Cover image @lwtboatraces via Twitter

Cambridge University has churned out some of the Nation’s foremost scholars and preeminent athletes, and for many years fans from around the world have turned to the Thames to cheer on their chosen crew in the annual Boat Race. However, for too long the lightweight squads have had to settle for the Henley Boat Races.

Nestled in the Thames Valley, Henley has been at the centre of global rowing for nearly 200 years, and whilst the Royal Regatta shines as an international beacon of the sport’s best, the yearly Oxford V Cambridge face-off has had all the drama, but little coverage.

This year, that was all to change. As on the 15th March, it became clear that the Cambridge University Women’s Lightweight Eight had not only made history, but begun a legacy and shattered a myth.

We spoke to some of the athletes from the 2020 crew about their journey to the Tideway, and what it meant to cross the line in spectacular fashion.

Welcome to the Squad_

Moving to a new city is nerve-wracking, starting at university is draining, and pitting yourself against some of the world’s best athletes is downright nauseating, but the women of the Cambridge Lightweight squad took to the challenge like ducks to water, and soon Goldie became their natural habitat.

“Cambridge is the most intense experience, unexplainable to those who don’t experience it. The mixture of the workload, stress, time pressure but also opportunities you get are unreal, most importantly the people you meet are like no other. 

The squad is a family. At this point they know me better than I know myself. They build you up to be the strongest version of yourself whilst making you fall to the floor in a fit of laughter. As individuals, they are all different but all represent grit, strength and ambition. They are my best mates and my role models.”

Morgan Morrison, Lightweight Eight 2020

The university has proven itself as a place where talent cannot only be nurtured, but grown from grassroots. Much like Oxford, Cambridge employs a collegiate system, allowing anyone who wants to give rowing a go access to the water. One Blue who graduated from college to university rowing is Catherine Walker.

“I learnt to row at Cambridge so rowing has kind of dominated my university experience. It’s introduced me to the best group of people. The first race I did with CUW I was by far the weakest in the boat and spent most of the training rows being in awe of those around me, but CUW has a great way of welcoming you in and that initial excitement remained throughout my time on the squad. I also came to be really good friends with some of the people I was looking up to at the start which really reflects the team culture.”

Catherine Walker, Lightweight Eight 2020

To the Tideway_

The move to the Tideway is perhaps the biggest news for Lightweight rowing in the UK for some time, combating the global trend that has seen FISA – in the eyes of many – devalue the position of Lightweight rowing on the world stage. Perhaps then, the newfound prominence of Lightweight Rowing on the Thames will revalue and rejuvenate the sport in such a way that it once again finds its fans. Here are some of the squad’s stand-out moments from their Boat Race journey.

“The race. It is the most exciting Women’s Boat Race that has ever been on the Tideway – I would encourage anyone who has not watched it to go and watch it – it’s on YouTube somewhere. Other than that there have been so many moments which stand out for many different reasons. One has to be our Trial VIIIs where we ended up racing Scullers, they had quite a stacked crew but we didn’t give up at all during the race and that was a moment which really showed the type of squad we were: determined and no matter who we were put up against we would always try and do our best. This was reflected in our training and our attitude especially when we were training along Blondie. “

Miranda Clements, Lightweight Eight 2020

For every stroke these women made during the Boat Race, hundreds had been made it training, leading to some quiet, more reflective moments that underpin the journey for these athletes.

“On training camp in Banyoles, the Lightweight Women’s squad all sat down together and spoke of the legacy we wanted to have. In that conversation, our cox Emily said: “I want us to raise the standard of lightweight rowing”. Crossing the finish line, doing the first race on the Tideway course, I genuinely felt like we had achieved this, and I really hope this is our legacy for years to come.”

Freya Sutcliffe, Lightweight Eight 2020

Writing the History Books_

There are two ways to be immortalised in history: do something original, or revolutionise something. In mid-March, the Cambridge Lightweight Women’s crew did both.

“[It feels] Pretty incredible, it did take a few days before it really cemented what we had done. We as an entire squad, not just those who raced, have pathed a new era for women’s Lightweight Rowing on the Tideway and it’s really exciting for that. As well we’ve rewritten light blue history as we’re the first Cambridge Women’s boat to win the first race on the Tideway, but also the first Women’s boat race where the crew came [from] behind to win and doing those things is just pretty awesome and it was a whole squad effort to do it.”

Miranda Clements, Lightweight Eight 2020

In true Blue spirit, the athletes were keen to stress that they’re always looking forward as a squad, and that what they have accomplished is the just the first page in a new chapter of Lightweight Rowing history.

“[It feels] Momentous and unforgettable. We went and proved that Lightweight Women can row the longer distance on the variable conditions just like any other crew regardless of weight or gender. I’m excited to see the bar that we set be chased by crews in the future.”

Morgan Morrison, Lightweight Eight 2020

If you missed out on watching the 2020 Lightweight Boat Races, you can catch up on all the action here.

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Hungry for more? Re-live the last 20 years of the Boat Race, or head on over to the Covid-19 hub for the best content from across our team.

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Ed Evans

Opinions Editor

With thanks to Freya Sutcliffe, and Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club

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