today, the men of Brasenose M1 performed a clean row with a new found determination and focus. A tough race nevertheless but with a display of good cohesion, the boys had found their footing once again. In the second race, the M1 got off to an explosive start and locked in on a high rate chasing down St John’s. Unfortunately, a lapse of judgment in communication from the boat resulted in John’s narrowly slipping out of the M1’s grasp and hence the boys were forced to row over.
W2
W2 had an incredible day today – returning to the Brasenose tradition of yelling “up the nose”, each progressively louder, on the bungline got the girls in the racing spirit. A clean, strong start saw them immediately gain on John’s, closing in at rate 42. The whistles came ever quicker, and a power 10 later the girls got the bump just before Donny bridge! They hope to build on their success tomorrow, when they’ll be chasing Worcester.
M2
Today was the toughest day M2 has had in this campaign. Due to an injury, our president, Matthew Campbell had to sub into the bow seat, whilst they faced their toughest crew from a bungline which had an immediate turn. The start gun went: immediately M2 span to 40 strokes per minute. After the first 30 seconds, the rate came down to 36, but hearing the whistle made our boys excited which led to some scrappy rowing. However, a quick reset at Donny bridge meant a clean row through for a well-earned bump on Magdalen M2. Brasenose M2 is now +3 on day 3.
W3
So today was another great day for W3, they bumped Exeter just after Donnington Bridge!! They knew they could come back even better from yesterday and show them what they’ve got! They’re all super proud of themselves, happy to be experiencing this excitement and ready for the big day tomorrow!
Day 4
W1
Another punch in the gut, oops they meant a bump in the gut! With the cleanest and crispest row they’ve had all week, W1 launched off the start line for their final race. The vibes in the boat were bittersweet with it being the final 8s campaign for their cox, 5 seat and 2 seat. Unfortunately, Queen’s simply were a stronger crew. With the momentum behind them from bumping on the previous two days they gradually gained on W1 and, taking a tighter and riskier line entering the gut, they came at them from the inside and secured their bump. Despite the disappointing result they are all so proud of the way they have rowed this week and are looking forward to the progress they can make next year!
M1
After the events of Friday, the boys were determined to leave Mansfield behind once and for all. A speedy start and some clean rowing from the boys, putting on a show for boathouse island, once again finished the row over at the top of Div 3 in clear water.
With Exeter on the cards for spoons, M1 decided to deal the final blow and return to Div 2 with a bang. Firing out off the start, the men powered at an incredible rate. After a few hundred metres, the unrelenting pressure of Brasenose forced Exeter into concession and finished their campaign on a well earned bump. M1 end their campaign maintaining their position in Div 2 and looking to climb through the ranks next year.
W2
Nerves were running high for the final day of racing. Having been bumped by Worcester on day 1, and knowing that Worcester were chasing a GTC crew on for spoons, W2 knew they needed a strong start to be able to pull off the bump (and avoid a long row over). With their best start of the week: clean, strong and speedy, they continually gained on Worcester from the inside, reaching within a canvas by Donny Bridge. A power 10 brought the girls overlap and their bow seat’s blade made contact with Worcester’s stern! Some confusion was caused by Worcester continuing racing, leaving the BNC crew unsure whether to start again just in case, but by this point John’s behind had caught up and W2 got in a slight tangle. Rowing back down the girls were on edge waiting to see if their bump would be announced over the tannoy, which it was as they landed and the crew were over the moon! Even with a lengthy appeals process from Worcester, W2 finished the day with the bump confirmed – leaving them +1 overall for the week.
M2
The last day of summer VIII’s was by far the toughest day for M2. Off the start, the boys were hunted down by Magdalen, but they managed to hold them off until green-banks where Hertford M2 bumped them out of the race. Then, as M2 exited green banks, they gained on Wadham M2. Going past boathouse island, the boys were able to hold Wadham very close, at some points even half a boat length. Sadly however, Wadham were just that little bit faster, so they caught Teddy Hall M2 before the Brasenose boys could catch Wadham. Overall, M2 has had an excellent campaign of +3, preceded by blades last year, a result not seen by M2 since 1966.
W3
After a gruelling chase on Worcester for the whole length of the race, with multiple near-bump moments, they ended up rowing over, with a total of +2 for the week. They nearly had the bump on Worcester at Donnington Bridge, but missed a couple of strokes and had to recover, but they are so proud of themselves and have made memories and friends for life! They were thrilled to be rowing as a crew for their cox Alex’s penultimate race in Oxford before his final with W1. The cheers from everyone watching and getting absolutely sprayed in more Prosecco at the end of the race than river water for the whole week was definitely the highlight!