Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

GRYPHENrsquoS NEWSLETTER

Newnham Head of both the Lents amp Mays ndash for the first time in Bumps history NCBC takes the helm Our 1st VIII reclaims Headship in the May Bumps for the first time since 2003

Having started the 2019 May Bumps second on the river with Jesus at Head Newnham W1 lived up to widely tipped expectations and bumped Jesus on the Long Reach on the second day of racing achieving ldquodouble headshiprdquo in both the Lents amp Mays for the first time in NCBC history Watch W1s Victory Lap here

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 1

DOUBLE HEADSHIP SPECIAL

ldquoHeadships donrsquot fall easily and the Jesus women put up a good

fight But the Newnham first boat was absolutely magnificent

ndash they shone with purpose courage and skill and executed

a simply brilliant bumprdquo

Dr Emma Mawdsley Vice-Principal of Newnham

W1 crew photo having bumped Jesus W1

W1 featured on the Universitys Instagram

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 2

1st VIIICox Gemma Claire-AliStroke Rebecca Smith7 Katie Jones (Capt)6 Nora Masler5 Adriana Perez-Rotondo4 Alice Cozens3 Pippa Dakin2 Rhiannon Smith (Capt)Bow Ellie Thompson

Coaches Claudia Catacchio Tim Granger Michael John Gifford

Up 1 Rowed Over Bumped Jesus W1 Rowed Over x2 at Head of River

1st VIII with coaches at the Mays 2019 Boat Club Dinner in Hall

2nd VIIICox Zoeuml CavendishStroke Karla Boxall7 Sophie Baldwin6 Harriet Haysom5 Jasmine Wells4 Orla Horan3 Millie Hopkins2 Rosanna BarracloughBow Annie Cipriani

Coach Jenna Dittmar

Up 3 Bumped Wolfson W1 Bumped Lucy Cavendish W1 Bumped Jesus W2 Rowed Over as highest second VIII on the River

2nd VIII at the Mays 2019 Boat Club Dinner Drinks Reception

Easter Term 2019 Crews

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 3

3rd VIIICox Catrina BomfordStroke Stanimira Georgieva7 Cait Findlay6 Agnieszka Pająk5 Helen Eastmond4 Esme Fowkes3 Heacuteloiumlse Dunlop Lucy Jarman2 Lucy WalkerBow Alice Bell

Coaches Charlotte van Coeverden Leah May

Down 1 Bumped by Emmanuel W3 Rowed Over x3 as second highest third VIII on the River 3rd VIII at the Mays 2019 Boat Club Dinner Drinks Reception

201819 CommitteeCaptains Katie Jones amp Rhiannon Smith

Vice-Captain Karla Boxall

Lower-Boats Capts Jasmine Wells amp Annie Cipriani

Secretary Sitara Bartle

Social Secretaries Zoeuml Cavendish amp Sophie Thorpe

Regatta Secretary Evelyn Svingen

Treasurer Karla Boxall

Equipment Officer Hannah Jones

Development Officer Hannah Jones

IT Officer Sophie Baldwin

NCBC 201819 Committee at the Mays 2019 Boat Club Dinner

The 201819 NCBC Committee would like to thank the Gryphens for their support throughout whatrsquos been a fantastic year for the boatclub We wish the incoming Committee the best of luck

An archive of NCBCrsquos previous yearrsquos committees can be found here

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 4

On the back of such a successful year the Mayrsquos Boat Club Dinner was the perfect chance to reflect on what being part of NCBC really means The courageous history of the boatclub serves as inspiration to every member and during their years rowing for Newnham each member gives back and themselves becomes part of NCBCs history and achievements

Dame Carol Black the current Principal of Newnham steps down from her role at the end of this academic year having served as Principal for 7 years

Her speech at BCD celebrated the ldquofantastic thingsrdquo shersquos seen us do ldquowhether itrsquos the thirds

the seconds or the firstsrdquo and praised the ldquototal communityrdquo NCBC is ndash ldquoyou are a wonderful wonderful group of womenrdquo

Over the last few years Dame Carol has led the construction of Newnhamrsquos ldquoDorothy Garrodrdquo building with a rooftop gym containing new rowing machines which she hoped ldquohave helpedrdquo She ended with a toast to NCBC

Mays 2019 BCD ndash Celebrating Newnhamrsquos Year

ldquoI just want to raise a glass to every woman

who now rows for Newnham and all

those in the past and to say can we look to

the future To Newnham womenrdquo

Dame Carol Black Principal of Newnham

ldquoI just really want to thank you for being the

spirit of Newnhamrdquo Dame Carol Black

Principal of NewnhamCaptains Katie amp Rhiannon

Whole Boat Club at Mays 2019 BCD

Dame Carolrsquos speech

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 5

Further Racing News

Newnham W1 joined forces with Fitzwilliam in June to trial for Henley Womenrsquos Regatta The composite crew put in a great row coming out just 27 secs shy of qualifying for the regatta and hugely enjoyed their experience of racing on the course

Henley Womenrsquos Regatta

NCBC were invited to race in the 2019 Nanjing International University Regatta in China Rosanna Barraclough (NC 2018) Hele Francis (NC 2011) Yfke Van Dee Heijden (Girton) and Morgan Morrison (Homerton) represented Cambridge in a coxless 4 and placed second in their division

Newnham has also been invited to race at the World University Rowing Regatta in Xirsquoan China in 2020

Easter Term RacesChamps Eights Head 2019 ndash Newnham W1 Fastest Mays 1st boat

City of Cambridge Spring H2H 2019 ndash Newnham W2 Fastest Mays 2nd boat

W2 outstanding balance

NCBC race in China

FitzNewnham composite crew

Crew at Nanjing 2019

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 6

Formally founded on 30th May 1893 as ldquoNewnham College Rowing Societyrdquo for the first 20 years or so of its existence the boating provided by the Rowing Society was purely for pleasure with no question of competition and mainly in pairs and IVs It wasnrsquot until 1917 that the Rowing Society formally changed its name to the familiar Newnham College Boat Club ndash its first act under the governance of its own internally elected Committee

From 1919 NCBC made rowing in VIIIs its principal activity ndash still unheard of for women at the time Having bought NCBCs first eight that year (a wooden fixed-seat clinker from Trinity) the next step was finding some racing opposition The obvious choice for a club representing the women of Cambridge University was to challenge Oxford to a race However in 1919 the Oxford authorities wouldnt permit the race nor would they when the challenge was repeated in 1920

Whilst Oxford were not willing to make the step to women racing in VIIIs the London universities were more open to the idea The London School of Medicine for Women (LSMW) agreed to race Newnhamrsquos W1 (below) over half a mile at the Marlow Regatta This was the first race between womens college VIIIs in Britain and below are some fascinating items from the archives which bring this race to life and the preparation (or lack thereof) that went in to it

From the Archiveshellip 100 Years of Racing

1919 1st VIIICox B ClerkeStroke D Collier7 M Wiseman6 D Ellis5 M Chrystal4 D Lovell3 J Angus2 K AndrewBow D Jenkin

London School of Medicine for Women at Marlow won by 175 lengths This was the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs The NCBC 1st VIII in 1919 ready to race against LSMW at Marlow

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 7

^ ldquoEaster Term 1919 A fixed seat clinker-eight match had been arranged with the London School of Medicine for June 14th a practise was begun in earnest The Trinity eight had been bought and fixed seats put on itrdquo ^ June 13th ldquoHad a short outing at Marlow in the morning 1145rdquo

ldquoVery much liked boat Decided that the course for the race to be from the Vicarage to the Bridge London won the toss amp took the Bucks stationrdquo June 14th 1030 ldquoPaddling better a good amp cheery outing All luck to Newnham this afternoon

Extracts from the Captains Book

^ Photo of the NCBC crew rowing on the day of their race against the LSMW at Marlow the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs 14th June 1919

^ Race programme belonging to P Chrystal (presumably M Chrystal in the NCBC crew) signed by both crews on the back From the Newnham Archives

Click here to view larger full-resolution versions of the images

^ June 14th 30pm Race against London School of Medicine ldquoVery little wind Fine Smooth water Bad start Splashing amp not well together Took her off at 42 Dropped to 34 in the middle amp picked up to 38 for the last fifteen strokes First half of the course not good Beginning not hard amp finish splashy Began to draw away from London about half way Stroke slower amp got together much better Finished up with quite a good swing amp time Great improvement Ended 1 frac34 lengths ahead Reach rather short through whole racerdquo

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 5

Further Racing News

Newnham W1 joined forces with Fitzwilliam in June to trial for Henley Womenrsquos Regatta The composite crew put in a great row coming out just 27 secs shy of qualifying for the regatta and hugely enjoyed their experience of racing on the course

Henley Womenrsquos Regatta

NCBC were invited to race in the 2019 Nanjing International University Regatta in China Rosanna Barraclough (NC 2018) Hele Francis (NC 2011) Yfke Van Dee Heijden (Girton) and Morgan Morrison (Homerton) represented Cambridge in a coxless 4 and placed second in their division

Newnham has also been invited to race at the World University Rowing Regatta in Xirsquoan China in 2020

Easter Term RacesChamps Eights Head 2019 ndash Newnham W1 Fastest Mays 1st boat

City of Cambridge Spring H2H 2019 ndash Newnham W2 Fastest Mays 2nd boat

W2 outstanding balance

NCBC race in China

FitzNewnham composite crew

Crew at Nanjing 2019

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 6

Formally founded on 30th May 1893 as ldquoNewnham College Rowing Societyrdquo for the first 20 years or so of its existence the boating provided by the Rowing Society was purely for pleasure with no question of competition and mainly in pairs and IVs It wasnrsquot until 1917 that the Rowing Society formally changed its name to the familiar Newnham College Boat Club ndash its first act under the governance of its own internally elected Committee

From 1919 NCBC made rowing in VIIIs its principal activity ndash still unheard of for women at the time Having bought NCBCs first eight that year (a wooden fixed-seat clinker from Trinity) the next step was finding some racing opposition The obvious choice for a club representing the women of Cambridge University was to challenge Oxford to a race However in 1919 the Oxford authorities wouldnt permit the race nor would they when the challenge was repeated in 1920

Whilst Oxford were not willing to make the step to women racing in VIIIs the London universities were more open to the idea The London School of Medicine for Women (LSMW) agreed to race Newnhamrsquos W1 (below) over half a mile at the Marlow Regatta This was the first race between womens college VIIIs in Britain and below are some fascinating items from the archives which bring this race to life and the preparation (or lack thereof) that went in to it

From the Archiveshellip 100 Years of Racing

1919 1st VIIICox B ClerkeStroke D Collier7 M Wiseman6 D Ellis5 M Chrystal4 D Lovell3 J Angus2 K AndrewBow D Jenkin

London School of Medicine for Women at Marlow won by 175 lengths This was the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs The NCBC 1st VIII in 1919 ready to race against LSMW at Marlow

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 7

^ ldquoEaster Term 1919 A fixed seat clinker-eight match had been arranged with the London School of Medicine for June 14th a practise was begun in earnest The Trinity eight had been bought and fixed seats put on itrdquo ^ June 13th ldquoHad a short outing at Marlow in the morning 1145rdquo

ldquoVery much liked boat Decided that the course for the race to be from the Vicarage to the Bridge London won the toss amp took the Bucks stationrdquo June 14th 1030 ldquoPaddling better a good amp cheery outing All luck to Newnham this afternoon

Extracts from the Captains Book

^ Photo of the NCBC crew rowing on the day of their race against the LSMW at Marlow the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs 14th June 1919

^ Race programme belonging to P Chrystal (presumably M Chrystal in the NCBC crew) signed by both crews on the back From the Newnham Archives

Click here to view larger full-resolution versions of the images

^ June 14th 30pm Race against London School of Medicine ldquoVery little wind Fine Smooth water Bad start Splashing amp not well together Took her off at 42 Dropped to 34 in the middle amp picked up to 38 for the last fifteen strokes First half of the course not good Beginning not hard amp finish splashy Began to draw away from London about half way Stroke slower amp got together much better Finished up with quite a good swing amp time Great improvement Ended 1 frac34 lengths ahead Reach rather short through whole racerdquo

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 6

Formally founded on 30th May 1893 as ldquoNewnham College Rowing Societyrdquo for the first 20 years or so of its existence the boating provided by the Rowing Society was purely for pleasure with no question of competition and mainly in pairs and IVs It wasnrsquot until 1917 that the Rowing Society formally changed its name to the familiar Newnham College Boat Club ndash its first act under the governance of its own internally elected Committee

From 1919 NCBC made rowing in VIIIs its principal activity ndash still unheard of for women at the time Having bought NCBCs first eight that year (a wooden fixed-seat clinker from Trinity) the next step was finding some racing opposition The obvious choice for a club representing the women of Cambridge University was to challenge Oxford to a race However in 1919 the Oxford authorities wouldnt permit the race nor would they when the challenge was repeated in 1920

Whilst Oxford were not willing to make the step to women racing in VIIIs the London universities were more open to the idea The London School of Medicine for Women (LSMW) agreed to race Newnhamrsquos W1 (below) over half a mile at the Marlow Regatta This was the first race between womens college VIIIs in Britain and below are some fascinating items from the archives which bring this race to life and the preparation (or lack thereof) that went in to it

From the Archiveshellip 100 Years of Racing

1919 1st VIIICox B ClerkeStroke D Collier7 M Wiseman6 D Ellis5 M Chrystal4 D Lovell3 J Angus2 K AndrewBow D Jenkin

London School of Medicine for Women at Marlow won by 175 lengths This was the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs The NCBC 1st VIII in 1919 ready to race against LSMW at Marlow

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 7

^ ldquoEaster Term 1919 A fixed seat clinker-eight match had been arranged with the London School of Medicine for June 14th a practise was begun in earnest The Trinity eight had been bought and fixed seats put on itrdquo ^ June 13th ldquoHad a short outing at Marlow in the morning 1145rdquo

ldquoVery much liked boat Decided that the course for the race to be from the Vicarage to the Bridge London won the toss amp took the Bucks stationrdquo June 14th 1030 ldquoPaddling better a good amp cheery outing All luck to Newnham this afternoon

Extracts from the Captains Book

^ Photo of the NCBC crew rowing on the day of their race against the LSMW at Marlow the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs 14th June 1919

^ Race programme belonging to P Chrystal (presumably M Chrystal in the NCBC crew) signed by both crews on the back From the Newnham Archives

Click here to view larger full-resolution versions of the images

^ June 14th 30pm Race against London School of Medicine ldquoVery little wind Fine Smooth water Bad start Splashing amp not well together Took her off at 42 Dropped to 34 in the middle amp picked up to 38 for the last fifteen strokes First half of the course not good Beginning not hard amp finish splashy Began to draw away from London about half way Stroke slower amp got together much better Finished up with quite a good swing amp time Great improvement Ended 1 frac34 lengths ahead Reach rather short through whole racerdquo

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 7

^ ldquoEaster Term 1919 A fixed seat clinker-eight match had been arranged with the London School of Medicine for June 14th a practise was begun in earnest The Trinity eight had been bought and fixed seats put on itrdquo ^ June 13th ldquoHad a short outing at Marlow in the morning 1145rdquo

ldquoVery much liked boat Decided that the course for the race to be from the Vicarage to the Bridge London won the toss amp took the Bucks stationrdquo June 14th 1030 ldquoPaddling better a good amp cheery outing All luck to Newnham this afternoon

Extracts from the Captains Book

^ Photo of the NCBC crew rowing on the day of their race against the LSMW at Marlow the first ever race to be held in Britain between womens college VIIIs 14th June 1919

^ Race programme belonging to P Chrystal (presumably M Chrystal in the NCBC crew) signed by both crews on the back From the Newnham Archives

Click here to view larger full-resolution versions of the images

^ June 14th 30pm Race against London School of Medicine ldquoVery little wind Fine Smooth water Bad start Splashing amp not well together Took her off at 42 Dropped to 34 in the middle amp picked up to 38 for the last fifteen strokes First half of the course not good Beginning not hard amp finish splashy Began to draw away from London about half way Stroke slower amp got together much better Finished up with quite a good swing amp time Great improvement Ended 1 frac34 lengths ahead Reach rather short through whole racerdquo

Lent 2019 Newnham College Boat Club Easter 2019

Hannah Jones Development Sec 201819 8

DATES TO SAVEGryphens will receive an invitation to the Lents Boat

Club Dinner please RSVP by the deadline if you wish to come to what will hopefully be a very enjoyable BCD

56 December 2019 ndash Fairbairn Cup3 to 7 March 2020 ndash Lent Bumps

Invitation to race in the Gryphenrsquos Boat will be

sent to all NCBC alumnae in Michaelmas Term

W1 ndash1st on River ndash campaign to maintain Headship ndash being chased by Jesus W1

W2 ndash16th in Division 2 (4th highest W2) ndash chasing Corpus W1 being chased by Queensrsquo W2

W3 ndash13th in Division 3 (2nd highest W3) ndash chasing Murray Edwards W2 being chased by Kingrsquos W2

Looking Ahead Lent Bumps 2020

In the following years NCBC continued to seek races in VIIIs expanding its opposition to include crews from Marlow Ladies RC Reading UWRC Kings College London and University College London However the increasing focus on racing brought with it concerns for the health of female rowers both over whether the female body was robust enough for the sport and on speculation that the act of rowing would damage a womens ability to bear children Simultaneous issues were being raised over attire with the oarswomen petitioning to be permitted to discard their gym tunics for more suitable shorts which were considered to be indecent at the time Permission was only granted by the Principal once the Captain had rowed around her office on a footstool to demonstrate the suitability of the shorts

In addition to the new shorts in 1925 the gryphens head from the Colleges arms was chosen to be the emblem of NCBC embroidered on blazer pockets and emblazoned on trophy blades The gryphen remains the symbol of NCBC to this day and is the reason the alumnae of the Club are collectively known as ldquoThe Gryphensrdquo

In the eight years following the end of the First World War NCBC broke the mould of womens rowing by choosing to race in VIIIs Furthermore it had not only raced but beaten other university VIIIs All that remained was to race Oxford The story continues on the History page on NCBCrsquos website

Many thanks to Hayley McDermott (NC 2012) for writing the History page on the NCBC website on which this article is based For further information refer also to the excellent book From Newnham College Boat Club to CUWBCrdquo by Iris Winifred Preston