Cambridge Women: Have you thought about rowing again?

By: Caroline Ng (Blue Boat ’99, ’00) and Kirsten Clayton (Blue Boat ’89)

Sunday morning at Putney Embankment. The sun is shining, and the air is still and warm. Soon the towpath will be busy with families out for a walk, young parents with buggies picking up a morning cappuccino from the coffee stand at Thames Rowing Club and hoards of rowers from the clubs that line this stretch of the Thames. But, for now, it’s peaceful and quiet.

At the water’s edge, eight women swing a boat over their heads and gently lower it into the water under the watchful eye of their cox. Blades are slotted into gates before they get into the boat and begin to paddle upstream towards Hammersmith. For the time being there’s just the gentle splash of the oars as sunlight glints off the surface of the Thames. All of them rowed for Cambridge and all of them share a passion.

We’re a mixed group. There are Olympians and rowers who’ve represented their country but also those of us who have not really rowed since we rowed for Cambridge in the Blue Boat, Blondie or as a lightweight. Some of us have continued to row since we left university but there are some who have not touched an oar for over three decades and have only recently started rowing again. Some raced on the Tideway but others fought their battle with Oxford at Henley in those years before the women joined the men on the Thames. However, what unites us is a love of this wonderful, crazy sport and a desire to connect with, and continue to row with, friendly like-minded people.

Whether you’re looking to get back in a boat, reconnect with the sport or take on the thrill of competition, we’d love to hear from you. We row out of Crabtree, the club founded by Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) alumnae and we’re actively seeking more alumnae to join our growing community. You can row regularly or join us on a more ad hoc basis and, for those interested in racing, as well as providing the crew for the Veterans’ Boat Race, we have plans to enter crews into other events in the future. 

Rowing for Cambridge was both an honour and an extraordinary experience and there’s a bond between those of us who have done this. Going out on the river and experiencing the joy of being in a community with shared experience and memories is truly magical and we would love more alumnae to be part of this legacy. George Eliot is reputed to have said that ‘It is never too late to be what you might have been’. We like to think it’s never too late to get back in a boat and to row again.

If you’re a former Cambridge rower, an experienced oarswoman or a cox and would like to find out more about us and how you can take part, please email crabtreewomen@gmail.com.