Testing times on the Tideway for Trial Eights

Traditionally held in December, “Trial Eights” races are a significant milestone in the calendar for the squads preparing for the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Races. It is planned as an opportunity for the selected crews to race over the full length of the course (6.8km) through London with the coaches having selected matched crews. The intensity of the racing often creates drama-filled races, and 2023 was no different.

Cambridge was first up this year, racing on Wednesday 13 December. The Women named their two crews ‘Mufasa’ and ‘Sarabi’, after two lions from The Lion King who fight together to ensure the safety and longevity of their kingdom. This seemed fairly apt for the Cambridge women, who will be looking add to their run of six consecutive wins next March. The men’s crews were along a similar theme, as described by President Seb Benzecry, “‘Zoolander’ and ‘Hansel’ were two bitter rivals who eventually find common ground and united to take on a greater enemy.” Indeed, the Cambridge rowers will unite to take on Oxford where they will also hope to repeat their victory from 2023.

The Cambridge races were held in extremely challenging conditions which, for the Coaches, can be seen as excellent preparation for the race day. In the women’s race, the lead changed four times in the early stages as the coxes Hannah Murphy and James Trotman sought to put their crews in the best racing line. Mufasa was stroked by Megan Lee, who stroked the USA to gold at this year’s World Rowing U23 Championships, and that experience really showed. Despite valiant attempts from Sarabi, Mufasa had achieved a length lead just after Hammersmith Bridge and extended it to a length of clear water by Barnes Bridge. They went on to cross the finish line and secure a win of two and a half lengths.

By the time the men’s race came around, conditions had worsened further and, after seeing one of the lightweight men’s crews swamp in their trial race, CUBC men’s Chief Coach Rob Baker made the decision to shorten the course by approximately 800m, moving the start to give the crews the chance of the best water. Zoolander was given a third of a length head-start on the start to account for being on the outside of the bend, on the Surrey station. Within the first 30 seconds of the race, both crews had been warned for their steering and Zoolander, which was stroked by Swedish rower Martin Amethier, had extended their lead and were looking fairly composed, despite the conditions. Going away from Hammersmith Bridge, Ed Bracey’s steering of Zoolander allowed them to further extend their lead. Hansel continued to pile on the pressure and an attempt by their cox, Savannah Adamo, to close the margin was successful, but not enough to overcome the final winning margin of two and a half lengths to Zoolander.

Two days later, it was the turn of the “Dark Blues” to take to the water. For the Oxford women, it is a significant year. They have suffered six consecutive defeats, but come into this season with a new Head Coach, Allan French, and refreshed energy. The crews were named ‘Romulus’ and ‘Remus’ after the mythological twin brothers who are attributed to the founding of Ancient Rome. Both of the Oxford Women’s coxes have coxed a Boat Race before; Tara Slade in 2023 and Joe Gellett in 2022. Both have suffered defeat, and as they go up against each other for selection for the 2024 Boat Race, they will be keen to overcome those previous losses. We saw strong starts from both crews and it was clear from the outset that a very close race was in store. It was Romulus that received the first warning from the Umpire as the crews came together, and the Umpire was subsequently kept busy for much of the race. Whist Romulus was holding the lead, they struggled to fully break away from Remus until the last quarter of the race where they rowed to a win of a length and a half.

In the last of this year’s Trial Eights races, the Oxford men’s crews ‘Noise’ and ‘Panic’ took to the Tideway. In the early stages of the race, it looked as though it could be as close as the Oxford women’s race had been, but as Panic took advantage of the first bend in the river, they were able to establish a half-length lead. However, this didn’t last long. As the direction of the river changed, so did the advantage, and Noise started to make their move. The crew was steered by World Rowing U23 Champion from the coxed four, William Denegri, and stroked by 2022 World Rowing U19 Champion, Saxon Stacey. Stacey was backed up in the stern by multiple German international, Elias Kun. As the bend began to straighten out, the experience of Noise was showing, and they had established a two-length lead, and were in a strong position. They continued to capitalise on their position and crossed the finish line by Chiswick Bridge several lengths ahead.

In January and February next year, Oxford and Cambridge will return to the Boat Race course to take part in a series of “fixtures” against carefully selected opposition designed to test various line-ups for potential Boat Race crews.

The 2024 Boat Races will take place on Sunday 30^th March with the Women’s Boat Race at 14:46 BST and the Men’s Boat Race at 15:46 BST.