The St Catharine’s College Boat Club (SCCBC) is celebrating an historic set of results from racing in the May Bumps (14–17 June).
For the first time in the College’s history, the women’s first eight (W1) and men’s first eight (M1) both earned blades (i.e. going up at least four places by bumping the boat ahead on each day of racing). What’s more, M1 and M2 boats earned super-blades, going up six and five places respectively and resulting in another College record: M1, W1 and M2 all bladed in the same May Bumps campaign for the first time.
“It is incredible what our students have achieved this year and we cannot thank Carmen Failla enough for how she has turned around SCCBC since she joined St Catharine’s as our Head Rowing Coach and Boathouse Manager in 2018. By combining professional coaching expertise with an immense passion for her sport, she has lifted students’ spirit and results.”
M1 results over the last 20 years with no results in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 (credit: cambridgebumps.com)
W1, M1 and M2 crews celebrate with Carmen Failla after May Bumps 2023
W1 results from the last 20 years with no results in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 (credit: cambridgebumps.com)
M1: Up 6 positions (super-blades)
M1 finished the May Bumps in 12th position in Division 1, the first time that St Catharine’s has been in the men’s top division since 2017. This is also the first time that M1 has earned blades since 2011.
As well as welcoming back five returners (including seats 2, 5, 7 and 8 from Cambridge’s crews in the 2023 Boat Races, and 6 currently trialling for Estonia), this success is also due to the three experienced rowers who remained in the boat from the 2023 Lent Bumps campaign at bow, 3 and 4.
Carmen said, “It has been a pleasure to know some of the M1 rowers throughout my time at Catz: John was a novice in my first year and Matt rowed in my first Bumps campaign. I am so proud that they were able to secure their place in Division 1 on Day 1 and then press on with bumps on all the following days.”
M1 crew list
M1 in action
W1: Up 4 positions (blades)
The women’s first boat finished in 10th position in Division 1 by bumping every day of the competitions – securing the first blades for W1 since 2009. This is particularly remarkable because most of the crew were novices when they arrived at St Catharine's and two of the crew hadn't even had a full year of rowing experience. Carmen explained:
“The tenacity of the W1 boat was clear from every one of their bumps being so early in the course and this is perfectly summed up by two of our crew. Eleanor Shaw coxed our M1 boat last year and only learnt to row in Michaelmas term but was determined that W1 would match M1’s success. Meanwhile, Emily Wolfenden was raring to go at the start of each race, asking everyone (repeatedly!) if it was nearly time yet.”
W1 crew list
W1 celebrate their blades (photo credit: istmeincambridge.uk)
M2: Up 5 positions (super-blades)
M2 moved up to Division 2 on the third day, ultimately finishing in 16th position in Division 2 and earning blades for the first time since 2013.
Carmen said, “M2 has won every race they entered this term and I am impressed by how they seized every opportunity they had to bump. These sterling results conceal the fact that only our stroke had rowed before arriving at Catz and three novices only took up rowing this year. As a reward for their first bump on Day 1, M2 requested a ‘dad joke’ from me each day for the rest of Bumps, which seems to have relaxed their nerves!”
M2 crew list
M2 with Carmen celebrating their super-blades and going up five positions (photo credit: istmeincambridge.uk)
W2: Down one position
W2 rowed the furthest of any of the SCCBC boats, completing the full course on three days out of four without bumping or being bumped. They eventually finished in 9th position in Division 3.
Carmen explained, “Despite breaking a rib, Clare was able to join Lois in coaching W2, which included five novice rowers and a novice cox who all started with us this year. The W2 boat was blessed with great vibes and was great fun to be around: from the cox’s chant of ‘when I say Catz, you say yeah’, to Anna’s numerous questions about the starting canons.”
W2 crew list
W2 in action
M3: Down four positions (spoons)
M3 finished at the top of Division 5, after being bumped on each day of the competition.
Carmen reflected, “Harry, Salv and Jamie were joined by six novices, one of whom (the ever-enthusiastic Kiyofumi) only started in Easter term. They all gained valuable experience so I really hope they all come back next year! I should single out Johnny for special thanks, after he wrote a memorable song in tribute to me that was performed at the annual SCCBC dinner.”
M3 crew list
M3 in action
W3: Down three positions
W3 finished in 12th position in Division 4 and included seven novices.
Carmen commented, “I will freely admit that the team spirit of W3 made me cry on Day 3. The W3 coach, Salv, wasn’t able to support as he was racing in M3 so they came up with their own chant of ‘do it for Salv’. When he caught sight of them at the railway bridge, you could hear him shouting back that he was proud of them.”
W3 crew list
W3 in action
Honourable mentions
Carmen wanted to recognise a few key individuals who have supported preparations for May Bumps:
“Thank you to W2’s Anna and M2’s Romy for producing wheel-shaped bunting made with yarn, which has attracted lots of envious comments from other boat clubs, and will be kept safely for us to display again next year. Romy also created a yarn submarine as the trophy for our ‘sub of the term’, which was rightly awarded to Mantas Baksys (2020, Maths) and will be given out each term in a new SCCBC tradition.
“I must also acknowledge the phenomenal support that SCCBC receives from our alumni. Two great examples are Rory Cockshaw (2019, Natural Sciences; SCCBC Past President) who cycled up and down the river with our flag sticking out of his rucksack so it could be safely delivered to the different boats who had bumped the boat ahead of them, and David Cruttenden (1967, Mechanical Sciences; victor in two consecutive Boat Races) whose support on recent outings has been really appreciated by our men’s boats and women’s boats alike.”
The SCCBC members celebrated on 17 June by presenting Carmen with framed photos of her five years at the College, and serenading her with a specially written song (reproduced below).
Anna and Romy at the boathouse, which they decorated with wheel-shaped bunting made with yarn
Framed photos presented to Carmen Failla by SCCBC after May Bumps 2023
Carmen - a tribute by John Stavropoulos (a first-year Law undergraduate)
