The Oxford 'Summer Eights' Race Course

Have you made plans for tomorrow? The final day of Summer Eights should be a blast!

Unfortunately, with such a long and winding course it's impossible to catch all of the action, but the following three areas should provide you with the best vantage spots and their fair share of thrills and spills.

The starting area 

The starting area extends all the way from Donnington Bridge, past the Isis Farmhouse to Iffley Lock and is perhaps the only place you'll get to see all thirteen crews row. From here the boats take off in frantic, high-speed pursuits, attempting to make a quick bump and avoid the whole grueling battle while the pack is still tight. It does seem an awfully cruel race when for many, the race is over barely after it's begun, but it's a lot of fun to watch.

Don't get a fright if you're passing the fields beside the Isis Farmhouse -  A cannon is fired twice to give warning of the start (at 5 and 1 minute to go) and to signal the start of the race. 

Linacre M1 crew warming up before the race.

The 'gut'  

Located between Donnington Bridge and the Longbridges Boathouses, this bendy bit of the river causes its fair share of trouble. If you're after some carnage, this is the place for you. Here the river narrows and the current is at its strongest, making a domino-like effect of successive bumps (or concessions) highly likely. One of the crews even had to be rescued here today because it began sinking after a fatal bump!

It's called 'bumps' racing for a reason!

 

A perfect summer's day

The Longbridges Boat House is located on the southern bank of the Isis and shared by Green Templeton, Hertford, Mansfield, St. Hilda's, St. Catherine's and St. Benet's colleges.

The University College Boat House can also be found on the southern bank of the Thames a little further towards Folly Bridge. It distinguishes itself from the other boat houses with its sleek, architectural design and was opened in 2007 (after arson destroyed the previous 19th century boat house in 1999). Outside students dressed in sub-fusc celebrate their final day of exams.
 

The finish line 

The finish line sits just below Folly Bridge, within easy cheering distance of most college's boathouses and Christ Church Meadow. This is where most of the spectators gather and whilst the crews will be racing on the opposite side of the river, (what little of them remain), this area provides the best panoramic views of the course, within easy reach of the burgers and Pimms.

Christ Church Meadow and beyond.

Oxford rowing jargon

If you're heading out to watch the Summer Eights this week, a quick lesson in rowing lingo 

might come in handy.....I never knew there were crabs in the Isis!
 

Blades - the 'trophy oars' awarded to crews who 'bump up' every day.

Boatie - Common slang at Oxford and Cambridge for someone who is obsessed with rowing.

Bowside - the right, or starboard side of the boat.

Crab or Catch a crab - a rowing error where the rower is unable to timely remove the oar blade from the water. Whilst in the water, the oar acts as a brake, slowing the boat down. A severe crab 
can even eject a rower out of the shell! Occasionally, in a severe crab, or 'over-the-head crab,' the 
oar handle will knock the rower flat and end up behind him/her.

Cox - the oar-less crew member who sits in the stern of the boat.

Eights - an inter-collegiate boat race held annually in Trinity term. 

    Erg - a rowing machine used for training.  

    Head of the River - the glorious title given to the winning crew of the first division.

The Isis - another name for the River Thames, a shortened version of it's latin name 'Tamesis'. 

Klaxon - a loud horn used if the racing line becomes completely blocked, if there is someone or something (usually a swan) in the water, or if a severe collision imminent. You'll here the marshal shouting “klaxon klaxon klaxon” over the radio to confirm that the race has been cancelled.

Rating - the number of strokes per minute. 

Sculling - a form of rowing where the rower uses two oars, or 'sculls.' 

Shell - often used to refer to the boat itself.

Spoons - the opposite of blades. A 'booby' prize awarded to rowing crews who are 'bumped down' every day, or to the boat finishing bottom of the river. In theory, such a crews are allowed to paint a wooden spoon in their college colours and write their names on it as a trophy of their 'achievement', or lack there of.   

Stern - the back end of the boat (or shell), where the cox usually sits. 

Stroke - the rower closest to the stern of the boat, responsible for the stroke rate and rhythm. 

Strokeside - the left or port side of the boat. 

Sweep rowing - a form of rowing where each rower handles a single oar. 

Torpids - an inter-collegiate boat race held annually in Hilary term.

Images: Oxford Rowing Colours, 1848.