Peterhouse Boat Club

Peterhouse Boat Club. It is the rowing club for members of Peterhouse, Cambridge, the oldest constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1828, it is one of the oldest college boat clubs in the world and has a long history of participation in Cambridge rowing events, most notably the annual Boat Race against Oxford and the inter-collegiate May Bumps. The club operates from its own boathouse on the River Cam and fields crews across all major university competitions.

History

The club was founded in 1828, making it a contemporary of the early formalization of rowing at Cambridge. Its establishment coincided with the rise of organized boat racing on the River Thames and the River Cam. Peterhouse Boat Club was a founding member of the Cambridge University Boat Club in 1829, the year of the first Boat Race at Henley-on-Thames. Early members often rowed in the university crews that competed against Oxford, with the rivalry solidifying at venues like Henley Royal Regatta. Throughout the 19th century, the club was actively involved in developing the rules and format of the May Bumps, the unique Cambridge pursuit race. The club's history is intertwined with figures like John Henry Goldie, a Peterhouse oarsman who stroked the Cambridge crew and later had the Goldie Boathouse and the Goldie reserve boat named in his honour.

Facilities

The club's primary facility is its dedicated boathouse, located on the River Cam near Fen Causeway in Cambridge. This building provides boat storage, ergometer training space, and changing rooms for its members. Peterhouse shares a stretch of the river, known as the Long Reach, with other college boat clubs for training and racing. For more extensive training, especially in the build-up to the Boat Race, members selected for the Cambridge University Boat Club often use facilities at the university's high-performance Goldie Boathouse. The club maintains a fleet of racing shells, primarily from manufacturers like Empacher and Hudson Boat Works, used for both novice and senior squads.

Achievements

The club's primary competitive focus is the May Bumps, where its men's and women's crews have held positions in the higher divisions, including the prestigious Headship of the river. Peterhouse has also enjoyed success at the annual Lent Bumps races. On the national stage, Peterhouse rowers have won events at the British Rowing Championships and have been selected to represent Great Britain at World Rowing events. Alumni of the club have gone on to win medals at the Olympic Games, including gold at the Barcelona Games. Success is also measured in the production of Blues, with numerous Peterhouse members earning their oars by competing in the Boat Race for Cambridge.

Notable members

Many distinguished oarsmen have rowed for Peterhouse. John Henry Goldie is a legendary figure in Cambridge rowing. The politician and diplomat R. A. Butler, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer, rowed for the college. In the realm of science, Sir John Kendrew, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for determining the structure of myoglobin, was a member. More recently, Olympic gold medalist Andrew Triggs Hodge, who won at the London and Rio Games, is a notable alumnus. The club has also produced successful Boat Race coaches and officials for British Rowing.

Traditions and colours

The club's colours are black and gold, which are displayed on its blades, uniforms, and blazers. A notable tradition is the "Peterhouse Pair", an informal challenge race that has been a rite of passage for generations of novice rowers. The club participates in the ceremonial "Bumps supper" following the May Bumps, a traditional dinner celebrating the crew's performance. Like many Cambridge boat clubs, it observes the custom of "earning one's oar", where rowers who compete in the Boat Race are presented with a personalised blade. The club anthem, often sung at social events, is a variation on older Cambridge rowing songs.

Category:University of Cambridge boat clubs Category:Rowing clubs in Cambridgeshire Category:1828 establishments in England