Wadham College Boat Club

Founded during the 1830s, WCBC has aways been an active part of Oxford rowing, as well as the wider sport. In 1839, we competed in the first ever Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, but lost to Trinity College (Cambridge). A decade later in 1849, we beat Trinity (and Oriel) at both the Grand Challenge Cup and the Ladies' Challenge Plate. Legend has it that this victory earned us the right to use Cambridge's signature shade of blue-green, something we still do to this day.

Women were first admitted to Wadham in 1974. The women's side of the boat club immediately took off, and two years later, during the first women's Summer VIIIs competition, we won the first ever headship. In honour of this feat, one of our women's boats is called the Spirit of '76. Since then, Wadham has maintained a strong women's side. Our first VIII has spent the longest in Division 1 of any college, and is currently second on the river.

Thanks to our alumnus society, we have access to a range of high-quality equipment. We have eight VIIIs, including our newest acquisitions - two 2022 Filippis named the Dorothy Wadham and the Spirit of Niccoló. We also have two Filippi fours, and four singles for the use of members who wish to go sculling in the summer. Our boathouse comes complete with eight static ergs (rowing machines) and any facilities you may need, not to mention a prime spot on Boathouse Island! Furthermore, in Wadham's gym, we have eight dynamic ergs and weightlifting equipment.