Eights Week, also known as Summer Eights, is a four-day regatta of bumps races which constitutes the University of Oxford's main intercollegiate rowing event of the year. The regatta takes place in May of each year, from the Wednesday to the Saturday of the fifth week of Trinity Term. Men's and women's eights compete in separate divisions for their colleges.

Summer Eights
Head of the River
Oriel College Men[1] Christ Church Women[1]
Highest 2nd Eight (Men) Oriel College (Division II) [1]
Highest 2nd Eight (Women) Wolfson College (Division II) [1]
Course Isis (upstream)
Course length c. 1800m
Note: Last Eights 22 May – 25 May 2024
OURCs - Summer Eights
Summer Eights May 2009 Men's Division 1, showing racing between (from front) Keble College, New College, St Edmund Hall.

Overview

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A busy riverbank scene as a boat is returned to one of the college boathouses in Summer Eights 1982.
 
The scene at Boathouse Island during Summer Eights 2005, crammed with spectators awaiting the next race.

The racing takes place on the Isis, a length of the River Thames, which is generally too narrow for side by side racing. For each division, twelve boats line up at the downstream end of the stretch, each cox holding onto a rope attached to the bank, leaving around 1.5 boat lengths between each boat. The start of racing is signalled by the firing of a cannon, each crew attempting to progress up their division by bumping the boat in front, while avoiding being bumped by the boat behind. Once a bump has taken place, both of the crews involved stop racing and move to the side to allow the rest of the division to pass. It is possible to "over bump" if the 2 crews in front of your boat bump (and so drop out) and your boat can catch the boat that was in front of them. They then swap places for the next day's racing, whether that be the calendar day or the first day of racing in the next year's competition.[2]

The ultimate aim of a crew is to become "Head of the River" (top of the first division) and stay there. This entitles the winning crew to commission trophy oars in their college colours with the names and weights of the successful crew on them — commonly called "winning blades". As this is only possible for crews already near the top of division one, another way to win blades is to bump on each day of the competition.[3]

The "Double Headship" is an accolade awarded to any college finishing with both their men's and women's crews at the "Head of the River" in their respective divisions. This feat has only ever been achieved once, by Pembroke College in 2003. A silver "Double Headship Trophy" was commissioned from the silversmith Peter Musson in 2003, to commemorate the historic occasion.[4]

History

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Although regular races between professional watermen had been known since 1715 when Doggett's Coat and Badge was instituted, amateur racing was unknown before 1808.[5] Meanwhile, recreational rowing had begun in Oxford very much earlier, with students rowing in single wherries at least as early as 1769.[6]

The first amateur races between organised clubs which prepared and trained for the event began in Oxford in 1815. In this year, crews from Brasenose College and Jesus College raced for the Head of the River, from Iffley Lock to Mr King's Barge, which was moored near the current Head of the River hotel. The event is also notable for the fact that both crews rowed in eight oared boats, specially built for the purpose. Such recreational as occurred at this time was usually conducted in pairs, or four or six oared cutters. The fact the racing was conducted in eight oared boats gave rise to the event being known as Eights.[7]

Brasenose College and Jesus College recontested the event in 1816, with Brasenose again triumphing. Christ Church joined in the event from 1817, when they went Head, a position they retained until 1819.[8]: 289  Christ Church did not row in 1820. The next recorded races, between Brasenose and Jesus, were in 1821 and 1822. A dispute about professional watermen being allowed in college crews precluded racing in 1823. Until this time, Jesus and Brasenose had each used paid coaches who rowed in the stroke seats of the crews.[9]

From 1824, Christ Church and Exeter College began racing, with Exeter going Head in that year. A rule banning the use of "out college men" (i.e. men from other colleges) rowing in college crews saw the entry of Worcester College in 1825, University and Balliol Colleges in 1827, and Oriel and Trinity Colleges in 1828.[8]: 317 

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Summer Eights were cancelled for the first time since the Second World War. In the year after, Summer Eights were replaced by Summer Torpids, which was held instead because the 2021 Torpids races were also cancelled due to the pandemic response. Both Summer Eights and Torpids resumed as regular in 2022, using the college rankings from the end of 2019. In 2023, the Brasenose-Peter's composite crew became the first composite crew to qualify in the history of Summer Eights as well as the first to ever get a bump.

Head of the River – Summary table (excluding World War 2 races)

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Blade College Men Women Headships[10] Longest time held - Men Longest time held - Women Last Headship – Men Last Headship - Women
  Oriel 35 - 35 1978–84 & 1996–2002 - 2023 -
  Christ Church 33 1 34 1828–32 2023-24 2017 2024
  Brasenose 24 - 24 1888–91 & 1928–31 - 1931 -
  Magdalen 20 - 20 1892–95 & 2004–07 - 2007 -
  New College 16 2 18 1896–99 2004–05 1986 2005
  University 13 1 14 1896–99 - 1991 2022
  Trinity 13 - 13 1869–71 - 1949 -
  Balliol 10 2 12 1859–60 & 1955–56 2010–11 2008 2011
  Pembroke 4 6 10 2013 2000–03 2013 2018
  St Edmund Hall 5 4 9 1959–61 2006–09 1965 2009
  Keble 8 - 8 1967-1970 - 2018 -
  Somerville - 8 8 - 1990–93 - 1993
  Wadham 2 6 8 - 2014–17 1856 2017
  Exeter 7 - 7 1882-84 - 1884 -
Osler Housea - 5 5 - 1988–89 & 1994–95 - 1995
Osler-Greenb - 4 4 - 1996–99 - 1999
  St Hugh's - 4 4 - 1982–84 - 1984
  Queen's 3 - 3 - - 1957 -
  Corpus Christi 2 - 2 - - 1885 -
  Hertford 1 - 1 - - 1881 -
  Lady Margaret Hall - 1 1 - - - 1977
  Merton 1 - 1 - - 1951 -
St John's - 1 1 - - - 2013
  Wolfson - 1 1 - - - 2019

[11][12][13]

a Since 2008 this crew composition does not exist any more. Prior to the foundation of Green Templeton College members of Green College raced with Osler House whereas members of Templeton College raced with Hertford College.[citation needed]
b Prior to the composite crew with Green College and after the foundation of Green Templeton Boat Club, Osler raced as an independent crew formed of clinical medical students.[citation needed]

Head of the River – Men

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Summer Eights has been held since 1815.[14][15]

No racing occurred during World War I. In World War II, though college rowing continued, there were insufficient students for normal racing between colleges to be maintained. As a consequence, most colleges competed in composite clubs, and the number of crews competing was greatly curtailed. After the war, normal racing continued, and in 1946 college crews started in the order in which they finished in 1939.[16]

 
The earliest-known scene of a race between two eight-oared boats at Oxford University. It has been suggested that the picture shows the "disputed bump" of 1822 in a race between Jesus College and Brasenose College, but this is uncertain.
 
Stephen Hawking coxing the University Men's 1st VIII in 1963.
 
An example of a 'poleman' manoeuvring a boat into a good alignment to start. This is something unique to bumps racing.
 
Jesus College Men's 1st VIII 1993. The original University College Boathouse which burnt down in 1999 is visible in the background.
 
Balliol College Men's 1st VIII rowing to take the Headship in 2008.
 
Exeter Men's 1st VIII bump St Anne's Men's 1st VIII in 2017 to reach Division II.
 
Balliol Men's 1st VIII bump Magdalen Men's 1st VIII in 2017 to secure blades. An example of the potential risks involved with bumps racing.
 
University Men's 1st VIII bump Magdalen Men's 1st VIII in 2024.
Year College Year College Year College Year College Year College
1815   Brasenose 1816   Brasenose 1817   Christ Church 1818   Christ Church 1819   Christ Church
1820 - a 1821   Brasenose 1822   Brasenose 1823 - b 1824   Exeter
1825   Christ Church 1826   Christ Church 1827   Brasenose 1828   Christ Church 1829 - c
1830   Christ Church 1831   Christ Church 1832   Christ Church 1833   Queen's 1834   Christ Church
1835   Christ Church 1836   Christ Church 1837   Queen's 1838   Exeter 1839   Brasenose
1840   Brasenose 1841   University 1842   Oriel 1843   University 1844   Christ Church
1845   Brasenose 1846   Brasenose 1847   Christ Church 1848   Christ Church 1849   Christ Church
1850   Wadham 1851   Balliol 1852   Brasenose 1853   Brasenose 1854   Brasenose
1855   Balliol 1856   Wadham 1857   Exeter 1858   Exeter 1859   Balliol
1860   Balliol 1861   Trinity 1862   Trinity 1863   Trinity 1864   Trinity
1865   Brasenose 1866   Brasenose 1867   Brasenose 1868   Corpus Christi 1869   University
1870   University 1871   University 1872   Pembroke 1873   Balliol 1874   University
1875   University 1876   Brasenose 1877   University 1878   University 1879   Balliol
1880   Magdalen 1881   Hertford 1882   Exeter 1883   Exeter 1884   Exeter
1885   Corpus Christi 1886   Magdalen 1887   New College 1888   Magdalen 1889   Brasenose
1890   Brasenose 1891   Brasenose 1892   Magdalen 1893   Magdalen 1894   Magdalen
1895   Magdalen 1896   New College 1897   New College 1898   New College 1899   New College
1900   Magdalen 1901   New College 1902   University 1903   New College 1904   New College
1905   Magdalen 1906   Magdalen 1907   Christ Church 1908   Christ Church 1909   Christ Church
1910   Magdalen 1911   New College 1912   New College 1913   New College 1914   University
1915 - d 1916 - d 1917 - d 1918 - d 1919   Magdalen
1920   Magdalen 1921   New College 1922   New College 1923   Magdalen 1924   Christ Church
1925   Christ Church 1926   Christ Church 1927   Christ Church 1928   Brasenose 1929   Brasenose
1930   Brasenose 1931   Brasenose 1932   Magdalen 1933   Oriel 1934   Oriel
1935   Oriel 1936   Oriel 1937   New College 1938   Trinity 1939   Trinity
1940   Trinity &   Balliol 1941   New College &   Magdalen 1942   Brasenose,   Christ Church, &   Pembroke 1943 - e 1944   Magdalen
1945   Magdalen 1946   Trinity 1947   Trinity 1948   Trinity 1949   Trinity
1950   New College 1951   Merton 1952   Balliol 1953   Magdalen 1954   Magdalen
1955   Balliol 1956   Balliol 1957   Queen's 1958   Christ Church 1959   St Edmund Hall
1960   St Edmund Hall 1961   St Edmund Hall 1962   Christ Church 1963   Keble 1964   St Edmund Hall
1965   St Edmund Hall 1966   Oriel 1967   Keble 1968   Keble 1969   Keble
1970   Keble 1971   Christ Church 1972   Keble 1973   Christ Church 1974   Christ Church
1975   Christ Church 1976   Oriel 1977   Keble 1978   Oriel 1979   Oriel
1980   Oriel 1981   Oriel 1982   Oriel 1983   Oriel 1984   Oriel
1985   Christ Church 1986   New College 1987   Oriel 1988   Oriel 1989   Oriel
1990   University 1991   University 1992   Oriel 1993   Oriel 1994   Oriel
1995   Pembroke 1996   Oriel 1997   Oriel 1998   Oriel 1999   Oriel
2000   Oriel 2001   Oriel 2002   Oriel 2003   Pembroke 2004   Magdalen
2005   Magdalen 2006   Magdalen 2007   Magdalen 2008   Balliol 2009   Christ Church
2010   Christ Church 2011   Oriel 2012   Oriel 2013   Pembroke 2014   Oriel
2015   Oriel 2016   Oriel 2017   Christ Church 2018   Keble 2019   Oriel
2020 -f 2021 - g 2022   Oriel 2023   Oriel 2024   Oriel

[11][12][13]

a Unknown whether any racing occurred[14]
b No racing took place owing to a dispute over whether professional watermen were legitimate crew members[14]
c No racing owing to the first varsity boat race[17]
d No racing owing to World War I
e No racing owing to World War II
f No racing owing to the COVID 19 Pandemic
g No racing owing to the postponement of Torpids to Trinity Term caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic


Head of the River – Women

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Oriel Women's Second Eight bump Magdalen Women's Second Eight on the third day of Summer Eights, 2005.
 
University Women's 1st VIII bump Wolfson Women's 1st VIII for Headship in 2022.


Year College Year College Year College Year College Year College
1976   Wadham 1977   Lady Margaret Hall 1978   Wadham 1979   St Hugh's 1980   Somerville
1981   Somerville 1982   St Hugh's 1983   St Hugh's 1984   St Hugh's 1985 Osler House
1986   Somerville 1987   Somerville 1988 Osler House 1989 Osler House 1990   Somerville
1991   Somerville 1992   Somerville 1993   Somerville 1994 Osler House 1995 Osler House
1996 Osler-Green 1997 Osler-Green 1998 Osler-Green 1999 Osler-Green 2000   Pembroke
2001   Pembroke 2002   Pembroke 2003   Pembroke 2004   New College 2005   New College
2006   St Edmund Hall 2007   St Edmund Hall 2008   St Edmund Hall 2009   St Edmund Hall 2010   Balliol
2011   Balliol 2012   Pembroke 2013   St John's 2014   Wadham 2015   Wadham
2016   Wadham 2017   Wadham 2018   Pembroke 2019   Wolfson 2020 - a
2021 - b 2022   University 2023   Christ Church 2024   Christ Church 2025

[11][12][13]

a No racing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
b No racing due to the postponed of Torpids to Trinity Term caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Anu Dudhia, Eights 2022, retrieved 28 May 2022
  2. ^ "OURCs: Historical Eights Results". ourcs.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Oxford Bumps". bumps.live. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  4. ^ Peter Musson.
  5. ^ Norfolk Chronicle, 16 July 1808.
  6. ^ Jackson's Oxford Journal, 25 March 1769.
  7. ^ O'Chee, W.G. (4 February 2015). "Brasenose College and the Origins of Oxford rowing". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b Woodgate, W.B. (1888). Boating. Longmans, Green, and Co. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Oxford Bumps Charts". eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Number of Headships".
  11. ^ a b c "Oxford Bumps". bumps.live. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "OURCs: Historical Eights Results". ourcs.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "Eights 2024". eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Sherwood, W.E. (1900). The Eights. Oxford and London: Henry Frowde. p. 109. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  15. ^ O'Chee, W.G. (4 February 2015). "Brasenose College and the Origins of Oxford rowing". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  16. ^ O'Chee, W.G. (26 January 2018). "Rowing's Continuation and Resilience in Wartime Oxford". Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Eights 1829". eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
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