Each of our four crews brought their own story to the river, contributing to what has been a term of passion and perseverance.
The Lucy Cavendish College Boat Club has wrapped up an eventful and spirited term on the water. Despite a mix of results across the board, the overarching feeling within the club is one of pride, progress, and a strengthened sense of community.
The club finished May Bumps on an overall neutral — a genuinely intriguing result! Each of our four crews brought their own story to the river, contributing to what has been a term of passion and perseverance.
M2 unfortunately got bumped every day but kept up great energy and camaraderie throughout. W2 and M1 both ended on +2 overall, bumping twice and rowing over twice each. W1 ended on neutral overall. W2, W1 and M1 all had extremely impressive row overs on the last day; W2 and M1 were hot on the tail of the crew ahead of them for the whole course while W1 pushed away from Corpus W1 by performing a second rolling race start mid race to take up the rate and speed and pull away, denying Corpus their blades
The end of Bumps was marked not just by racing achievements but also by community celebrations. We were thrilled to officially open the Boat Club’s new erg gym, a facility made possible through the immense dedication of Chris Launchbury, whose efforts over the past two years brought this project to life. The ceremony was a fitting opportunity to recognise his contributions, and to celebrate what the gym means for future generations of Lucy rowers.
We are also deeply grateful to the Hefferon family for their generous donations and long-standing support of rowing at Lucy, which allowed the College to build a dedicated gym for the Club, officially opened on 21 June. The Hefferon legacy has a deep connection to Lucy Cavendish College and the sport of rowing. Don's late wife, Sarah Hefferon, who passed away in 2015, was a Lucy Cavendish alumna, matriculating in 1979 to read Law. During her time at Lucy, Sarah developed a passion for rowing and became a key member of the then-new Boat Club, serving as the stroke of the first Lucy Boat. Meanwhile Don himself was the Club’s first coach. The couple's shared enthusiasm for the sport led them to regularly support events such as Henley Royal Regatta (Don was a member of the Leander Club) and the Cambridge Bumps.
The official opening marked the opportunity to reflect on their legacy with the club, made the occasion even more special.
A highlight of the event was the visit from alumna Samantha Scully, former Women’s Captain during her time at Lucy. It was a joy to welcome her back to the club and to share memories past and present. She is pictured (below) alongside Sofia Braviner Roman (incoming Boat Club President), Joshua Ripley (outgoing President), Madeleine Frost (event organiser), Chris Launchbury (former Club President and gym founder), and Dame Madeleine Atkins. We very much hope to see Samantha back with us again soon.
The term concluded with the Boat Club Dinner held in College, on the same day as the opening — a tradition we’ve now enjoyed in both Lent and Easter terms this year. These gatherings are becoming an important part of Boat Club life, giving us the opportunity to celebrate their achievements as a team and as a College. We hope to continue this tradition in future years, bringing the rowing community and the wider College even closer together.
All in all, it's been a term to remember — not just for the results, but for the growth, friendships, and memories made along the way. Here's to more exciting chapters ahead for Lucy Cavendish Boat Club.