Intense internal rivalries on show in 2025 Boat Race Trial Eights

Oxford and Cambridge each staged four races – men and women, openweight and lightweight – to test their athletes over the Championship Course

Cambridge Trial Eights 2025

Cambridge’s Trial Eights took place on Monday, 16 December in breezey, choppy conditions.

Women’s Eights

The names of this year’s women’s openweight and lightweight crews are characters from the stories of A.A. Milne. Many believe that the characters epitomise various mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and disordered eating. The women’s crews wish to raise awareness about these important issues. Sport and physical activity are two approaches to working through a variety of mental health conditions and Trial Eights is an excellent opportunity to highlight the benefits of participating in sport at any level.

Winnie the Pool and Eeyore (Photos: Row360.)

Winnie the Pooh (Middx)	Eeyore (Surrey)
Bow – Polly Shorrock (1st & 3rd) 2 – Gemma King (LMBC) 3 – Ellie Sillar (Emmanuel) 4 – Mia Freischem (Darwin) 5 – Natasha Morrice (Jesus) 6 – Annie Wertheimer (St Edmund’s) 7 – Eloise Etherington (Caius) Stroke – Claire Collins (Peterhouse) Cox – Kate Crowley (Sidney Sussex)	Bow – Caroline Rijkse (Magdalene) 2 – Katy Hempson (Christ’s) 3 – Molly Foxell (Pembroke) 4 – Angelina Naujoks (Homerton) 5 – Sophia Hahn (Hughes Hall) 6 – Jessica (Beanie) Spain (Queens’) 7 – Carys-Anne Earl (Caius) Stroke – Samantha Morton (Hughes Hall) Cox – Louis De Neve (Robinson)

Off the start, Winnie the Pooh took an early lead. The crew, stroked by Olympian Claire Collins, combined seasoned experience with youthful energy, including first-year rower Eloise Etherington. By the Mile Post, they had stretched their advantage to a full length.

Eeyore, stroked by Samantha Morton, put up a strong fight as they passed Harrods, despite a problem with one of the boat’s gates. Although Eeyore’s crew rated slightly higher than Winnie’s, they were unable to close the gap. Over the latter stages of the race, Winnie the Pooh’s crew maintained a stronger rhythm, gradually extending their lead to secure victory by a margin of four lengths.

Verdict: Winnie the Pooh beat Eeyore by 4 lengths

---

Lightweight Women’s and Mixed Eights

Tigger was a completely lightweight crew; Piglet comprised a mix of openweight and lightweight athletes, including two CUBC alumni.

Tigger (Surrey)	Piglet (Middlesex)
Bow – Freya Clarkson (Emmanuel) 2 – Annabelle Moger-Taylor (Churchill) 3 – Jessica Van De Grint (St Catharine’s) 4 – Eugenie Dodds (Christ’s) 5 – Grace Forward (Jesus) 6 – Claire Cooper (Sidney Sussex) 7 – Gigi Pezier (Queens’) Stroke – Arden Berlinger (Pembroke) Cox – Molly Wilson (Clare)	Bow – Madeline Jackson (St Edmund’s) – Lightweight Women’s President 2 – Helena Olandi (Hughes Hall) 3 – Liv Alliot – Alumna (Jesus) 4 – Sarah Sharp (Pembroke) 5 – Becky Ashford (Lucy Cavendish) 6 – Abbi Gellatly (Hughes Hall) 7 – Clare Hole – Alumna (St Catharine’s) Stroke – Lucy Havard (Caius) – Women’s President Cox – Jack Nicholas (Pembroke)

Tigger asserted their dominance early on, gaining a couple of seats by the Black Buoy. As the race passed through Hammersmith, Piglet began to lose contact, though their grit and determination ensured Tigger had no easy task.

Through Chiswick Eyot, Tigger extended their lead to clear water, aided by the consistent race rhythm they had honed in training. In the final stretch, Piglet mounted a last-ditch effort to reduce the margin, increasing their rate and building speed. However, it was not enough to overcome Tigger.

Verdict: Tigger beat Piglet ‘easily’.

---

Men’s Eights

The men’s Trial Eights crews are after two legendary sea monsters of ancient Greek mythology – the original Rock and a Hard Place. Residing on opposite sides of a narrow strait of water (much like the Tideway’s racing line…), six-headed man-eating serpent Scylla and the sea-swallowing whirlpool Charybdis competed to terrorise any vessel that dared to get close. But does the outcome of this race really settle the 3,000 year-old question – which is the more dangerous?

Scylla and Charybdis. (Photos: Row360.)

Scylla (Surrey)	Charybdis (Middlesex)
Bow – Connor Attridge (Hughes Hall) 2 – Noam Mouelle (Hughes Hall) 3 – Tom Macky (St Edmund’s) 4 – Simon Nunayon (Emmanuel) 5 – Thomas Marsh (LMBC) 6 – James Robson (Peterhouse) 7 – Luca Ferraro (Peterhouse) – Men’s President Stroke – Matt Edge (St Catharine’s) Cox – Oliver Boyne (Downing) Ill: Simon Hatcher (Peterhouse)	Bow – Matt Morgan (Pembroke) 2 – Brett Taylor (Queens’) 3 – Will Wauchope (Caius) 4 – Gabriel Mahler (Peterhouse) 5 – George Bourne (Peterhouse) 6 – Matt Heywood (St Edmund’s) 7 – Luke Beever (Emmanuel) Stroke – Douwe de Graaf (St Edmund’s) Cox – James Trotman (Sidney Sussex)

Scylla, stroked by returning Blue, Matt Edge, made the best start, opening up a half-length lead by Barn Elms. But Charybdis, coxed by James Trotman, took advantage of the first Middlesex bend, settling into an effective rhythm and steadily regaining ground on Scylla until the crews were almost level. The crews vied for the lead along the Crabtree reach until Scylla, coxed by Ollie Boyne, began to use their long Surrey bend advantage to begin moving away after Hammersmith.

Charybdis held contact past St Paul’s School, but the stiff headwind, favouring the heavier Scylla crew, allowed them to push clear. Stroked by Douwe de Graaf, Charybdis maintained pressure, even as umpire Sarah Winckless issued a warning to Scylla for taking contested water. Rounding into the Middlesex bend, where the stream weakened considerably, Charybdis took a tighter line through the corner, regaining some distance. They closed further with an impressive sprint to the finish.

Verdict: Scylla beat Charybdis by 2 lengths.

---

Lightweight Men’s Eights

Inspired by the Cars characters Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks, this year’s crew names reflect the rivalry for seats. But just as Thunder and Lightning are interconnected in nature, the strength of this squad lies in balancing competition and teamwork.

Thunder (Middlesex)	Lightning (Surrey)
Bow – Joseph Stell (Downing) 2 – Harry Weston (St Edmund’s) 3 – William Read (Trinity Hall) 4 – Janik Schuttler (LMBC) 5 – Ben Isherwood (Emmanuel) 6 – James Richards (Girton) 7 – Theo Hatcher (Robinson) Stroke – Gianluca Maffi (Downing) – Lightweight Men’s President Cox – Isabella Fiske Harrison (1st & 3rd)	Bow – Alexander Tocher (Christ’s) 2 – Marton Kovacs (Peterhouse) 3 – Jeremy Wilkinson (Churchill) 4 – Rob McPherson (Emmanuel) 5 – Chris Hughes (Churchill) 6 – Joshua Moore (Queens’) 7 – William Morris (Caius) Stroke – Peter Crossley (Sidney Sussex) Cox – Matilda Watts (1st & 3rd)

The race got off to a clean start and Lightning, stroked by Peter Crossley, managed to gain a few seats early on. Both crews settled into their rhythms with Thunder rating slightly higher at 35 strokes per minute compared to Lightning’s 34 as they passed the Black Buoy. Lightning held onto their lead past Fulham Football Ground and into the Middlesex bend. As Thunder, stroked by Gianluca Maffi, moved into their advantage, they clawed back level, and the two crews were stroke for stroke past Barn Elms and up towards Harrods.

Along Crabtree Reach, a launch travelling in the opposite direction forced Lightning to veer towards Middlesex to avoid the obstruction. Umpire Matthew Holland issued warnings to both crews, but the disruption led to race-stopping blade clashes, with the boats level just outside Harrods. On the restart, Lightning once again showed their strength off the line, taking an early lead and steadily moving away from Thunder under Hammersmith Bridge, through the Surrey bend, and down past Chiswick Eyot.

The gap widened to its largest margin – 1 3/4 lengths – approaching Barnes Bridge. However, Lightning could not afford to relax, as Thunder launched a determined second surge around the final Middlesex bend, regaining overlap in a thrilling finish in the closest race of the day

It seems that Lightning does, in fact, strike twice.

Verdict: Lightning beat Thunder by under a length.

---

Oxford Trial Eights 2025

Two days later, on Wednesday 18 December, Oxford’s crews took to the Tideway in similarly rough and windy conditions.

Women’s Eights

The Oxford women named all four of their crews after characters from the 2005 film Madagascar.

King Julien may be self-proclaimed ruler of his domain, but Moto Moto has a confident swagger.

Moto Moto and King Julien. (Photos: Row360.)

Moto Moto (Surrey)	King Julien (Middlesex)
Bow – Sarah Polson (Wolfson) 2 – Erika Dutton (Green Templeton) 3 – Indigo Buckler (Wolfson) 4 – Hermione Warr (LMH) 5 – Polina Danilina (Lincoln) 6 – Annie Anezakis (Pembroke) – Women’s President 7 – Sarah Marshall (Nuffield) Stroke – Heidi Long (Lady Margaret Hall) Cox – Daniel Orton (Merton)	Bow – Olivia Ramsay (St Hilda’s) 2 – Amelia Mills (St Peter’s) 3 – Tara Sallaba (St Edmund Hall) 4 – Jen Astley (Balliol) 5 – Tessa Haining (Balliol) 6 – Alexia Lowe (St Antony’s) 7 – Catherine King (Balliol) Stroke – Sierra Sparks (Keble) Cox – Joe Gellett (St Peter’s)

Verdict: Moto Moto beat King Julien ‘easily’.

---

Lightweight Women’s Eights

Maurice, the right hand of the more eccentric King Julien, offers clarity and composure under pressure, maintaining the focus for success. Gloria is strong, self-assured and often steps up when the situation calls for it.

Maurice	Gloria
Bow – Catherine Stephenson (Somerville) 2 – Maddy Hall (Christchurch) 3 – Rozzie Weir (Somerville) 4 – Tabby Spindler (Merton) 5 – Luisa Fernandez (St Cross) 6 – Irene Zeitler (Pembroke) 7 – Sian Dennett (Keble) Stroke – Isabelle Rocroi (Green Templeton) Cox – Katherine Ferris (St Hilda’s)	Bow – Sabina Sulikova (St Edmnund Hall) 2 – Emily Killig (Magdalen) 3 – Marysia Fanner-Brzezina (Pembroke) 4 – Georgia Sweeney (St Hilda’s) 5 – Agnes Prager (St Hugh’s) 6 – Amelia Monaghan (Oriel) 7 – Sibby O’Grady (Pembroke) Stroke – Charlotte Wheatley (Queen’s) Cox – Verity Black (Green Templeton)

Verdict: Maurice beat Gloria by 4.5 lengths

---

Men’s Eights

The Oxford men chose these crew names because of the similarities with their quintessentially British charm and playful rivalry. Wallace and Gromit are beloved characters in British pop culture, representing teamwork, ingenuity, and humour – qualities ideal for a spirited rowing competition.

The dynamic between the characters often involves overcoming challenges together with a touch of friendly competition, which mirrors the camaraderie and rivalry seen in this head-to-head.

Wallace and Gromit. (Photos: Row360.)

Wallace (Surrey)	Gromit (Middlesex)
Bow – Christian Reese (sub from St Paul’s School) 2 – Hamish Rimmer (LMH) 3 – Will Randell (St Edmund Hall) 4 – Paolo Cicuta (University) 5 – William O’Connell (Oriel) 6 – James Doran (Oriel) 7 – Tassilo von Mueller (Hertford) Stroke – Nick Kohl (Wolfson) Cox – Rahul Marchand (New)	Bow – Felix Crabtree (Hertford) 2 – Isaac Throsby (Oriel) 3 – Yannick Limmer (St Hilda’s) 4 – Felix Rawlinson (Reuben) 5 – Luke Robinson (Jesus) 6 – Tom Sharrock (Magdalen) 7 – Saxon Stacey (St John’s) Stroke – Nick Rusher (Oriel) Cox – Tara Slade (St Peter’s)

Verdict: Gromit had a ‘grand day out’, beating Wallace by 2 lengths.

---

Lightweight Men’s Eight versus Latymer Upper School

Bow – Dylan John
2 – Oscar Williams (Corpus Christi)
3 – James Hopkinson
4 – Adam Pattenden
5 – Dylan Dissanayake (Green Templeton)
6 – Seb Harker (St Edmund Hall)
7 – Bertie Coomber
Stroke – Will Reilly
Cox – Tobias Bernard

Verdict: Latymer won by 2 lengths.